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StaceyLu
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/17 572 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Turkey Panic!
I hosted Thanksgiving last year for the first time and really sweated over getting the turkey just right. I got a $$$ 22 lb organic turkey from Whole Foods and researched the best prep methods; covered in butter, basted, tented for the last hour, etc and the finished product was dry white meat and undercooked thighs. A friend swears by cooking her turkey in a bag but that sounds like the skin would wind up soggy. Anyone have any proven, fool and failproof methods for getting a juicy, properly cooked turkey?
Message edited 11/9/2018 1:43:13 PM.
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Posted 11/9/18 1:42 PM  |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
I've used turkey bags, the skin is golden and crispy and the meat is juicy and perfect. I have a recipe for turkey that I SWEAR by, it's perfect EVERY time. I'll post it for you when I get home.
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| Posted 11/9/18 2:52 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
BEST ever turkey! So flavorful, moist and delicious. I always get rave reviews when I make it.  Lemon Sage Turkey
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| Posted 11/9/18 3:27 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Check out this article for some GREAT turkey tips!
Turkey Tips
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| Posted 11/9/18 3:28 PM |
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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Turkey Panic!
I feel horrible saying this because I am very conscious about what goes into my familys' bodies, but every time I've had organic or free-range turkeys, they have been tough and terrible. I just really like the regular Shady Brook Farms fresh turkeys, brined, seasoned, and roasted. Idk if anyone else feels like this, but it's just from experience.
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| Posted 11/10/18 12:24 AM |
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SusiBee
. . . . .
Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by LIRascal
I feel horrible saying this because I am very conscious about what goes into my familys' bodies, but every time I've had organic or free-range turkeys, they have been tough and terrible. I just really like the regular Shady Brook Farms fresh turkeys, brined, seasoned, and roasted. Idk if anyone else feels like this, but it's just from experience.
Same here.
I also find very large birds harder to cook evenly. I make two smaller birds if my guest list is larger.
Added bonus is more dark meat and drumsticks.
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| Posted 11/10/18 11:18 AM |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by SusiBee
Posted by LIRascal
I feel horrible saying this because I am very conscious about what goes into my familys' bodies, but every time I've had organic or free-range turkeys, they have been tough and terrible. I just really like the regular Shady Brook Farms fresh turkeys, brined, seasoned, and roasted. Idk if anyone else feels like this, but it's just from experience.
Same here.
I also find very large birds harder to cook evenly. I make two smaller birds if my guest list is larger.
Added bonus is more dark meat and drumsticks.
I agree
My sister swears by the bag. I usually buy butterball young turkey. Gone up to 17-18 lbs
2 sticks of butter slathered all over and under skin. Salt & pepper , cooked breast down covered the whole time. Then rest it for at least 30 minutes before carving.
I keep it covered because I don’t care about the skin getting Super crispy because it’s carved and put on platter before it hits the table - I feel like cooking it without the tent makes it dry out. Could be zero science to that but it’s just a feeling I get
Edited to add: I put chicken stock in the roasting pan to help steam it with flavor and use for basting just a couple times.
Turkey is on a rack not touching bottom of pan
Message edited 11/10/2018 1:31:34 PM.
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| Posted 11/10/18 1:29 PM |
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StaceyLu
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/17 572 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Turkey Panic!
Thank you for all the tips! Fresh or frozen?
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| Posted 11/12/18 10:03 AM |
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mrsrainbow
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 1465 total posts
Name:
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Turkey Panic!
I love the Pioneer Woman's brine recipe -
https://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/my-favorite-turkey-brine/
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| Posted 11/12/18 1:50 PM |
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mrsrainbow
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 1465 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by StaceyLu
Thank you for all the tips! Fresh or frozen?
Definitely fresh!
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| Posted 11/12/18 1:50 PM |
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tkmommie
LIF Infant
Member since 5/06 170 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Did you first cover in foil and only remove at last hour for browning?
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| Posted 11/12/18 4:03 PM |
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MarathonKnitter
HAPPY
Member since 2/07 17374 total posts
Name:
EMBRACING CHANGE
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Re: Turkey Panic!
i'm going to agree with those who have said that a "regular" turkey is tastier. the fancier, the dryer.
two small birds are better than one big one.
lots of butter and an oven bag!
i also cook the bird breast side down so all the fat can run down into the breast meat.
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| Posted 11/12/18 4:37 PM |
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tray831
Dee-licious!
Member since 3/06 5355 total posts
Name:
His Baby
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by LIRascal
I feel horrible saying this because I am very conscious about what goes into my familys' bodies, but every time I've had organic or free-range turkeys, they have been tough and terrible. I just really like the regular Shady Brook Farms fresh turkeys, brined, seasoned, and roasted. Idk if anyone else feels like this, but it's just from experience.
Agreed. I wanted to buy a Bell & Evans this year; but I have read negative reviews on how dry it is. Yet; their chickens are delicious.
Shady Brook has been my go to for years so I will stick with them. And always fresh. I never buy frozen.
