How is your Thanksgiving turkey cooked?

wenrob · Nov 17, 2019

Slathered in mayo inside and out, stuffed and in a paper bag. Put it in the oven with a meat thermometer and don’t mess with it. Peel the bag away the last 30 or so minutes to brown and then rest for 20 minutes or so. Perfectly crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside.

wenrob · Nov 17, 2019

disneychrista said:
By my mom.

I have tried twice and both times (two separate ovens) it just didn't work. Half the turkey was still under cooked/raw.

I did a turkey breast several years ago and that worked out okay. Just put it in the oven and cooked until done. I think I put onion and celery around the turkey but honestly don't remember.

Usually when this happens it’s because the turkey hasn’t been fully thawed.

VandVsmama · Nov 17, 2019

NYCgrrl said:
Agreeing with @VandVsmama on the moister meat specifically white meat. Should you season the brine with more than sugar and salt it will also infuse it's flavor throughout the entire bird. The brined bird that I have to hide a bit of in advance to make sure I get some is this one:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/brined-roast-turkey-with-pan-gravy-recipe-1941958
It's not a recipe to start spur of the moment as it has so many ingredients some of which the cost adds up on but when I know I'm doing it I start buying the seasonings months in advance. I never use grade A maple syrup always B since the brined is thrown away.

Otherwise it's simple stuff like a lemon or orange with thyme. Honey sounds like a nice addition.

I use honey instead of sugar. It makes the skin this lovely dark color.

barkley · Nov 17, 2019

oiled w/butter flavored olive oil, seasoned then i take a couple of oranges cut in half and squeeze the juice over the bird. put the orange halves (rind and all) inside the unstuffed bird. no detectable orange taste but it seems to help with browning AND by putting them inside they somewhat steam the interior of the bird.

Haley R · Nov 17, 2019

If I were to make a 5-9 lb frozen turkey, how long and at what temp would I put that in the oven for after thawing? I’ll be using an oven bag if that makes a difference

PrincessShmoo · Nov 17, 2019

Haley R said:
If I were to make a 5-9 lb frozen turkey, how long and at what temp would I put that in the oven for after thawing? I’ll be using an oven bag if that makes a difference

Here's a couple of opinions I found on the internet:

Another good place for info on turkey roasting:
https://www.butterball.com/how-to/roast-a-turkey

Haley R · Nov 17, 2019

PrincessShmoo said:
Here's a couple of opinions I found on the internet:
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Awesome thanks! It seems like 2-3 hours will be best. Do you know what temp to do?

PrincessShmoo · Nov 17, 2019

Haley R said:
Awesome thanks! It seems like 2-3 hours will be best. Do you know what temp to do?

Here's a good link for turkey roasting questions:
https://www.butterball.com/how-to/roast-a-turkey

leebee · Nov 18, 2019

Even though we go to friends' for Thanksgiving, I always cook a small turkey at home. My favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is leftovers and soup, so I like having my own bird. I make a bread/sage stuffing, make sure to butter the outside, roast the turkey in the oven tented with foil until about the last 45 mins when the foil comes off so the turkey can brown. One Thanksgiving DD brined her turkey and it was great, but I'm happy with a 10 pound store-brand turkey; they always come out juicy, tender, and tasty!

lynxstch · Nov 18, 2019

Kitty 34 said:
If you cook it or someone else.....how do they prepare the bird?

I have always bought the oven bags and we cook it unstuffed in the oven in an aluminum pan. Has always worked for us and the turkey is usually quite moist.

This is the way I have always done it. I'm not one to spend all day cooking a turkey. I have very fond memories of my great grandmother back in the day. She would cook our turkey in a brown paper bag in the oven. Then they got one of those stand alone electric roaster things and would cook it in that for what seemed like forever. But it always tasted dry to me. The oven bags leave it nice and tender and juicy, the only thing it doesn't do is crisp up the skin very much.

apirateslifeforme · Nov 18, 2019

My SIL and her partner host Thanksgiving. They are farmers and raise their own turkeys (as well as pigs, cows, and chickens, plus some veg). They usually only prepare half a turkey; those things are so big that they can't fit a whole one into their oven, and this half-turkey feeds all 30 of us, with leftovers. They "stuff" it with whole apples, pears, celery, onions, and a turnip or two. I can't even describe how good this turkey is. Definitely has a different taste than a turkey that's been purchased from a grocery store, even a "fresh" turkey (honestly, all the meat we get from the farm has a different flavor than store-bought meat). My DH doesn't like turkey, usually, but he's admitted he looks forward to the fresh farm turkey every year!

Kathryn Merteuil · Nov 18, 2019

I am not sure, my mother in-law is ordering it from some place and they cook it. She just goes and picks it up.

sam_gordon · Nov 18, 2019

Fry it! We brine it the night before, then as the oil is heating up, dry it inside and out. IIRC, it takes ~60-90 minutes to fully cook it. It comes out nice and juicy!

Meriweather · Nov 18, 2019

Someone else cooks. I gave the "privilege" away years ago to DS's family.
Various people have prepared it over the years. We've had it roasted, deep fried, bought precooked.
This year a new person in our family circle is doing it. She is a chef. No idea what to expect.....should be good though (and I don't have to do it

)

FlightlessDuck · Nov 18, 2019

Roasted in a metal pan, unstuffed. With olive oil and herbs.

Stuffing is evil.

DisneyHardin · Nov 18, 2019

We eat at my parent's house. My dad smokes a turkey breast and deep frys a whole turkey. Both always turn out fantastic.

easyas123 · Nov 18, 2019

Wet brining this year, and will stuff & roast in oven. I shove as much butter under the skin as I can.
Best turkey I EVER made was the year our son arrived home from a stint with the Army on Thanksgiving day! I tossed that turkey in the the oven, seasoned up & covered in tinfoil. Then off to the airport, 4 hours later we were home, my house didn't burn down, and the turkey was perfect! Couldn't replicate that turkey if I tried!!

tazdev3225 · Nov 18, 2019

My mom does the cooking. She stuffs it and in the oven it goes. Sometimes it has a foil tent, she has used the bag on occasion also. I don't really care I take the smallest piece of turkey I can and concentrate on the rest of the food. I am not a huge fan of poultry and having had food poisoning from chicken over the summer I really don't want any but I have to make a small turkey breast for my husband. Stuffed and in the oven uncovered.

Then again Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday.

sksjasams · Nov 18, 2019

Kitty 34 said:
If you cook it or someone else.....how do they prepare the bird?

I have always bought the oven bags and we cook it unstuffed in the oven in an aluminum pan. Has always worked for us and the turkey is usually quite moist.

Exactly the same as you! I started using one of those probe thermometers that sits out on the counter a couple years ago, and it turns out perfect every time.

Kitty 34 · Nov 18, 2019

Meriweather said:
Someone else cooks. I gave the "privilege" away years ago to DS's family.
Various people have prepared it over the years. We've had it roasted, deep fried, bought precooked.
This year a new person in our family circle is doing it. She is a chef. No idea what to expect.....should be good though (and I don't have to do it )

I'm the opposite. I was handed down the privilege of cooking Thanksgiving turkey in 2006 from my Mom. And, yes, I'm fortunate that both Mom and Dad still attend. Mother still insists on drinking a glass of White Port as we set the table. Traditions; gotta love 'em. :love:

How is your Thanksgiving turkey cooked?

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