Cooking The Thanksgiving Turkey The Day Before

[Saphire]

I am thinking about doing this. It would make things so much easier on Thanksgiving day. I have one oven, and it would give me more room and options. I really, really dislike dealing with 'the remains' after dinner. I don't enjoy hovering over the turkey, hoping it isn't overcooked or undercooked. This way, I could keep my eye on it without a house full of people.
Has anyone out there done this? If so, please give me your best advice and cooking/storing/reheating tips to make this work well. Thanks!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think it will taste like reheated turkey.

 

[Angelhalo]

I think it will taste like reheated turkey.

I have to agree. It sounds like a great idea in theory but any time I have ever had turkey that was cooked the day before....it tastes like turkey that was cooked the day before. It wouldn't bother me, because I mostly eat the turkey in turkey sandwiches which are generally made from leftover turkey. But, day before turkey on a plate, not in between bread, with mayo, pickles etc....not very good.

Just my opinion. Maybe there is a Martha Stewart here n the DIS who has some tried and true advice that will make it work for you?

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I think I remember someone saying they put the cooked turkey in chicken broth overnight...sounds like it would help with the "dry" issue.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Is it possible for you to cook it the evening/night before so that it would be DONE at the time you went to bed, and you could leave it in the warm oven overnight, then warm it up in the morning when you get up (most people get up EARLY), then take it out to cool off as you would normally, and cook the other items?

 

[Angelhalo]

Is it possible for you to cook it the evening/night before so that it would be DONE at the time you went to bed, and you could leave it in the warm oven overnight, then warm it up in the morning when you get up (most people get up EARLY), then take it out to cool off as you would normally, and cook the other items?

That sounds like a good idea...maybe that would work?

 

[disneyhand]

Have you considered purchasing a roaster? It's kind of like a giant crock pot, if you aren't familiar with them. I bought one last year and loved it. Really freed up the oven. Couldn't be easier.

There is a thread from last year with info about them over on the cooking board, if you're interested.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Is it possible for you to cook it the evening/night before so that it would be DONE at the time you went to bed, and you could leave it in the warm oven overnight, then warm it up in the morning when you get up (most people get up EARLY), then take it out to cool off as you would normally, and cook the other items?

That sounds like a good idea...maybe that would work?

I wanted to add, although you might not want to, you could set an alarm to wake up once or twice to baste it through the night... might help with it drying out.

 

[GoodFairies]

Is it possible for you to cook it the evening/night before so that it would be DONE at the time you went to bed, and you could leave it in the warm oven overnight, then warm it up in the morning when you get up (most people get up EARLY), then take it out to cool off as you would normally, and cook the other items?

Sure, if you enjoy subjecting yourself and your guests to potential food poisoning.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Sure, if you enjoy subjecting yourself and your guests to potential food poisoning.

I worked in food safety alongside the USDA for two years. It's not going to happen in that short of time in a warm oven. The core temp of the turkey wouldn't get low enough.

 

[Gigi22]

I haven't tried this personally, but the teacher of the cooking school I used to attend put up instructions for cooking a turkey the day before Thanksgiving. The url is:
http://www.pamcooks.com/recipe7.htm
She was an excellent instructor, and currently does a cooking spot on one of our local tv stations. I am sure her instructions will work!

 

[msmayor]

I have cooked a turkey the day before, and in some respects it was far tastier than one cooked that day...

As another poster suggested, once the turkey is sliced immerse it in broth. I make a turkey broth out of the neck/giblets though...tossing onion/carrots/celery in as well. Strain the broth well and then cover the turkey pieces completely with the broth in a large pan and refrigerate.

The next day, the whole pan just warms up in the oven or microwave.

Submerging the turkey in a seasoned broth means very moist and tender meat the next day.

 

[GoodFairies]

I worked in food safety alongside the USDA for two years. It's not going to happen in that short of time in a warm oven. The core temp of the turkey wouldn't get low enough.

You consider 7 or more hours a "short time?"

 

[AKL_Megs]

You consider 7 or more hours a "short time?"

Yeah right, who gets a full night sleep the day before Turkey Day... When they are HOSTING!!!

Nobody is going to die. All she needs to do is reheat it to AT LEAST 180 the next AM. It will kill all bacteria and appease those paranoid.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I did this once, although it was for a party, not T-day. I cooked the turkey the day before, and sliced all the meat off . Then the next day I put it in a big crock pot with some water on low for about 4 or 5 hours. Then I served the turkey and I do not remember it being dry at all. It was still tasty.

 

[kehlyrsmom]

I have always done this I also have always cooked a whole bird as well. I beer baste mine the day I cook it. Once it has cooled I cover it to keep overnight. I do not carve it until the next day then I reheat it and I pour a can of chicken broth in each dish I am using to reheat. I never had an issue with it tasting dry or like reheated turkey. Plus since I baste my turkey with beer the day I am cooking it my house smells like a brewery and I don't exactly want my house smelling like that on Thanksgiving or Xmas.

 

[GoodFairies]

Yeah right, who gets a full night sleep the day before Turkey Day... When they are HOSTING!!!

Nobody is going to die. All she needs to do is reheat it to AT LEAST 180 the next AM. It will kill all bacteria and appease those paranoid.

What does the number of hours of sleep have to do with anything? Unless I am mistaken most people don't eat Thanksgiving dinner in the a.m.

Paranoid?
I call it "smart" but tomato, tomato.

Once food has been in the unsafe zone, reheating doesn't necessarily help.

There is no food safety website that would support leaving a turkey in an off (or even low) oven for any significant length of time.

 

[minniecarousel]

I usually cook 2 turkeys for Thanksgiving - one the day before and one the morning of. There have been no complaints of dry turkey. I use Reynold's Cooking Bags and the one the day before is unstuffed, the other one is stuffed. I may brine one - I have never brined a turkey before.

 

[almburr]

I always use an electric roaster. That way my oven is free for everything else.

 

[AKL_Megs]

What does the number of hours of sleep have to do with anything? Unless I am mistaken most people don't eat Thanksgiving dinner in the a.m.

Paranoid?
I call it "smart" but tomato, tomato.

Once food has been in the unsafe zone, reheating doesn't necessarily help.

There is no food safety website that would support leaving a turkey in an off (or even low) oven for any significant length of time.

I'm pretty sure I said reheat in the AM

Do what you do... It was a suggestion. It sits out to cool anyways. I don't see how a HOT HOT bird in a warm overnight and reintroducing heat in the AM to heat up, which would kill bacteria, is so terrible.