Best turkey recipe.

[Dinner]

And no I'm not talking about George Bush even if he is a turkey. I'm talking about I'm talking about the only domesticated bird the Native Americans ever had, Ben Franklin's feathered symbol of America, that juicy oven roasted goodness which is oh so popular this time of year. This year's feast will be at my sister's house and I am expected to help stuff and cook our freshly defeathered friend. What is the best recipe or way to cook the Turkey?

Last year we used an oven bag and cut it open for the last 15 minutes or so in order to brown the outside a bit but the skin was still oven bag mushy. I like that the oven bag keeps the bird juicy and moist but I miss the crispy browned skin/outer meat that we used to get when my mom cooked it. To help make the meat its most flavorful I'd cut virtical slits into the breasts and put real butter into the holes. This would make the breast meat buttery and delicious. I'm in the mood for something more a bit more of a complex flavor so herbs or other such things are welcome. The year before I tried deep frying the bird and it was just to oily but I still want to try something new. Suggestions?

[alva]

Meh, turkey is teh crap, too dry.

Not much you can do with turkey I'm afraid.

[Dinner]

If it is dry then all that shows is Belgian noobs can't cook to save their lives.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

i have never used a bag to cook a turkey
I have always cleaned the bird to start then smothered the bird in maragarine and seaseoned it with garlic salt and fajita seasoning covered with large pieces of foil slow cooking. start out at 275 from 3 am till 9 am. At this time i had a splash of beer and sherry cooking wine then raise the temp to 325 for two hours continuning to baste in the juices in the pan and then 2 hours at 375. at 2pm the bird is good to go

[Dinner]

My mother and both of my grandmothers used that start before dawn and cook all day way of cooking. I miss it.

They'd put cheese cloth on it for some reason and would bast it all the time. If you did it wrong then the whole bird would be ruined but if you did it right then it was heaven.

[DRoseDARs]

And no I'm not talking about George Bush even if he is a turkey.

Gobble, gobble.

[Asher]

turkey + oven

[Pekka]

Extract all kebab and hot chicks.

Then nuke.

Served with cold fall out.

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by Pekka
Extract all kebab and hot chicks.

Then nuke.

Served with cold fall out.

Tight

[Ted Striker]

Alot of people have been frying the turkey in the last couple of years in that special turkey fryer.

Apparently it is fast and keeps the turkey juicy.

On the other hand, I'd be afraid to use that thing I would be scared it would explode.

[Footie Mad]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs


Gobble, gobble.

LOLOLO YOU HAEV WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN THAAR MR. BUSH!!!

[Japher]

Alot of people have been frying the turkey in the last couple of years in that special turkey fryer.

Apparently it is fast and keeps the turkey juicy.

On the other hand, I'd be afraid to use that thing I would be scared it would explode.

The problem ppl have with deep frying a turkey is two fold. First, they put too much oil in and heat it too hot, then when they add the turkey it overflows and catches on the flame. This is great if you meant to flambe grandma, but not great if you actually want to eat (unless your a canibal). Second, people will put the turkey in too fast. The fryer ain't all that sturdy, so when they slam the turkey in they creat the next Exxon Valdez.

If you follow the directions to the T you'll be fine. Also, make sure to use the oil they suggest (peanut I think) as different oil DO have different smoking and flash points which will change not only the cooking time but the temp you want it to get to.

For me, a Turkey Roaster works just fine. It is easy to use and give a perfect Turkey every time.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I've heard brineing the turkey makes it nice and moist, even when you cook it in the oven. Alton Brown has a nice recipe for brineing turkey on the Food Network website.

[Japher]

I brined my Turkey last year, works nice.

but so does not over cooking your turkey.

Still, if your brine calls for Coke or any kind of Cola make sure you have a really big container because when you add the salt it is going to explode! Don't make the same mistakes I've made.

[ajbera]

Bone it, stuff it, smoke it. Mmmmm.