No Thanksgiving table would be complete without a perfectly browned turkey in the center. Even folks that don’t love the taste of turkey expect to have some on this special day, and will eat it without complaint, not expecting anything great.
Most of us have memories of dry, bland birds from Thanksgiving past. Some have never even sampled a good one! (Sad indeed.) Far from being tasteless and boring, a turkey can be delicious and moist—not to mention very affordable.
I’ve been cooking Thanksgiving dinner since I was 15-years-old. (I am now 36, so that’s a lot of practice.) Over the years, I’ve experimented quite a bit. There are a few things that truly make a world of difference and don’t require a ton of effort, which I’ve blogged about before.
My preferred method is to use a roasting bag, which eliminates the need for basting. (Basting is bad because you have to constantly open the oven door, causing temperature fluctuations that will extend the cooking time.)
Another way is to brine the bird. It produces excellent results, though it does require additional steps. My best friends always cooks her turkey this way—she is the one who actually taught me about it—and the result is fantastic.
Whether you brine or use a roasting bag, we both agree on one thing: stuffing. As in, do not use bread stuffing inside the bird. Instead, use one apple, one onion, and one orange. This is the best combination! Just quarter everything, toss it inside the cavity, and throw away after it’s cooked.
As for the pop-up timer, don’t rely on that. They are notoriously inaccurate, resulting in over cooked food, every single time. It’s much better to buy a meat thermometer ($10 or less at Walmart).
Turkey can be intimidating, especially the first time, but it does get easier. With a little effort, you can make something “blah” into something super.
If you have any turkey tips, I’d love to hear about them.
usually turkey is so dry that I never enjoy it
I like using the roasting bag too, it comes out perfect every time.
Other than drumsticks, I hate turkey. We eat roast beef on Thanksgiving.
Roast beef is waaaaaaay better than turkey!
I’ve used a roasting bag as long as I can remember. I have been intrigued by the brine process, though.
I tried the brine once. Very good result, but you have to work for it. Thanksgiving is always so hectic, it can be too much.
I also put the turkey in a bag. It comes out moist no dry.
I usually volunteer at a local shelter and then I get to eat all the turkey I want. And it is so good and juicy.
Volunteering is so important! I really admire anyone who gives up their holiday to serve.
I use a roaster. It turns out great and is tried and true, I have been meaning to try brining, it sounds good. It is th two of us now. I cook a small bird and the trimmings in fact I did it Sunday. We also volunteer at a community meal on Thanksgiving I only make the small one at home for leftovers!
Do you know the maximum size that will fit in a roaster? I’ve heard they work well but it has to be a small bird.
I always use a roasting bag when I do my turkey,granted it can be pretty dry,and we love the leftovers!
Figures I saw this AFTER Thanksgiving!!!! I will definitely save this for next year!!!!