Do you know the dos and don'ts of preparing a Thanksgiving dinner? Here’s a fun fact: I’ve only cooked one turkey in my life! Living in a small apartment with a big family means you usually bring a side dish or dessert, while the hosts with spacious kitchens, big ovens, and plenty of room handle the turkey.
Now, if I may say so, my one turkey experience was quite the success! A few years back, Bon Appetit featured a clean, straightforward layout for Thanksgiving. It showcased four turkeys, four types of stuffing, and four gravies. I carefully selected my favorite, bought all the ingredients, and on Thanksgiving day, as I prepped the turkey for the oven, I found myself puzzled about which side should face up. Just then, my best friend and co-blogger called, asking me how to determine which side of the turkey goes up—and why it’s so tricky to identify the breast side!
Here’s a helpful tip: don’t stress about cooking a turkey upside down. Many people do it intentionally! This method allows the juices from the bottom to seep into the white meat, keeping it moist and delicious. Now, let me share some additional tips from someone seasoned in turkey talk to help you this Thanksgiving:
Size Matters
An 18-pound frozen turkey will feed about 12 guests.
Not Cool
Germs can grow quickly on a turkey left at room temperature, even while defrosting. Encase it in a big zipper-lock bag and place it in a large bowl of cold water or under cold running water until just thawed. The safest defrosting method is to thaw turkey in the refrigerator, but you must think ahead. A 20-pound turkey will take about 3 days to defrost thoroughly.
Tea-rrific Flavor
To give your turkey breasts or thighs a light, smoky flavor and help them retain moisture as they cook, brew two strong cups of your favorite spice-flavored tea blend. Cool; add black pepper, salt, paprika, and garlic to taste; and pour into a large self-sealing plastic bag. Add the turkey pieces. Put in a shallow dish and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours before cooking.
Veggie Rack
No need to scrub a roasting rack if it is edible. Crisscross whole carrots and celery stalks on the bottom of the roasting pan and top with turkey. The turkey will lift out of the pan easily leaving behind veggies that will enhance your gravy.
Like The Skin Crispy?
Unwrap the turkey the day before roasting and leave it uncovered in the refrigerator overnight.
To Stuff or Not to Stuff?
A turkey will cook more evenly if it is not densely stuffed. Stuffing adds mass, so it also slows the cooking process. Consider adding flavor to a turkey by loosely filling the cavity with aromatic vegetables — carrots, celery, onion, or garlic work nicely — or by carefully tucking fresh herbs underneath the breast skin, and cooking the dressing in a casserole dish. Stuffing lovers will probably not like this approach.
No Peeking
Got the turkey into the oven? Resist the temptation to open the oven door and admire your handiwork. When the oven temperature fluctuates, you're only increasing the likelihood of a dry bird. About 45 minutes before you think the turkey is done, remove the foil from the breast to allow it to brown.
UnderCover
Tent the bird with foil and let rest for about 15-20 minutes before carving. If you need more time to make gravy, heat up side dishes, etc., you can let the turkey sit for up to an hour without losing too much heat.
Ready Yet?
A turkey – or any other poultry – is properly cooked when the leg joints move easily and the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a knife. The thigh should have a thermometer temp of 180° F, the breast 170° F, and if stuffed, the center of the stuffing should be 165° F.
Don't Throw Away The Carcass
You can make a vat of homemade stock from the leftover carcass, adding vegetables and herbs to the water as you boil the carcass. A delicious way to use all the leftovers!
Cooked Chicken And Turkey
Properly wrapped, the turkey can keep in the freezer for two to three months. Be sure to remove all air from the freezer bag before popping it into the freezer.
We hope these the dos and don'ts of cooking a Thanksgiving dinner advice help you create your favorite family dinner ever! When in doubt, call the Butterball turkey talk line (1-800-Butterball) for help.