Question for experienced cooks

[schmoo]

Thanks everyone! I may try a combination of your ideas.

Sunny -oh my- once when i was young and we were at a relatives she caught the whole stove on fire because of the paper bag trick. :| I have heard of alot of people doing that method though and I hear it's good. I am just accident prone and paper and an oven would be a recipe for a disaster for me LOL

 

[sunnychooks]

Quote:
WHOA!!!

I never thought of that!!! I always make sure the bag is totally saturated with spray, though. Maybe this shouldn't be done with a gas oven that has a pilot light!!! I guess she didn't have to worry about making sure the turkey got browned during the last 30 minutes!!!

 

[TransplantedTexan]

Schmoo -
It is sometimes snowing here as well by Thanksgiving, or at least it's cold. If you ever get one, pay a little more than the outdoor gas one, and go for the electric. You can set the thing right on the kitchen counter and the thermostat keeps the oil temp constant so you don't have to adjust the flame all the time. Set it and forget it.... as the old Ronco commercial goes.

This is unrelated to the cooking turkeys, but the story of relatives setting the stove on fire reminds me of two close family friends who burnt thier entire house down. They were a mother and daughter who decided it would be a good idea to insert the stump end of thier old dried up Christmas tree into thier fire place and "feed it in" gradually. Of course the whole thing went up in flames instantly, half of it was hanging out of the fireplace resting on the carpet.

 

[Judymae]

I have to share my way with everyone~~I stick raw bacon slices under the skin all over the turkey. I cover the breast, thighs and legs. It is very fattening but very moist. I remove the bacon after the turkey is done and has had time to sit for 15 mins or so.

 

[schmoo]

Oooo sounds good Judy. I'm going to try that, what could bacon hurt right?! I've put butter under the skin before but it has to melt pretty quickly, bacon sounds great. (Insert drooling smiley)

Transplant - what in the WORLD were those girls thinking?! I guess they had never seen a pine burn before. Can you say POOF :|

 

[Judymae]

Schmoo let me know how you like it. Just remember not to add any salt if you season it because the bacon does enough. My FIL has had two heart attacks in the past and isn't suppose to eat bacon anymore. So last year I bought the Plumrose brand because it is no sugar added and low in cholesterol. I couldn't taste a difference. I'll probably buy it again this year.

 

[SeaChick]

Personally, I think the best way to ensure a tasty & moist turkey is to buy a free-range one. The supermarket ones are so flavorless that they inject them (I am not kidding) with flavored, salted artificial "broth" before packaging them. I have never had a free-range turkey turn out badly. I roast the normal way (i.e. breast-up, uncovered unless breast starts browning too much in which case I tent with foil) and basting every so often. Use a quick-read thermometer and pull it JUST when it's done, temps will continue to rise while it rests (15-30 minutes before carving). Herbs and butter rubbed over (or ENDER the skin add flavor). YUM, I am SO looking forward to Thanksgiving!

 

[Freebie]

Dumb question, but how do you put stuff under the skin? I would love to try the bacon. It sounds delicious.

 

[Judymae]

It's really easy. Just start at the tail or hinney of the turkey and slide your hand between the skin and the meat. You may have to start with just your fingers and then eventually get the skin lifted enought to fit your hand in there. If you move your hand side to side you can actually lift up the skin on the thighs and legs too. I stick bacon under every bit of it I can. I've done this the last two times I've baked a turkey and my hubby asked why we don't bake a turkey more often! That is a real compliment coming from him!

 

[jkm]

Brining the turkey really makes it moist, I cover the breast with a piece of foil after 15 minutes of cooking. I cook about 6 turkeys a year. my family loves turkey.
Brining pulls water into the turkey, and the salt makes it tender.

My mom likes to use the cook bags, and rub butter under the skin. she gets nice flavor that way.

I did a 1/2 turkey two weeks ago because we were all in the mood for turkey and hellfire cranberry sauce.

good luck