Tips to Cook the Holiday Turkey
How to Make the Thanksgiving Day Bird
Learn tips on making the perfect holiday Thanksgiving turkey. Following these tips will make your turkey moist and delicious. Make your Thanksgiving dinner a hit!
The turkey is usually the most popular item at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Following these simple tips can help make the Thanksgiving Day turkey moist, tender and safe.
Purchasing the Turkey
Whether you are purchasing a fresh or frozen turkey, consumers can be confident that they are buying a quality product. Frozen turkeys are usually flash frozen immediately after processing. Once thawed, frozen turkeys are usually as fresh as the day it was processed.
Fresh turkeys are always chilled after packaging and have a shorter shelf life. Fresh turkeys are usually more expensive than frozen turkeys.
Thawing the Turkey
When preparing the Thanksgiving Day turkey, remember to properly thaw the turkey. Always thaw the turkey in the refrigerator in its original packaging. Refrigerator thawing is the safest method of thawing the turkey and gives the best end results. Thaw an 8 to 12 pound bird for 2 to 2.5 days, 13 to 19 pound bird for 3 to 4 days and a 20 pound or larger bird for approximately 4 to 5 days.
Marinating the Turkey
Preparing your turkey for cooking is quite simple. Remove the neck and giblets from inside the turkey. Gently separate the skin from the breast of the turkey, but do not remove it. Generously rub melted butter over the breast between the skin and turkey breast. Place 2 tablespoons and dried thyme and 2 tablespoons of dried rosemary over the breast between the skin and turkey breast. Gently press the skin back in place.
Stuffing the Turkey
Do not stuff the turkey with stuffing. Stuffing a turkey with stuffing can cause a health risk. Instead, stuff the turkey with sliced oranges, lemons and limes to add juiciness and flavor. These fruits are not intended to be eaten.
Cooking the Turkey
Cooking the turkey in a cooking bag can help give the turkey juiciness and tenderness. Always remember to cook the turkey until 170 F in the breast and 180 F in the thigh. Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, even when cooking a pop up turkey.
Turkey roasting times are for a preheated 325 degrees F oven or roaster.
- 6 - 8 pound turkey cooks for 2.5 to 3 hours
- 8 - 12 pound turkey cooks for 3 to 4 hours
- 12 - 16 pound turkey cooks for 4 to 5 hours
- 16 - 20 pound turkey cooks for 5 to 5.5 hours
- 20 - 24 pound turkey cooks for 5.5 to 6 hours
Carving the Turkey
Always allow the turkey to rest for 20 minutes before caving. If the turkey is carved too soon, the juices will run out of the turkey and become dry.
Always remember to refrigerate the leftover turkey after the Thanksgiving dinner. Leftover turkey can make great meals. Leftover turkey can be used to make turkey hash the next morning or it can be used to make roasted turkey and turkey jambalaya the next evening.
Make your Thanksgiving Day meal even more memorable by adding green bean casserole, apple pie or a cranberry salad.
