View Full Version : Need help with Turkey!
What can I say, my mother always did it and I've escaped cooking one every chance I could get but this year I would like a turkey that doesn't taste like cardboard and looks pretty too. Some of you good cooks please tell me what to do. In the past I have used the turkey bags. What is your secret please?
butter!!! Wash the turkey good, and take out inside packet. I wrap the turkey in foil that has been spread with PAM. Bake at 350 degrees 25 minutes per pound. Unwrap. Spray with butter or smear butter on it...let turkey lightly brown...
Miss Mally
11-18-2006, 09:06 AM
Kay, I take my turkey...washe it well...course take the inside packing out etc. Then I rub it. I mix a rub of butter, taragon, thyme, basil and a pinch of brown sugar. I rub it well...inside and out. Then I let it sit covered in foil while I make my stuffing for the bird.
My stuffing is made from fresh chopped cranberries, chopped pecans and walnuts (sometimes almonds), chopped fresh black cherries, chopped apple and a fresh squeezed orange and lemon. Sometimes I grate a little of the orange rind into it as well. And I add a half a stick of soften butter and mix all together. I cram all this inside my bird....coat with the rub one more time...cover in foil and bake.
The fruit makes my turkey very very moist.
The other way we do turkey for Thanksgiving is deep fry it. My dad and hubby do this.
We usually have between 25 and 45 people at our house for thanksgiving so...we have at least two turkeys and a ham.
sportacus
11-18-2006, 11:42 AM
In England they flip their birds halfway through cooking so all sides get good and brown. lol Not a bad idea if you like lifting really hot weights. lol
unicorn
11-18-2006, 04:13 PM
What can I say, my mother always did it and I've escaped cooking one every chance I could get but this year I would like a turkey that doesn't taste like cardboard and looks pretty too. Some of you good cooks please tell me what to do. In the past I have used the turkey bags. What is your secret please?
i cook mine all night long at about 250
it comes out so tenderjust falls off the bones
Thanks guys! Miss Mally, forget cooking, can we just come eat with you?? I thought about a fried turkey. We have a cooker that we used to cook crabs in but the oil is about $30! Thats a bit pricey for a turkey. You guys are going to think I am a total idiot but I never washed my turkeys before! I guess I just cooked the germs off!! LOL
Rhiannon
11-18-2006, 06:10 PM
I think I cooked my first turkey 3 years ago and I have cooked several since. I never thought I could do it either but there is nothing to it.
Last year I tried something new and I loved it, so I am going to do it again.
I shoot up the bird with pure maple syrup and butter. Then I stuffed it with quartered oranges and tangerines. I think it was tangerines, I can't remember, but for sure oranges. Then I butter the outside of the turkey good and cook it all night like Uni does. I usually start it at midnight the night before.
OK this is a dumb question but how exactly do you wash a turkey? I've been thinking about this and a turkey is probably one of the dirtiest animals (ok birds) there is. It is nasty throughout so why just wash the outside? I think if you cook it thouroughly, it should be clean. Deeeeep thoughtssssssss! LOL
Rhiannon
11-18-2006, 09:14 PM
Kay, I take my turkey...washe it well...course take the inside packing out etc. Then I rub it. I mix a rub of butter, taragon, thyme, basil and a pinch of brown sugar. I rub it well...inside and out. Then I let it sit covered in foil while I make my stuffing for the bird.
My stuffing is made from fresh chopped cranberries, chopped pecans and walnuts (sometimes almonds), chopped fresh black cherries, chopped apple and a fresh squeezed orange and lemon. Sometimes I grate a little of the orange rind into it as well. And I add a half a stick of soften butter and mix all together. I cram all this inside my bird....coat with the rub one more time...cover in foil and bake.
The fruit makes my turkey very very moist.
The other way we do turkey for Thanksgiving is deep fry it. My dad and hubby do this.
We usually have between 25 and 45 people at our house for thanksgiving so...we have at least two turkeys and a ham.
