Uncategorized
12. How to Get Your Turkey Ready for Thanksgiving
Photo from the National Turkey Federation, www.eatturkey.com
SO YOU HAVE THE TURKEY, HERE’S WHAT TO DO WITH IT
The time is NOW to get that turkey ready for Thanksgiving. These steps will ensure a tasty and safe bird. (1) Thaw the bird; do not thaw at room temperature. (2) Remove giblets from the bird cavity and reserve to use when making the giblet gravy. (3) Brine the bird, if it hasn’t already been injected with solution. (4) Season the bird properly. (5) Cook the bird for the appropriate length of time in the method of your choosing — oven-roasting, grilling, smoking, or frying.
Smoking a turkey and deep frying a turkey require some specific preparation steps and cook times that differ slightly from what we will discuss in this column; notably, deep-fried turkeys ought to be injected with a seasoning solution, and smoked turkeys require a much longer cooking time than oven-roasted turkeys. The basic steps listed below for prepping the bird apply in all instances.
Thaw-times for frozen birds:
- 12 lb bird 3 days in fridge
- 15 lb bird 3 to 4 days in fridge
- 18 lb bird 4 to 5 days in fridge
BRINE
Brining a bird is a step that has become popular because it works. A properly brined turkey will remain moist and juicy. Brining is a marinating process requiring equal parts of kosher salt and sugar to achieve osmosis in the tissue of the bird. It is important to adjust the amount of brine time to the weight of the bird. An 8 to 10 pound turkey should fit into a 10-quart pot or a turkey-brining bag. A large turkey might require a cooler dedicated for that purpose. NOTE: The brine container must be larger than the bird; and the bird must remain chilled while brining.
Basic Brine Recipe:
5 qts hot water
1-1/2 c kosher salt
1-1/2 c sugar (I prefer brown sugar)
1 bunch fresh thyme
2 T fresh rosemary
2 T sage
5 bay leaves
45 black peppercorns
Dried juniper berries, optional
3 c apple juice or apple cider, optional
3 qt ice
Stir the salt and sugar into the hot water to dissolve. Add the herbs, spices, nd apple juice or cider. Add the ice and let solution stand until the ice melts. Add the turkey, breast side facing down. Submerge the turkey with a heavy plate or crock. Keep chilled in fridge or on ice in large cooler. NOTE: Overbrining a smaller bird will result in the meat being too soft and too salty.
Brine Time:
12 lb or less 8-12 hrs
12-14 lb 9-14 hrs
20 lb + 15-20 hrs
About halfway through the brining time, turn the turkey over. ALWAYS rinse the brine off the bird (including the cavity) and pat the turkey dry before cooking.
COOK THE TURKEY
If you skipped the brine stage because you bought an injected turkey, now is the time to remove the giblets from the bird cavity and rinse the bird, inside and out. Pat it dry.
Preheat oven to 450º. Coat the bird with melted butter. Sprinkle poultry seasoning (or ground thyme and sage) evenly all over the bird, including around the legs and wings, and inside the cavity. Repeat this with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place about 2 T of butter inside the cavity. Place the bird on a rack inside the roasting pan. Add 1 to 2 c of water around the bird, not over the bird (less for a smaller bird, and more for a larger bird) to form a moisture cushion for the bird, and to absorb the drippings.
Put roaster in the oven and cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes. This high heat seals in the juices. Lower the heat to 325˚F and continue cooking. (See roasting chart below.)
Some people prefer to continue roasting at 350, but lower, slower roasting tends to keep the bird juicier. The age of the bird, whether or not it has been frozen, and its fat content will affect the amount of cooking time needed. Large turkeys should be roasted at a slightly lower temperature for a longer time. After the first hour of roasting, baste the bird with its pan drippings about every 15 minutes, or cover with a butter-soaked cloth. If self-basting with butter-soaked cloth, remove the cloth for the last half hour to allow the bird to brown. Length of cooking time depends on size of the bird. As the roasting nears completion, you may wish to loosely cover the breast with tented foil to prevent it from overcooking (white meat cooks faster than dark meat).
To determine roasting time, allow 20 minutes per pound for birds up to 6 pounds. Allow about 20 minutes per pound for larger birds. Add an additional 5 minutes per pound for stuffed birds. Test for doneness with a thermometer, checking three different parts of the bird. The breast and stuffing need to read 165-170˚F. When pricking the thigh or drumstick, juices should run clear, not pink. If the drumstick juggles, the bird MIGHT be overdone.