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| Posted 11/13/18 10:54 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by tray831
Posted by LIRascal
I feel horrible saying this because I am very conscious about what goes into my familys' bodies, but every time I've had organic or free-range turkeys, they have been tough and terrible. I just really like the regular Shady Brook Farms fresh turkeys, brined, seasoned, and roasted. Idk if anyone else feels like this, but it's just from experience.
Agreed. I wanted to buy a Bell & Evans this year; but I have read negative reviews on how dry it is. Yet; their chickens are delicious.
Shady Brook has been my go to for years so I will stick with them. And always fresh. I never buy frozen.
The BEST turkey year after year is Norbest. Their birds are perfection!!! It's the only one I've been making for over 20 years.
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| Posted 11/13/18 11:09 AM |
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tray831
Dee-licious!
Member since 3/06 5355 total posts
Name:
His Baby
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by tray831
Posted by LIRascal
I feel horrible saying this because I am very conscious about what goes into my familys' bodies, but every time I've had organic or free-range turkeys, they have been tough and terrible. I just really like the regular Shady Brook Farms fresh turkeys, brined, seasoned, and roasted. Idk if anyone else feels like this, but it's just from experience.
Agreed. I wanted to buy a Bell & Evans this year; but I have read negative reviews on how dry it is. Yet; their chickens are delicious.
Shady Brook has been my go to for years so I will stick with them. And always fresh. I never buy frozen.
The BEST turkey year after year is Norbest. Their birds are perfection!!! It's the only one I've been making for over 20 years.
You are not the first person to tell me this. Where do you find it? Most supermarkets don't carry it right?
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| Posted 11/13/18 12:06 PM |
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Re: Turkey Panic!
2 smaller birds would be easier to get right, than one large in my own experience.
Also try without the butter? Sometimes it cooks best when the pan is filled with liquid but the bird is very dry and just seasoned. Again, my own experience.
I have such trouble with turkey and get anxiety and prefer my oven for sides that honestly... I cater my turkey and make everything else!!!
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| Posted 11/13/18 1:20 PM |
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Also brands do matter usually and I do like shadybrook farms for turkeys and bell and evans for chickens...
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| Posted 11/13/18 1:21 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by tray831
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by tray831
Posted by LIRascal
I feel horrible saying this because I am very conscious about what goes into my familys' bodies, but every time I've had organic or free-range turkeys, they have been tough and terrible. I just really like the regular Shady Brook Farms fresh turkeys, brined, seasoned, and roasted. Idk if anyone else feels like this, but it's just from experience.
Agreed. I wanted to buy a Bell & Evans this year; but I have read negative reviews on how dry it is. Yet; their chickens are delicious.
Shady Brook has been my go to for years so I will stick with them. And always fresh. I never buy frozen.
The BEST turkey year after year is Norbest. Their birds are perfection!!! It's the only one I've been making for over 20 years.
You are not the first person to tell me this. Where do you find it? Most supermarkets don't carry it right?
They are definitely harder to find, I've heard they have them at Giuntas Meat Market. My DH' s company gives them out every year so that's how I get mine.
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| Posted 11/13/18 2:31 PM |
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luvbuffet
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 6470 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Spatchcock the turkey. It’ll be done in 2 hours or so because it’s huge. Double to crispy skin, cooked evenly. I seriously don’t know why people don’t do this other than wanting a photo to brag on Facebook.
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| Posted 11/21/18 10:57 PM |
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liadorbs
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 1221 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by tray831
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by tray831
Posted by LIRascal
I feel horrible saying this because I am very conscious about what goes into my familys' bodies, but every time I've had organic or free-range turkeys, they have been tough and terrible. I just really like the regular Shady Brook Farms fresh turkeys, brined, seasoned, and roasted. Idk if anyone else feels like this, but it's just from experience.
Agreed. I wanted to buy a Bell & Evans this year; but I have read negative reviews on how dry it is. Yet; their chickens are delicious.
Shady Brook has been my go to for years so I will stick with them. And always fresh. I never buy frozen.
The BEST turkey year after year is Norbest. Their birds are perfection!!! It's the only one I've been making for over 20 years.
You are not the first person to tell me this. Where do you find it? Most supermarkets don't carry it right?
They are definitely harder to find, I've heard they have them at Giuntas Meat Market. My DH' s company gives them out every year so that's how I get mine.
It's the only turkey my family uses too - we order them from the Farmingdale Meat Market.
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| Posted 11/22/18 12:04 AM |
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liadorbs
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 1221 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
For those roasting breast-side down, do you keep it that way for the whole time?
Do y'all use a rack?
Message edited 11/22/2018 12:10:15 AM.
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| Posted 11/22/18 12:09 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Turkey Panic!
Posted by liadorbs
For those roasting breast-side down, do you keep it that way for the whole time?
Do y'all use a rack?
I use a rack and I flipped it right side up after an hour so it would brown nicely.
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| Posted 11/22/18 5:43 PM |
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StaceyLu
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/17 572 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Turkey Panic!
I cooked the bird in an oven bag and it came out fabulous! The skin was crispy, the meat moist and flavorful. I will always use the bag from here on in.
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| Posted 11/27/18 3:51 PM |
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