Tips on Choosing a Turkey Size
Choosing a Turkey Size
Choosing a turkey size is difficult for some people. A good rule of thumb to remember is ¾ pound per person. This will allow enough for each person to have seconds. However, if you want to have a lot left over then you will want to have ½ pound per person.
Decide Upon either a Hen or a Tom
Choosing a turkey Hen or Tom will depend on whether you want a big or medium sized turkey. This is because Hens weigh less than 16 pounds while Toms weigh over 16 pound. Either way, whenever you are choosing a turkey you will want to make sure that it was only a few weeks old whenever it was processed so that it will be tender.
Thawing Your Bird
The best way to thaw your turkey is to leave it in your refrigerator. You will need to plan ahead though because a 20 pound bird will take three days to completely defrost. If you want a crisper skin, make sure to unwrap your turkey a day before you roast it.
Using Oil
You should apply a coat of olive or vegetable oil to the external surface of your turkey before you roast it. It is also a good idea to season it with salt and pepper then wrap it in aluminum foil so that it won't get too brown when it is roasted.
Preparing the Turkey
You will need to remove the neck and giblets from the body cavity before rinsing the hollowed insides well with cold water. Now you can stuff your turkey before clamping its leg back into place.
Cooking Tips and Tricks
Make sure that your timer can be clearly seen, then cover the turkey with a lid or foil. This covering will need to be removed an hour before the turkey is completely cooked in order to allow enough time for browning.
Roasting Tips
Make sure to preheat your oven to 325 degree Fahrenheit. You will want to roast your turkey for 15 minutes per pound if you didn't stuff it. If you did stuff your turkey, it will take an extra hour to cook your turkey. It is also important to turn your turkey over so that it will be evenly roasted on all sides.
Basting Tips
Basting tubes are inexpensive and make it easier to baste your turkey because you won't have to open the oven so much to see how much roasting has been done.
Checking The Turkey's Temperature
Make sure that the spot between the breast and the leg of your turkey reads 180 degrees Fahrenheit before you take your bird out of the oven. The internal stuffing should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once these temperatures are reached, you will want to leave your turkey in the oven for an additional 15 minutes.
Safety Tips
Make sure that you wash everything that touches the raw turkey with soap and water. You don't want to touch other things when you just touched the raw turkey.
Conclusion
There is a lot of information available about choosing a turkey and cooking it. Whenever you find the right information you will be able to get the right bird and prepare the perfect meal for your family this Thanksgiving.
Published by Brenda Hoffman
I am a college graduate and now a single mother of a wonderful daughter whom I am able to homeschool because I work as a full-time freelance writer from home. View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentA few years ago i saw an episode of Designing Women. In this one, the group was discussing young brides and cooking. Charlene mentioned that she saw a couple purchasing a turkey Thanksgiving Day. She said she did not have the heart to tell them they would be waiting three to four days just for the thing to thaw. This information is vital for some who do not have the benefit of a mother teaching them how to cook. Great details!