Your stuffing sounds wonderful! I might try the nuts and cranberries and black cherries with my oranges.
ptlj41
11-18-2006, 11:16 PM
DON"T FORGET TO TAKE OUT THE INSIDES - My first turkey had them there. I was wondering when we cut it what the paper was... lol
ptlj41
11-18-2006, 11:19 PM
I also get a butterball turkey. I bought a cheaper turkey and it wasn't as good.
sportacus
11-19-2006, 07:37 AM
i cook mine all night long at about 250
it comes out so tenderjust falls off the bonesDo you baste it or just let it go? Do you tent it with foil or cover the legs? I too have never cooked a turkey.
Ranger
11-19-2006, 09:43 AM
I wash my turkey inside & out after taking the inside package out. Then I season my turkey with butter--pepper--a little brown sugar.
I wash the contents of the package--put them all in a pan on top of stove to boil in water until done--usually on same day of dinner.
I put the turkey in one of the cooking bags --put it in a roaster pan & let it cook overnight at the lowest temperature in the oven. I usually start it sometime before going to bed.
If I use foil--I wrap it like a tent--put it in a roaster & cook it overnight at the lowest temperature in the oven. I usually start it sometime before going to bed.
If you use a paper sack--you have to butter the turkey & sack real good--season it then put the turkey in the paper sack--seal it put it in a roaster & cook it overnight like the other two.
Starman
11-19-2006, 01:35 PM
What can I say, my mother always did it and I've escaped cooking one every chance I could get but this year I would like a turkey that doesn't taste like cardboard and looks pretty too. Some of you good cooks please tell me what to do. In the past I have used the turkey bags. What is your secret please?
First and most important is to KILL the turkey. A live turkey is hard to cook. Then cook it. Then carve it. Then eat it. LOL
I hope this helps. LOL HAHAHA
Ranger
11-19-2006, 04:33 PM
I am going to have to confess--I cannot kill a chicken must less a turkey.
LOL We have a pet Tom turkey & I cannot even think of him being in the
oven. ha,ha,ha,ha
My mother always did that & she has been gone for several years--so it
falls upon me for the dinners now.
I have to get my husband to dress the wild turkeys & I just go get one of
those frozen turkeys. Sure glad they have frozen ones or my family would
probably be left out if they waited for me to kill one. LOL
Yeah--Starman you were a lot of help. ha,ha,ha
unicorn
11-19-2006, 06:28 PM
Do you baste it or just let it go? Do you tent it with foil or cover the legs? I too have never cooked a turkey.
i cover it with foil and i do not bast it i do not know how it does it but it comes out so juciy and tender
UKNOWME
11-19-2006, 07:01 PM
:lol: DON"T FORGET TO TAKE OUT THE INSIDES - My first turkey had them there. I was wondering when we cut it what the paper was... lol
:lol: :lol: I DID THE SAME THING!!!
sportacus
11-20-2006, 09:38 AM
I did that with my first chicken that I also baked upside down. lol Not kidding breasts on the bottom and giblets and necks inside. What a good cook huh??? lol
Miss Mally
11-20-2006, 10:19 AM
Thanks guys! Miss Mally, forget cooking, can we just come eat with you?? I thought about a fried turkey. We have a cooker that we used to cook crabs in but the oil is about $30! Thats a bit pricey for a turkey. You guys are going to think I am a total idiot but I never washed my turkeys before! I guess I just cooked the germs off!! LOL
The more the merrier...come on over.
I always wash my turkey in the sink...because sometimes they still have a quill or two in them...can't cook those off. lol
camdeeman
11-20-2006, 10:24 AM
If you have high speed internet don't listen to people telling you a time per lb... watch for yourself... get a thermometer!!!
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http://sjl-static5.sjl.youtube.com/vi/OLNLYL24qUA/2.jpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLNLYL24qUA)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9mq29BaLLk
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