Turkey Tips on Turkey Day

No Comments | Written on November 24, 2011 at 5:00 pm, by Kristin Porter

Pear Glazed Roast Turkey Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

I can hardly believe the big day is already here, and dinner has already been enjoyed. Over the past few weeks I showed you the dishes I was featuring in my family’s feast, including an elegant Bleu Cheese & Maple Vinaigrette Salad, Roasted and Salted Brussels Sprouts, and waistline-friendly Pesto Mashed Potatoes.

Everyone loved the sides. But Thanksgiving dinner is still focused on, you guessed it, the turkey!

Up until last year, my Mom was always the one to prepare, cook, and present the star of the holiday dinner. Realizing that at some point down the road I’d be the one cooking Thanksgiving, last year I decided to hang around the kitchen and learn from the master herself. This year, Mom’s method once again produced a golden brown, juicy, tender turkey.

Here are her Top 5 Tips for a perfect bird, every time:

• If using a frozen turkey, place it in the fridge to thaw at least 4 days before Thanksgiving. If it is still not thawed the night before, follow directions on the package for a cold water thaw bath.

• Turkey-sized cooking bags exist for a reason—they result in a moist, and perfectly cooked bird every time. We use them to reduce the amount of time the turkey has to stay in the oven, and it made our cleanup a breeze.

• We cover the turkey completely with olive oil before seasoning and placing it into the oven bag. This will ensure that it’s golden brown all over, and won’t stick to the bag.

• Make the “wet” part of the stuffing—sautéed onion, celery, and seasonings—the day before, to cut down on time spent in the kitchen on Thanksgiving. We love this classic stuffing recipe.

• Take the extra turkey off the bone as soon as dinner is over. The meat is much easier to remove from the bone when it’s warm. (And you’ll want to put all that leftover turkey to use in meals throughout the week.)

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have another slice of pie and a heated game of Scrabble waiting.

Wishing you a happy and tasty Thanksgiving!