Turkey!!?

[easyas123]

I fry ours. We have 19 1/2# for 14 people, so it does take a while. lol I need to start doing the math on what time to start heating the oil, cooking the bird, etc.

We did that once year, but did a regular in the oven turkey and a fried turkey - but it was a smaller one, kinda like a experiment since we hadn't done it before! Turned out really good. One of these days we will do it again.

 

[LilyWDW]

Took my turkey out yesterday, but it's a small one (10lbs) because I cook just for me or maybe one other person. It's a butterball. I always have good luck with them in my roaster.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Honestly, I never buy into any of this. I feel like it's all a matter of angles and you could play the pros and cons of pretty much everything out there. Maybe one is better for you but the other is better for you budget and maybe also tastes better. Personally, I stock up on turkeys and put them in the deep freeze if prices drop to a good level. This year, there was no major price drop on store birds (lowest was like $0.88/lb) and Butterballs were at their normal low ($0.99/lb). I have one rock solid turkey left over from last year that I pulled out to thaw for this year (that was like $0.45/lb), bought one larger store brand bird for either Christmas or Easter, and bought a smaller Butterball to try it out on the smoker.

The one I took out last night to thaw is something like 21 lbs. We have one of those massive Oster roasters which can supposedly safely cook an unthawed bird. I know we've put ones in there that still had ice in the cavity and they were fine, so no worries.

 

[sam_gordon]

We did that once year, but did a regular in the oven turkey and a fried turkey - but it was a smaller one, kinda like a experiment since we hadn't done it before! Turned out really good. One of these days we will do it again.

It made me nervous the first year I did it, but it came out very well. DS' fiancée has said it's the only kind of turkey she'll eat (she's a very picky eater).

Also, it takes about 30 minutes to prep the night before, 30 minutes to heat the oil, 30 minutes to cook, 30 minutes to rest. Can't beat the speed!

 

[gmi3804]

I'm a trained chef (went to the Culinary Institute of America), will be 60 tomorrow ( ), and have never cooked a turkey in my life. I've always been tempted to make this for a dinner party, since it looks so good and I much prefer dark meat.

 

[soccerdad72]

I've never had any issues with store brand turkeys (bought ours the other day when they were on sale for $0.79 a pound. I think with many things, unless you're getting them right from the source (e.g. a turkey farm), it's not going to make a big difference in flavor. Season them well and cook them properly and they'll be fine. When it doubt, gravy covers up a lot of flaws.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I'm a "day before" cold bath thawer. Never had a problem in over 25 years.

I don't pay attention to the brand -- just buy the lowest price and the size I'm looking for. We've never been disappointed.

Last year I tried the cheesecloth method for something different -- it was totally not worth the extra effort.
This year is the first year in 25+ years I'm not cooking. DH and I are taking his aunt to a local hotel's buffet. Costly (and weird not to be shopping and prepping), but I'm in the final 3 weeks of my PhD coursework and don't have the time/energy to deal with cooking on top of it all.

 

[TippyThomas]

I don't buy turkey now, but we always got them locally and fresh when we did. No brand name needed.

 

[MICKIMINI]

even if we had a whole foods near us I don't think I would opt for a bird that runs over 3 1/2 x per pound what I paid for my butterball-i also am not keen on supporting a business (the producer of the product) that's had (still has) numerous claims and lawsuits regarding false advertising and animal cruelty.

I bought a turkey at whole foods 3 or 4 years ago. Thumbs down!

 

[Disneylover99]

I often buy the prestuffed butterballs that you cook from frozen.
It beats the stress of thawing.

 

[easyas123]

I often buy the prestuffed butterballs that you cook from frozen.
It beats the stress of thawing.

I had no idea such a thing existed, I've never seen one! Huh!

 

[Disneylover99]

I had no idea such a thing existed, I've never seen one! Huh!

They’re awesome! I’ve been buying them for years.