Anyone ever slow cooked a Turkey?

[golfgal]

I slow cooked a chicken the other day and it was SO good so I was wondering if anyone has done that for Turkey? I was thinking something like 250° for 8-10 hours or something along that line. Anyone?

 

[DisMN]

This is how we cook our Thanksgiving turkey every year. You'll have some come in and tell you it's unhealthy to cook it at that low temp but we've never had a problem.......I usually do turn the heat way up midway through the cooking and then back down.....

The only problem with cooking a big bird this way is getting it out of the pan. It falls apart to the point where it will be in pieces. The solution to that is to put a small metal rack in the bottom of the pan for the bird to sit on and then just take the turkey out while it's still sitting on the rack.

Uh oh. I'm hungry.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Yup, I have cooked it a couple of times at a very low temp over night.

 

[Dismom+two]

My DH has done this on occasion at Thanksgiving. He puts it in before we head to bed and then the next day I believe he bumps up the temp alittle....not sure...I'm not aloud in the kitchen!!
Anyway, I think its taste GREAT when slow cooked!!!

 

[golfgal]

I might have to try this. Slow cooking is safe. Usually the guidelines say something like cook at 350 for 1 hour or 250 for 6 hours or whatever. Thanks.

 

[maroney495]

That's how I cook mine every year. Put it in bedtime and ready the next morning. Mom always cooked hers that way too. Never had any problems.

 

[frndofpooh]

That's how I cook mine every year. Put it in bedtime and ready the next morning. Mom always cooked hers that way too. Never had any problems.

That's how my mom did it - it was great to wake up to the smell of Turkey on Thanksgiving!

 

[Nancyg56]

Would anyone care to post the directions? You have me interested.

 

[golfgal]

I haven't done it yet but basically you season your turkey however you normally would and cook it at 250° for a long time , I would say 10 hours but someone that has done it probably has a better idea of exact time. I cook all my beef that way and it is so good. I just did the chicken and WOW!

 

[Figment22]

You'll have some come in and tell you it's unhealthy to cook it at that low temp but we've never had a problem

OK. I'll be the one...

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/turkey/techniques.html#bad3

Slow-Cooking Overnight Method
This method is dangerous and involves cooking the turkey at 190 to 200°F overnight or for 12 to 13 hours. There are many versions of the slow-cooking method around and all of them put you and your dinner guests at risk of foodborne illness (food poisoning). A low oven temperature means the turkey will take longer to heat, increasing the risk of harmful bacteria growth and the production of toxins that may not be destroyed with further cooking.

Make It Safe - The USDA recommends temperatures no lower than 325°F for cooking meat and poultry

You really shouldn't cook it this way. Just because you've been lucky in the past and haven't gotten sick doesn't mean it can't happen.

 

[Wishes2you]

My DH has done this on occasion at Thanksgiving. He puts it in before we head to bed and then the next day I believe he bumps up the temp alittle....not sure...I'm not aloud in the kitchen!!
Anyway, I think its taste GREAT when slow cooked!!!

OMG...It's to die for!

DS her DH & Kids spent Thanksgiving here last year.
He was in charge of Turkey, Gravy & Stuffing. DS & I did the
rest. Everything was Great. I Will miss his turkey this
year. We will be at the polynesian for Traditional Dinner this year.

 

[mtdevine615]

I wouldn't be concerned to much about what the FDA has to say. Who listens to the government anyway. As long as the internal temp. is at 180 degrees you will be fine. If everything had to be cooked at 325 or above every BBQ place in the country would be closed because they don't cook over 200. BBQ should be low and slow. I've cooked our turkey this way for 25 years and my Mother and Grandmother did it this way before me. It takes about 12 hours to cook a 20 - 22 pound bird.

 

[ZachnElli]

My mil does it this way, she puts it in at midnight at 200 degrees. I call it salmonella turkey. Now, before anyone gets offended, you have to know my mil! And I think there is a big difference between 200 and 250 degrees (that's what the OP'r is cooking at). Also, I doubt it really has salmonella, because it's always so dry it has the texture of sandpaper! Blech! I don't know what she does wrong?