TURKEY TALK!

Friends, do you bake the best turkey ever?  I hope so!  I used to, really I did, but in the last few years for whatever the reason:  I don't!  You'd think a person who just about lives in the kitchen could do this right?
This week I've thawed and baked a test turkey.  Maybe I should have gotten a freezer full of them to test.  The results I'll share with you today, but until then I'll add links and videos for turkey cooking, for those new to this or like me who need reminders.  Hey, we're on a search for the Perfect Turkey right?
Time for Turkey Talk!

TURKEY TIPS, VIDEOS, HELPERS

BUTTERBALL GUIDE

BUTTERBALL CALCULATIONS AND CONVERSIONS: 

HOW BIG, THAWING & COOKING TIMES CLICK HERE

EXCELLENT GUIDE IT CALCULATES THE TIME TO COOK EVERY SIZE TURKEY

BRINES

CLEMSON EXTENSION click links below!

HOW TO BRINE A TURKEY WET AND DRY

CLEMSON HOW TO COOK A TURKEY

 You may contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988

HIBISCUS HOUSE

TURKEY TIME COOKING CHART POST

A FEW ASSORTED VIDEOS ARE BELOW FOR YOU

LIQUID BRINE 

DRY BRINE

Genolia, my sweet mother in law, used to do this.  Of course back then that wasn't known as dry brining it was simply seasoning and placing into the fridge overnight.  She always did this and let me tell you her turkey was so moist and delicious!

HOW TO SPATCHCOCK A TURKEY
SPECIAL WAY OF CUTTING TURKEY FOR ROASTING

I have done this and it does cook faster, the skin is crisper.  I liked it but had forgotten about it.  Be careful when cutting out the backbone.  I do like using the sharp kitchen shears better than using a knife.  I find that to be a safer alternative.

Watched several videos with chefs & knifes scared me! Sheers easier then knife to finish up. Fairly easy to do, especially if you know how to cut up a chicken easy.  I find that lots of people don't cut up their own chickens and show them how a lot of times.

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN

A LITTLE DIFFERENT RECIPE

COOKING TURKEY IN REYNOLDS OVEN BAG

Cooking Turkey Bag Cooking Guide Here

Reynolds Oven Cooking Turkey Bag Guidelines Weights, Times, etc. Here

This method is a good way to get a really moist and delicious turkey.  I like this easy method and it gives great results, with lots of good dripping in the bag.  I would love to have a little crisper skin.  Someone suggested that maybe I should open the bag and brown the skin more. That sounds like a good idea.

You can also add if you like orange and lemon sections, fresh rosemary and sage into the cavity, while placing the onions and celery beneath the bird.  Also, you can make an herb butter to rub or brush melted over the bird.

LAURA VITALE TURKEY BAKING

I want to try this method saving it here for future reference.  I have cooked some of her recipes and they always turn out good.

INA GARTEN'S ROAST AND CARVE

BAKING THE TURKEY BREAST SIDE DOWN METHOD

This may actually work, will try it later!

HOW TO DEEP FRY A TURKEY

I know lots of friends and family that fry their turkey.  Chuck and I have in the past ordered from a fellow retired policeman who is no longer with us.  He could cook a fabulous fried turkey.  We miss him and his turkeys.  Personally, we have never fried one ourselves.

ELECTRIC ROASTING PAN

JILLEE OF ONE GOOD THING SHOWS HOW: HERE 

I am not recommending a product or method.  Sharing how some friends have stated they cook their turkeys.  Some love this method. I didn't have very good results but as I said some do.

MY HERB ROASTED TURKEY BREAST RECIPE HERE

Honeysuckle White Turkey Breast Roasting Chart

ESTIMATED ROASTING TIME††
††For food safety, and best dining experience, always use a meat thermometer to check for proper doneness.
Weight in Lbs.	Roasting Time at 350°	Slow Cooker Time on High	Slow Cooker Time on Low
3-5 lbs.	1-2¼ hours	3-4 hours	5-6 hours
5-7 lbs.	2¼-3 hours	4-5 hours	6-7 hours
7-9 lbs.	3-3½ hours	5-6 hours	7-8 hours

Cook until Thermometer in thickest part of breast meat registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit

CARVING THE TURKEY

JUST FOR FUN

VIDEO FEATURING COOKING METHODS OF MARTHA STEWART, GUY FIERI, ALTON BROWN, AYESHA CURRY 

TURKEY ROASTING METHODS I HAVE TRIED IN THE PAST

TRADITIONAL ROAST SEASONED HE NIGHT BEFORE AND MELTED BUTTER ADDED.  ROASTED UNDER FOIL/ WITHOUT FOIL, WITH/WITHOUT BROTH IN THE BOTTOM-- SLOW ROAST METHOD AT 325 DEGREES. GOOD RESULTS

HIGH TEMP OVEN 500 DEGREES PREHEAT PREPARE TURKEY ROAST COVERED FOR 1 HOUR TURN OFF OVEN AND DO NOT OPEN OVEN UNTIL MORNING. WE AROUND HERE HAVE USED THIS METHOD...SCARY AS IT SOUNDS. IT WAS PRETTY DELICIOUS ACTUALLY..
TRICIA YEARWOOD STILL COOKS HER'S THAT WAY. RECIPE HERE.


THE TURKEY BAKED IN THE REYNOLDS OVEN COOKING BAG METHOD.  I HAVE USED THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND LIKE IT, FOR A FOOLPROOF TENDER TURKEY..(I wish the skin would be more crisp only downfall for me personally.)

I HAVE ROASTED A TURKEY BREAST SIDE DOWN, BUT DID SO THE ENTIRE TIME.  I DON'T RECALL IT BEING PARTICULARLY GOOD. MAY HAVE TO TRY THE METHOD IN ABOUT VIDEO ABOVE SOUNDS LIKE A BETTER ONE TO USE.

WET BRINE AND DRY BRINE I HAVE DONE BOTH AND REALLY CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.  

CARVING HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME THANKFULLY!

MY TEST TURKEY TRIED THIS PAST WEEK...not my favorite...sharing what not to do in my opinion.   I WOULD NOT DO AGAIN!

TEST TURKEY METHOD HIGH HEAT SHORT TIME THEN LOWER HEAT TO FINISH:

PREHEAT OVEN 450 COOK 20-30 MINUTES, TURN HEAT DOWN TO 350 BAKE 13 MINUTES PER POUND.
I started out with this 12.85 pound turkey thawed. Prepared, seasoned well, stuffed with onion & celery.  Roasted, let it rest.
*Note I did all of that plus inserted my in oven Perfect Turkey feature.  Both finished within a minute of each other. My timing, extra testing with hand thermometer and the in oven feature.
Results White Meat:  It was delicious, flavorful, melt in your mouth tender! The skin was partially crisp, but not to my total liking.
Results Dark Meat:  Not very good.  It was cooked, but stuck to the bone, rubbery, not tender, and not very tasty.
**Note**I made delicious stock from the carcass/dark meat. We ate turkey sandwiches for a couple of days.
Will I make it again?  No, not for the whole turkey.  I may try for a turkey breast because that was delicious.

Still searching for a new recipe to make the best of today's fast grown turkeys on the market.

They aren't the birds of the past, nor do they taste like them

Leaves one searching for the Perfect Turkey Recipe.

Happy Turkey Week!