AS Thanksgiving fast-approaches, families across the country are seeing how they can perfect the crowning jewel of the celebratory feast – the turkey.
Here are five tips on how you can make sure you serve a juicy, tender, and succulent turkey this Thanksgiving.
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Here are five tips for the perfect Thanksgiving turkey (stock)Credit: Getty
Getting the preparation and cooking of the meat right is essential (stock)Credit: Getty
The key to success is largely in the preparation, and you may even want to invest in a $6 kitchen tool to make the whole thing even easier.
First things first, you want to make sure the turkey is fully thawed and brought to room temperature before putting it in the oven so it cooks evenly.
You’ll then want to make sure you have a shallow roasting pan to put it in – even better if there is a rack that it can sit on.
This “will allow oven air to flow completely around the turkey and catch any juices during the cooking process,” the National Turkey Federation states.
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But before you put the meat in the pan, you might want to consider the ‘flip method’.
Laurel Randolph from Simply Recipes insists that cooking the turkey upside-down in the pan is the key to the best Thanksgiving turkey.
“Instead of roasting the turkey breast side up, flip it over and roast it breast side down,” she said.
“White meat tends to cook quicker than dark meat, but it also turns tough and dry at the drop of a hat. Dark meat, on the other hand, becomes more tender the longer it cooks.
“Placing the breasts on the bottom means the white meat cooks slower than the dark meat on the top, bringing the cook times more into equilibrium.
“Because the breasts are on the bottom, they are also perfectly positioned to be basted by the fat dripping off of the dark meat, helping to keep them moist.”
Now, everyone knows the math involved in working out how long to cook a turkey for as it depends on the size and cut.
Regardless of the time it takes, it is highly recommended to use a meat thermometer to know that the bird is cooked all the way through.
You need the inside of the turkey, and any stuffing if you have any, to reach at least 165 F.
Walmart is selling an oven-proof KitchenAid leave-in thermometer for just $6.85.
Using a meat thermometer is highly recommended to ensure the bird is cooked all the way through (stock)Credit: Getty
The tool, which has an easy-to-read dial, should be placed into the turkey at the beginning of the cooking time and stay there until the end.
It is crucial that you put it into the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing.
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The thermometer should not touch bone, gristle or the pan, the National Turkey Federation advises.
Lastly, you want to make sure you rest the meat after removing it from the oven for at least 10 to 15 minutes to make it even more juicy before carving.
5 tips for cooking a perfect Thanksgiving turkey:
Thaw it fully before cooking and bring to room temperature
Use a shallow pan
Flip it – cook the turkey upside down to retain moisture
Use a meat thermometer
Rest it
Dining and Cooking