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Planning to Cook Turkey?
Planning to cook
some turkey this Thanksgiving? Get organized to make your turkey a smashing
success and finger-licking good with these tips. Ask yourself...
How do you want to cook your turkey?
Oven roasted, fried, barbecued, grilled and smoked are all choices. What method
you use may also determine what format you buy your turkey in, such as a whole
frozen turkey or boneless turkey breasts.
Do you want to cook your turkey?
Or do you want someone else to do most of the preparation for you? And if so,
who? You could use a supermarket deli, hire a private chef or enlist a friend or
family member to help.
How do you cook turkey?
If it's your first or you're making turkey a new way, do some research on the
web. One useful site is EatTurkey.com. Another is Butterball.com. Or look for a
hotline you can call with questions (usually related to the food manufacturer).
How much turkey do you need to buy?
Some experts say one to 1.3 pounds per person is sufficient (if you're buying a
whole frozen turkey). That accounts for leftovers (after all, guests may not eat
your entire exact pre-determined serving portions).
When will you defrost your turkey?
Don't expect a 10 pound whole frozen turkey to defrost overnight. It won't
happen. Some bigger turkeys take as many as three days to defrost. Plan about 24
hours of thawing time for every five pounds. Also plan to defrost your turkey in
the refrigerator.
What will you cook your turkey in?
If you're making an oven-roasted turkey, you'll need a traditional roasting pan.
Just make sure it's large enough for your size turkey. If you're using one of
the other methods mentioned earlier for cooking your turkey, you'll need
different cooking equipment. Again, a quick search on the web related to how you
want to cook your turkey (e.g. roasted, fried, etc.) should turn up the
appropriate cooking equipment needed.
What will do you with your leftovers?
You're almost guaranteed to have turkey leftovers (and be eating it for a week).
Make sure you have a storage container big enough to hold your turkey leftovers.
Or if you plan to give some to go, get a few inexpensive plastic storage
containers you don't mind guests taking as part of their "doggie bag".
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