Thanksgiving Turkeys

[happygirl]

Which do youi usually do? put then in the oven when you go to bed and let it cook all night, or do you get up early and put them in then, We usually put ours in before bed so we have room in the oven for other stuff.

 

[C.Ann]

First thing in the morning.. I could never sleep knowing my oven was on all night!

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

I had always heard NOT to bake all night at a low temp due to the chance of food poisoning. I know my grandmother did it and nobody got sick but i don't.

I have 20-25 people and believe in left-overs so I usually fry one turkey(, put one turkey in a roaster that i move outside and smoke 2 turkey breasts in a smoker (also outside) I have dual ovens and with the turkeys cooking elsewhere, I have room for lots and lots of sides.

 

[Kae]

We put ours in about noon. We don't eat until 5.

Kae

 

[happygirl]

I had always heard NOT to bake all night at a low temp due to the chance of food poisoning. I know my grandmother did it and nobody got sick but i don't.

I have 20-25 people and believe in left-overs so I usually fry one turkey(, put one turkey in a roaster that i move outside and smoke 2 turkey breasts in a smoker (also outside) I have dual ovens and with the turkeys cooking elsewhere, I have room for lots and lots of sides.

Is a dual oven where there is a big oven on the bottom then a small oven on top of the big oven

 

[EthansMom]

We cook ours the day of. We don't stuff it, so it actually cooks pretty dang quickly.

With only one oven, I do have to plan our menu/cooking schedule appropriately.

 

[aprilgail2]

Wow- a turkey only takes 4-5 hours typically...can't imagine what size a turkey would have to be to cook all night!!!!!

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

Is a dual oven where there is a big oven on the bottom then a small oven on top of the big oven

Actually, it's an Aga legacy with one square-ish oven and one "tower" ...and a separate broiler.

http://www.aga-ranges.com/_store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=81

I love it!

 

[happygirl]

Actually, it's an Aga legacy with one square-ish oven and one "tower" ...and a separate broiler.

http://www.aga-ranges.com/_store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=81

I love it!

WOW that is nice I wouild like to have one of those. maybe if I'm extra good Santa will bring me one

 

[Meriweather]

in the morning....late morning. We eat about 5.
I have double ovens, so not an issue with space.

 

[wdwfan16]

Get up early and turn it on.

 

[tasha99]

I get up and cook the turkey in the morning. I think a turkey would have to be ginormous to be in the oven overnight without drying out!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Has anyone ever seen the movie "Accidental Tourist" with William Hurt and Geena Davis? There is a scene where WH's sister cooks the turkey overnight on 125 degrees. They all find out she did this the next day, and when she brings the turkey out it looks all sickly and undercooked. Her suitor actually eats it..but he doesn't get sick. Gotta be love there!

I have always heard that slow cooking poultry is a huge no no.

OP, I mean no disrespect to you by sharing this story.

 

[happygirl]

Has anyone ever seen the movie "Accidental Tourist" with William Hurt and Geena Davis? There is a scene where WH's sister cooks the turkey overnight on 125 degrees. They all find out she did this the next day, and when she brings the turkey out it looks all sickly and undercooked. Her suitor actually eats it..but he doesn't get sick. Gotta be love there!

I have always heard that slow cooking poultry is a huge no no.

OP, I mean no disrespect to you by sharing this story.

No offense, I guess this is a tradtional that has been passed down through the years my great-grandma did and now I do it. I have never got sick knock on wood, The turkey has never been dry

 

[mtemm]

neither. we put ours in around 10am or so.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Just googled some sites about cooking turkeys and found this to be interesting:



http://busycooks.about.com/od/thanksgiving/a/unsafeturkeymet.htm


"Unsafe Turkey Cooking Methods

* Turkey in the Crockpot
Most food experts say that cooking a whole chicken in the slow cooker is unsafe, because the low cooking temperature keeps the cavity at an ideal temperature for breeding bacteria for too long a time. The same holds true for turkey. Note that a slow cooker is not the same as a roaster oven, such as those made by Nesco.
* Turkey Roasted Overnight
Lots of us have recipes from our mothers and grandmothers that call for roasting the turkey overnight at a temperature ranging from 200 to 250 degrees F. This is unsafe. The lowest recommended oven temperature for roasting a turkey is 325 degrees F. Once again, the long slow cooking is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. And if the turkey is stuffed the danger is even greater.
* Turkey in the Microwave
The microwave cooks too unevenly, with hot spots and cool spots, to be safe. The largest cut of poultry that I cook in the microwave is boneless skinless chicken breasts. Don't even cook a turkey breast in the microwave oven.
* Turkey Breast in the Crockpot
I have many recipes for this method. I've always considered it safe, but in my research I've found that this method is now also considered risky. If you don't have anyone in your family in the high risk group, go ahead. I'll continue to cook my turkey this way unless I'm serving someone at risk. But now I know there is a risk.
* Deep Frying Turkey
This method produces a perfectly safe bird, but the method itself can be dangerous and has led to many fires. The Underwriter's Laboratory has decided not to certify any turkey fryers. If you do choose to deep fry your turkey, make sure the container is large enough, and that the frying is done outside away from flammable materials (that includes your house and deck!). Keep kids and pets away and make sure the oil cools down in a safe place before disposing. And have a couple of fire extinguishers ready and waiting.
* Stuffing Your Turkey the Night Before
Never never never stuff your turkey until it's ready to go into the oven. Even if the stuffing reaches a safe internal temperature, the bacteria have had plenty of time to produce toxins that are not destroyed by heat and can make you sick.
* Thawing Turkey at Room Temperature
Again, this allows bacteria to reach truly dangerous levels. Either thaw the turkey in the refrigerator, under running cold water, or cook it frozen.
* The Brown Paper Bag Method
Do not cook turkey in a brown paper bag unless it is one that has been approved for food use. The chemicals used in manufacturing these bags could leach into the turkey and cause health problems.
* The Trash Bag Method
Do not use a trash bag to brine or marinate the turkey, for the same reason. Oven roasting bags and frozen birds sold in the bags are perfectly safe.
* Turducken
Turducken can be perfectly safe, but only if it is prepared quickly and the ingredients that aren't being immediately used are refrigerated. Do not prepare this recipe in advance. Also do not bake the turducken at temperatures below 325 degrees F; again, overnight and long slow cooking is dangerous. And be sure that the very interior is cooked to 165 degrees F (some sources say 180 degrees F). "

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

When I cook a turkey (which isn't every year because my kids don't like it) I put it in the oven around 10am. Even later if it's small and not stuffed.

I don't care what time we eat and I'd much rather watch the parades at Thanksgiving.

 

[Kitty 34]

I usually put mine in around 9:00