instructions on cooking turkey?

CesEve99

hello ladies,

we will be cooking our 1st turkey this year and although some recipes tell you more or less how to cook it, we have no idea how to clean it.

can you guys please share your tips on the following:

1. should we remove everything from the inside of the turkey?

2. do some turkeys come already clean when purchased?

3. what materials do we need for cooking turkey? (ex: roasting pan, baster, thermometer, etc...)

4. do we marinate the turkey the day before? or hours before popping it in the oven?

5. any other tips would be really helpful.

Bella in CT

1. should we remove everything from the inside of the turkey? Yes!

2. do some turkeys come already clean when purchased? Also yes.

3. what materials do we need for cooking turkey? (ex: roasting pan, baster, thermometer, etc...)  All of the above (except baster if you're brining - no need for it) plus paper towels to dry off the bird.

4. do we marinate the turkey the day before? or hours before popping it in the oven? Brining is the best way to produce a moist and flavorful bird.  Alton Brown's recipe is the best!

5. any other tips would be really helpful.  Always rest you bird for at least 20 minutes after it comes out of the oven.  It will help redistribute the juices (so they don't just run all over your cutting board).

Dr.Loretta

1. yes

2. Yes, but many of them still have the giblets in a bag in the neck. It doesn't hurt to check

3. Roasting pan and foil is all we really needed

4. Nope. I've never marinated ours

5. Use the Butterball website and hotline! We got great recipes, and made fabulous turkey, just by using their guidance.

Good luck and have fun!

Jennyinheaven

1. should we remove everything from the inside of the turkey? yes

2. do some turkeys come already clean when purchased? no, but the insides are in a bag, just stick your hand in and pull out no big deal - easy

3. what materials do we need for cooking turkey? (ex: roasting pan, baster, thermometer, etc...)

 Roasting pan, I like a turkey bag as well,this way you don't need to baste. It is a plastic bag you can buy this time of year hholds in the moisture so no basting needed

4. do we marinate the turkey the day before? or hours before popping it in the oven?

I usually season right before popping in the oven. I rub all skin with butter then sprinkle rosmarry, thyme, garlic powder salt and pepper all over, the butter will crisp the skin. Lastly I pour a beer over the whole thing, makes for a deliciously moist turkey 

5. any other tips would be really helpful.

Good rule of thumb you want to allow 1/2 hour per pound for cooking turkey

You don't have to stuff turkey, it will cook fatser this way, but if you are not going to put the stuffing inside I suggest sticking a whole coarsly chopped onion and a few cloves of garlic in the cavity for flavor, Just pull out and toss before serving.

LauraBeth1401

Thanks for asking this question.  I'm definitely using some of these tips!