Guide to Cooking Your Turkey in a Crock Pot

When planning your Thanksgiving meal, you need to know how many guests will be dining with you. Then, you need to purchase an appropriate sized bird. Plan on between one-third to a half pound of precooked meat per guest. Only a small turkey can be cooked in a crock pot. About six to seven pounds is the largest bird that will fit in an oval seven quart crock pot. Using a turkey breast is an excellent alternative to trying to fit a whole bird in the pot. The biggest plus of using a turkey breast is--there is no waste (bones and skin). The turkey (or turkey breast) should be thawed before preparing the bird for cooking. The time it takes a bird to thaw is usually printed on the plastic packaging the bird is purchased in from the store. Keep the turkey refrigerated while it is thawing. This will prevent spoilage.

Crock pot cooking takes longer than the traditional method of using a kitchen range. So, plan ahead! Cooking with a slow cooker does not make crisp skin on a turkey. It won't be browned like it is when it comes out of an oven. The advantage of using a slow cooker is that it can be started many hours ahead of time. Meat prepared in a slow cooker is really moist.

First, remove the packaging from the bird. Scrape off any pin feathers that may still be in the skin. Rinse the bird in cold water. There is a small bag that holds the giblets (heart, liver and gizzard) that needs to be pulled out of the turkey. There is also a turkey neck tucked in the cavity. These items should all be rinsed before being placed back in the cavity. (The steps in this paragraph can be omitted if using a turkey breast).

Allow the cleaned bird a few minutes to dry. Then, follow the directions below.

Turkey in a Crock Pot

6-7 lb. turkey or turkey breast
2-3 T olive oil
1 c water or a can of chicken broth
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 t poultry seasoning
1 t Lawry's seasoning salt
1/4 t garlic powder

Lightly coat turkey with oil using a pastry brush. Pour liquid in crock pot. The bottom of the pot should be covered. Mix remaining ingredients together and then sprinkle (or rub) over turkey. Place turkey in crock pot. Cook on low for 10-12 hours. Do not lift the lid to check the progress during the cooking process. This results in heat loss. It can take a half hour for a crock pot to regain its temperature. Remove from cooker and let stand ten minutes before slicing.

The broth from the turkey can be used to make a delicious gravy. Simply pour the broth into a pan and thicken. The gravy can be made during the ten minutes that the turkey is cooling.

If you have leftover turkey, it can be used in casseroles or sandwiches. Enjoy!