Turkey Tips

[live4christp1]

With my mom being sick, I guess as the domesticated sibling, the turkey duty will fall to me. I need tips. I usually bake the ham. Guess I will go down and get the turkey ready and put it in mom's oven, then go back home and put the ham to back in my oven.

The only think I know about the turkey is she cooks it in one of those oven bags (makes clean up easier and keeps turkey moist).

Please share your favorite tips, bastes, seasonings, etc.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Make sure you take the packet of innards (gizzards, whatnot) out of the bird! The one time I have ever cooked a turkey, I didn't find the package of innards until AFTER I'd already cooked it.

Also..if your turkey comes with a package of gravy..don't use it. It will more than likely taste terrible. The one time I did this, the gravy tasted like burned library paste.

 

[live4christp1]

Make sure you take the packet of innards (gizzards, whatnot) out of the bird! The one time I have ever cooked a turkey, I didn't find the package of innards until AFTER I'd already cooked it.

Also..if your turkey comes with a package of gravy..don't use it. It will more than likely taste terrible. The one time I did this, the gravy tasted like burned library paste.

I actually thought of that as I was typing. Reminds me of a scene from a movie, just can't remember which one. It's not National Lampoons Christmas - that's were she cooked it so long, they cut into it and it just more of less was crispy skin and vapors....

 

[TLHB70]

I know this will seem crazy, and I may get bashed for it.......
However, I will pass on a tip that someone told me. I have tried it, and it does work! Put an apple inside the cavity and baste the turkey with apple cider. I promise.......it works. It helps keep it moist.
I inject my turkey with Tony's injectable cajun seasoning. (http://www.tonychachere.com/marinades/ ) Then I rub it with Tony's regular cajun seasoning. (http://www.tonychachere.com/seasoning/# ) Then I put the apple inside the cavity and baste with the apple cider. It works perfectly! DH prefers my turkey over his mom's!

 

[minniecarousel]

I've never cooked a turkey without using the Reynold's Cookin'Bag. It cuts down on the cooking time needed and keeps it moist. I am a fan of frozen turkeys. I can't justify a fresh turkey for the huge crowd I serve. In fact, I sometimes cook two turkeys.

If you have Costco near you, their turkey gravy in the refrigerated section is very good!

 

[suevee]

I rub the turkey down lightly the night before with Kosher salt. It brings the juices up and browns the skin nicely. I also stuff the cavity with carrots, celery and onion after I spinkle it with black freshly ground pepper.

 

[powellrj]

I always use the reynolds cooking bags and just follow the directions about putting flour in the bag and shaking it. I don't use any other seasoning or baste it. I just put it in the bag and bake it! It will bake faster in the bag than it does in the stove so you need to watch it.

 

[breezy1077]

Ok, here's how I do it. BTW, make sure you also do a once-over for stray pin feathers and take them out.

I cut a head of garlic in half across the middle so all the cloves are exposed and stuff the turkey with them AND one lemon quartered AND onion too AND a full sprig of fresh rosemary and thyme. This is after I liberally salt and pepper the cavity - a must to get the proper seasoning. Also, I rub butter all over the outside of the turkey and salt and pepper that too.

Then I lay the turkey in the roaster on a bed of cut carrots, celery and more onion.

I baste every 15 to 20 minutes with a mixture of: chicken stock, 1 cup of white wine, and 1 stick of butter - that's warmed on the stove.

When the basting liquid is all gone - I baste it with it's own juices - this tends to happen towards the end of the cooking process.

Key note - the turkey is done before most people think it is. I take mine out before it reaches the optimal temp. - then I "tent" it for another 25 minutes to let the carry-over cooking bring it to full temp.

It sounds like more work than it is. Plus, If y'all do this, you'll end up with one moist and yummy turkey.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Cover the turkey with raw bacon and cook it acording to the directions as usual - its very tasty!

 

[geffric]

I've never cooked a turkey without using the Reynold's Cookin'Bag. It cuts down on the cooking time needed and keeps it moist. I am a fan of frozen turkeys. I can't justify a fresh turkey for the huge crowd I serve. In fact, I sometimes cook two turkeys.

If you have Costco near you, their turkey gravy in the refrigerated section is very good!

yep another cooking bag checks in.. makes it easy and moist.. no problem..

 

[dairyou]

Last year I watched Martha Stewart make her turkey. She took cheesecloth and soaked it in butter. She wrapped the turkey in the cheesecloth. It was the most moist turkey we ever had. I basted it every once in a while. I'm doing it again this year when we come home for our own thanksgiving dinner

Deb

 

[NewCrew42]

Reynold's Oven Bag!

They rock!