For additional information about your turkey, contact the following:
- http://eatturkey.com/consumer/cookinfo/fryturk
- (National Turkey Federation guidelines for deep-frying a turkey)
- www.butterball.com
- Butterball Turkey Hotline: 1-800-Butterball (288-8372)
HOLIDAY GIBLET GRAVY
3 T butter
3 T all-purpose white flour
1 c pan drippings from the roasting pan, skimmed of fat
1 c chicken broth or stock
Salt and black pepper, to taste (don’t skimp on the pepper)
1 to 1-1/2 c turkey giblets, cut up
(chopped pieces of cooked liver and neck)
1 hardboiled egg, chopped, OPTIONAL
Boil the neck and liver in a pan of lightly salted water with some ground thyme. Some cooks prefer to include the gizzard, which “darkens” the flavor. When boiled, cut up liver and pull the meat away from the neck bone, discarding the bones.
Over medium heat, melt the butter in a large saucepan or skillet to the bubbly stage, then sprinkle flour over the butter and stir quickly until blended. Let cook to the crumbly stage, just before burning, and slowly stir in the turkey drippings, stirring or whisking constantly, to blend the flour-butter with the drippings. Let simmer for about a minute, then slowly add more turkey or chicken stock, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the gravy has become smooth and thickened. Reduce heat to low, and add salt and pepper to taste. Add the giblets and stir. NOTE: It’s sometimes easier to do this part in the roasting pan set onto the stovetop over two burners.
VARIATION: Cook chopped celery and onion until transparent, then whisk into gravy base. Simmer, whisking. Stir in 1 c chopped hardboiled egg, just before serving, if you like egg in your giblet gravy. Keep gravy warm until ready to serve; reheating and stirring gently if needed.
Laurie Triplette is a writer, historian, and accredited appraiser of fine arts, dedicated to preserving Southern culture and foodways. Author of the award-winning community family cookbook GIMME SOME SUGAR, DARLIN’, and editor of ZEBRA TALES (Tailgating Recipes from the Ladies of the NFLRA), Triplette is a member of the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ),Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA) and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SOFAB). Check out the GIMME SOME SUGAR, DARLIN’ web site: www.tripleheartpress.com and follow Laurie’s food adventures on Facebook and Twitter (@LaurieTriplette).
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | 11:00 AM ABC or ESPN |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | 2:30 PM ESPN or ABC |
Women Nike Air Max 90 VT Brown White Mens
March 23, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your website? My blog is in the very same niche as yours and my users would truly benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Cheers!
Nike Air Max 2014 Running Is Suitbale.
March 23, 2015 at 2:05 pm
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. All the best
Nike Free Runing 4.0 V2 Online Sale
March 23, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Thanks for a marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you are a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will come back later in life. I want to encourage one to continue your great writing, have a nice evening!
replica michael kors jet set python continental red
March 23, 2015 at 3:53 pm
The very heart of your writing whilst sounding agreeable initially, did not work well with me after some time. Somewhere within the paragraphs you were able to make me a believer unfortunately only for a very short while. I however have a problem with your jumps in logic and you would do well to fill in all those breaks. In the event that you actually can accomplish that, I could certainly be amazed.
replica michael kors jet set python continental red
[url=http://muhammediprojeler.com/discount.asp?replica-michael-kors-jet-set-python-continental-red-b-7768.html]replica michael kors jet set python continental red[/url]
Discount Nike Air Max Tailwind 6 Running Is On Sale Now
March 23, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Appreciate it!
Cheap Nike Free Trainer 3.0 White Mens Discounted
March 23, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appearance. I must say you’ve done a very good job with this. In addition, the blog loads very fast for me on Opera. Superb Blog!
Mens Nike Air Max LTD 2 Gray Running Fast Shipping Of High Standard
March 23, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Hey there, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, terrific blog!
air jordan 4 retro lightning 2013
March 23, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your site. You have some really great articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested. Kudos!
air jordan 4 retro lightning 2013
discount authentic louis vuitton theda gm handbag
March 23, 2015 at 6:18 pm
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
discount authentic louis vuitton theda gm handbag
Try To Free 5.0 V2 NavyBlue Womens To Own With Discounted Price
March 23, 2015 at 6:46 pm
Hi, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any help is very much appreciated.
replica michael kors hamilton navy
March 23, 2015 at 6:48 pm
Howdy! Quick question that’s completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to fix this problem. If you have any recommendations, please share. Thanks!
replica michael kors hamilton navy
black new speedy louis vuitton
March 23, 2015 at 7:10 pm
First off I would like to say superb blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing. I have had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out. I truly do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Appreciate it!|掲示板}
black new speedy louis vuitton
air jordan 28 australia
March 23, 2015 at 7:16 pm
This is a terrific site, might you be interested in doing an interview about just how you created it? If so e-mail me!
air jordan 28 australia
Cheapest Free Runing 3.0 V5 Grey White Mens Running
March 23, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website and in depth information you present. It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material. Excellent read! I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Fashion Style Of Nike Air Max 90 Is Free Shipping Now
March 23, 2015 at 8:53 pm
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!
good Service And You Will Be Happy To Buy It .
