[modelcarguy]

I have never tried to bake a turkey and want to try this year. I know some basics, like so many minutes per pound, baste it, measure the temperature in the thickest part. Give me some input of what to be careful of, special little tips, etc. Whatever a newbie baker should know. I want to do this right without sending my son and I to the ER.

I lived the past several years without a working oven. We had a microwave. Last year I bought a new kitchen oven so I am learning. During my 30 year marriage, men were not allowed in the kitchen. We did not know enough.

[lynn P.]

I'm a good cook but for some reason, I'm not the best at cooking turkey even though I can cook everything else. If you don't have any cooking experience I'll give you a few basic tips. You must preheat your oven - turn it on and wait for the light to go out. Wash the turkey and remove the inner parts- they 'll be inside the turkey. Tie up the legs so they won't fall off while cooking. Season inside and out with salt and desired spices. Most cooks don't recommend stuffing the inside anymore. Buy yourself a meat thermometer and insert it in the thigh without touching the bone. I also recommend buying one of those basic cookbooks - these will teach you basic cooking skills. If it's a frozen turkey follow very carefully the defrosting method. Good luck.

FYI: besides the gibblets, there's stuff up the the neck of the turkey. I roasted a turkey once and found this out after it was almost all eaten.

Mike

[Hunny]

I'll add:

cover loosely with foil for first part of cooking and take off to brown about half-way through.










.

[VickiesPath]

Recipe for a foolproof turkey (even I can do it): Buy a box of those Reynold Cookin Bags. The instructions are on the box and also on a paper inside. They cost a little but it totally takes the anxiety out of cooking a turkey, ham, roast, anything you want to do in the oven. The cooking times vary when using the bags so be sure to use their instructions. Also, you will need a couple tablespoons of flour, a few slices of onion and come celery stalks. Salt and Pepper. I also sprinkle poultry seasoning on my turkey but it's not necessary. I find the cost is worth taking the worry out of it. Be sure you buy the right size (it says the size clearly on the box). Believe me, it will be the best turkey you ever ate.

PS: Make sure your turkey is thawed completely and those silly things they stick in each end are out. For a frozen turkey, thawed minimum of three days in refrigerator. Or, two and half days in sink full of cold water. Never, ever put a partially frozen turkey in the oven.

[Yoda]

Agreed - Reynolds cooking bags are the way to go. I like to cut the skin and place butter and salt under the skin and put herbs inside the turkey. If you don't have a good selection of herbs you can buy one called poultry seasoning that has four different herbs, I believe.

You should buy a meat thermometer if you don't have one. They are just a few bucks. Insert it into the meat but not touching the bone. When the temp is at/near 165 degrees F the turkey is done. Then let it sit at room temperature for fifteen minutes before carving.

[modelcarguy]

Thanks for all the help. One more question: I don't want to ruin a good turkey. Should I try a chicken first? Are they similar enough? I baked a ham a few weeks ago so I am not a total loss. But to me this will be a big step. My mother always cooked thanksgiving turkey and she just had a masectomy. (sp?) I want to surprise her.

[MyHeadHurts]

I have always followed Betty Crocker's roast turkey instructions and every turkey I've made has been delicious (if I do say so myself). :-)

Recipe can be found here:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/roast-turkey/

The timetable for roasting based on weight can be found here. (Scroll down to the turkey section...)

Hope this helps.

MHH

[lynn P.]

Originally Posted by modelcarguy

Thanks for all the help. One more question: I don't want to ruin a good turkey. Should I try a chicken first? Are they similar enough? I baked a ham a few weeks ago so I am not a total loss. But to me this will be a big step. My mother always cooked thanksgiving turkey and she just had a masectomy. (sp?) I want to surprise her.

Absolutely try a chicken first - in fact I like chicken much better. Season and salt inside/outside and stick a whole onion inside, tie up the legs and bake in 375 oven 30 min per lb and baste every 40 min. Bake uncovered and if it gets too brown near the end cover lightly with foil. Good luck

[Yoda]

Another cool dinner is Cornish hens. Each person gets their own bird.

Here is a recipe similar to how I have prepared them ---> http://southernfood.about.com/od/cor...s/r/bln328.htm

[CJR520]

You can do it ! Trying a chicken first is a great idea !! Then, the turkey will just be bigger! I would suggest only lightly salting the bird, and make sure you get the giblets ( usually the gizard, heart, and liver ) out of the bird, These will be in the cavities at the neck and the bottom of the bird. Cooking bags are good! They keep the flavor and the moisture in the meat. My son is one of the best cooks around here. You will do just fine, and what a lucky Mom.

[Rmdctc]

Ill add as well that you should not stuff a turkey anymore because thats usually what people get sick from because it holds the turkey juice and never gets hot enough to cook the raw turkey juice. good luck. also they usually have local numbers to call to help you on thanksgiving as well if you get stuck. I usually hear them on the local news.

[possum220]

When my sister cooks a chicken she puts a whole lemon inside instead of stuffing........

I have never baked a whole turkey myself. I normally get a rolled turkey from the freezer section. It tastes moist and nice.

Good luck.....

[Amazonmom]

Make SURE the turkey is thawed, I know others have said this and they are right. It can take several days in the fridge for a turkey to thaw. Make sure you get the neck and bag of giblets out of the cavity too.

The meat thermometer is a great idea.

My first time out all I did was follow the directions on the butterball bag. It's not as hard as it looks...I am sure you will do fine.

[Yoda]

About stuffing the turkey - it can be done safely but you must follow the guidelines.

1. You can prepare the stuffing the day before but it should be stored in a covered container in the fridge until you are ready to bake the turkey. Do NOT stuff the turkey until you are ready to bake it.

2. Just as the turkey is not done until its temp reaches 165 degrees F the same is true for the stuffing. Use a thermometer to ensure the stuffing has reached that temp. I have a regular thermometer I put in the meat and an instant read thermometer for stuffing.

3. After the turkey is baked remove all the stuffing from the bird before you refrigerate the leftovers.

4. Know that a stuffed turkey will take longer to cook than an "empty" turkey and adjust your cooking time thus.

5. And a FYI - food should only be allowed to sit out for two hours before the leftovers are refrigerated.

[JayS]

Originally Posted by Amazonmom

Make SURE the turkey is thawed, I know others have said this and they are right. It can take several days in the fridge for a turkey to thaw. Make sure you get the neck and bag of giblets out of the cavity too.

The meat thermometer is a great idea.

My first time out all I did was follow the directions on the butterball bag. It's not as hard as it looks...I am sure you will do fine.

I love butterball turkey... nom nom nom nom

[ADHD1956]

"Ask the turkey nicely"

[Rmdctc]

Lol adhd!!!

[ADHD1956]

If you want it moist then cook it for even times on both sides (upside down for half the cooking time).

If you want it dry don't !

You can also cover it with slices of bacon for taste and help with moister it really does help.

Cover with silver foil for first three quarters then last quarter remove.