March 23, 2015 at 9:41 pm
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Excellent work!
fake ray ban aviator sunglasses red/pattern frame pink lens
March 23, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appeal. I must say you have done a fantastic job with this. Additionally, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Chrome. Exceptional Blog!
fake ray ban aviator sunglasses red/pattern frame pink lens
michael kors glam jasmine
March 23, 2015 at 10:59 pm
Thanks for your marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will eventually come back in the future. I want to encourage continue your great writing, have a nice morning!
michael kors glam jasmine
Not A Little Bit Cheaper.
March 24, 2015 at 1:17 am
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something informative to read?
Anonymous
March 24, 2015 at 3:16 am
I’ve learn a few excellent stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting.
I surprise how a lot effort you place to make such a great informative web site.
High Quality Free Runing 3.0 V5 Blue Mens Running Big Discount!
March 24, 2015 at 4:13 am
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this website. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appearance. I must say you’ve done a excellent job with this. Additionally, the blog loads extremely fast for me on Chrome. Outstanding Blog!
Anonymous
March 24, 2015 at 4:21 am
Anonymous
March 24, 2015 at 4:33 am
Shop For Nike Free 5.0 V4 Mens
March 24, 2015 at 6:12 am
This web page won’t render appropriately on my droid – you might want to try and repair that
Discount Air Max Lunar 90 Blue White Mens
March 24, 2015 at 6:19 am
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Exceptional work!
louis vuitton ellipse damier belt coffee
March 24, 2015 at 8:05 am
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your webpage? My blog site is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would truly benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Appreciate it!
louis vuitton ellipse damier belt coffee
Buy Nike Air Max 2014 Mens
March 24, 2015 at 9:18 am
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something informative to read?
cheap michael kors stud quilted gold totes
March 24, 2015 at 9:31 am
Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after reading through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!
cheap michael kors stud quilted gold totes
cheap louis vuitton virginia mm
March 24, 2015 at 9:51 am
This blog doesn’t show up appropriately on my iphone – you may wanna try and repair that
cheap louis vuitton virginia mm
fastest wow gold
March 24, 2015 at 10:38 am
Retained typically the proverb bombers for upwards of one year. When I buy a real placed see, a bit of fastest wow gold enhance while on an previous pursuit sock along with, presto, very much like new. Along with, bombers were made to look employed. Love which are.
discount ray ban vagabond sunglasses
March 24, 2015 at 11:04 am
Hello! Quick question that’s completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to correct this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share. Cheers!
discount ray ban vagabond sunglasses
cheap michael kors logo monogram tote bronze
March 24, 2015 at 11:11 am
Amazing blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any suggestions? Thank you!
cheap michael kors logo monogram tote bronze
ray ban rb3427
March 24, 2015 at 11:27 am
Hey there I am so glad I found your site, I really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Bing for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the awesome work.
ray ban rb3427
Non-genuine
March 24, 2015 at 11:28 am
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
louis vuitton m40669
March 24, 2015 at 12:01 pm
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
louis vuitton m40669
michael kors jet set perforated large sale
March 24, 2015 at 12:38 pm
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
michael kors jet set perforated large sale
Free Run +2 Green Grayish Mens Running For Youngsters Cost-effective With Various Styles
March 24, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Thanks, I have been hunting for details about this subject matter for ages and yours is the best I have found so far.
Free 2.0 Purple Gold Womens In Good Price
March 24, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good results. If you know of any please share. Thank you!
louis vuitton m60227 replica
March 24, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your website? My website is in the very same niche as yours and my users would really benefit from a lot of the information you present here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Thanks a lot!
louis vuitton m60227 replica
Our Nike Free Runing 4.0 V2 Womens
March 24, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Great post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Many thanks!
air jordan fusion 4 2013 sale
March 24, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I like what you guys are usually up too. This kind of clever work and coverage! Keep up the very good works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll.
air jordan fusion 4 2013 sale
Cheapest Nike Air Max 90 Mens Running Is In Big Discount Now
March 24, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Hey there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics? Thanks a ton!