TALKIN' TURKEY!! (The official/unofficial turkey thread)

Im a Walrus said:

So bad news for me- my wife came home with an enhanced turkey. It's got 8% solution in it. Any suggestions for brining with an enhanced turkey?

Click to expand...

Personally (and I'm really no expert) I'd say go for it. The worst thing that can happen is that the osmosis won't work quite as well due to the meat already having been injected with a salt solution. I could be wrong here, and anyone with knowledge otherwise, please chime in.

As I understand it, brining an enhanced bird will just not work as well, but will still help.


That's my $0.02 anyway.......

2K1TJ said:

What about smoke times and temps? Where to put the thermo in the bird, what internal temp to pull?

Click to expand...

Times and temps will vary according to preference. Some will smoke at the typcial 225-250, but most will tell you that "hot & fast" is the preferred method for all poultry (and I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with this take).

And honestly, the best turkey I ever did was done when the smoker "accidentally" (read: I wasn't watching it close enough) got up to 450 degrees. That turkey was PERFECT in every way!



As with Curt, I put the probe in the thickest part of the thigh (NOT TOUCHING THE BONE). When the thigh hits 165-170 I yank it and let the residual cooking do the rest.

OOO-OOO.....I forgot about THIS tip.....!!!

I almost forgot!

Another great tip that I got along the way here was this....
ICE DOWN THE BREAST PRIOR TO PUTTING THE BIRD ON THE COOKER!!!


Here's why:

As we all know, the "done temp" for poultry thighs and other dark meat is 170-175. If the breast, however, is taken to this temp, it'll be a little dried out and at the least, past it's prime doneness. Many foil the breast to avoid this, many cook the bird upside down to let juices settle into the breast. The best way I've found (and it makes the most sense to me) is to place a freezer bag of ice on the breast (shown above) while you are letting the rest of the bird come to room temp just before putting it on. This will make the breasts cooler than the rest of the bird and will make them start cooking later, thus keeping the breast temp behind the rest of the meat. All I know is with a brine and this technique, our turkey breast meat has been OH SO SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!

silverfinger said:

Question. Where do you take the final temp from on the turkey ?

Click to expand...

I put my probe into the thickest part of the thigh. That's pretty much the best way to guage doneness with any poultry. If you have a second probe, I'd put it in the breast just to watch em both.

When the probe is reading done, I'll stick the bird in several different spots with my thermopen....breast in a couple places, thigh, leg, etc just to make sure it's all done.

Here's some really informative info I found on this website (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/lets_talk_turkey/index.asp):



Let's Talk Turkey—A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey Fresh or Frozen?





Fresh Turkeys

• Allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
• Buy your turkey only 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it.
• Keep it stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook it. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak.
• Do not buy fresh pre-stuffed turkeys. If not handled properly, any harmful bacteria that may be in the stuffing can multiply very quickly.

Frozen Turkeys

• Allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
• Keep frozen until you're ready to thaw it.
• Turkeys can be kept frozen in the freezer indefinitely; however, cook within 1 year for best quality.
• See "Thawing Your Turkey" for thawing instructions.

Frozen Pre-Stuffed Turkeys

USDA recommends only buying frozen pre-stuffed turkeys that display the USDA or State mark of inspection on the packaging. These turkeys are safe because they have been processed under controlled conditions.

DO NOT THAW before cooking. Cook from the frozen state. Follow package directions for proper handling and cooking.

Allow 1¼ pounds of turkey per person.

Thawing Your Turkey

There are three ways to thaw your turkey safely — in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave oven.




In the Refrigerator (40 °F or below)
Allow approximately 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds
4 to 12 pounds 1 to 3 days
12 to 16 pounds 3 to 4 days
16 to 20 pounds 4 to 5 days
20 to 24 pounds 5 to 6 days

Keep the turkey in its original wrapper. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak. A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen.

In Cold Water
Allow approximately 30 minutes per pound
4 to 12 pounds 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pounds 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pounds 8 to 10 hours
20 to 24 pounds 10 to 12 hours

Wrap your turkey securely, making sure the water is not able to leak through the wrapping. Submerge your wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed. Do not refreeze.





In the Microwave Oven

• Check your owner's manual for the size turkey that will fit in your microwave oven, the minutes per pound and power level to use for thawing.
• Remove all outside wrapping.
• Place on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak.
• Cook your turkey immediately. Do not refreeze or refrigerate your turkey after thawing in the microwave oven.

REMINDER: Remove the giblets from the turkey cavities after thawing. Cook separately.

Roasting Your Turkey

• Set your oven temperature no lower than 325 °F.
  
  
• Place your turkey or turkey breast on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
  
  
• For optimum safety, stuffing a turkey is not recommended. For more even cooking, it is recommended you cook your stuffing outside the bird in a casserole. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the stuffing. The stuffing must reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.
  
  
• If you choose to stuff your turkey, the ingredients can be prepared ahead of time; however, keep wet and dry ingredients separate. Chill all of the wet ingredients (butter/margarine, cooked celery and onions, broth, etc.). Mix wet and dry ingredients just before filling the turkey cavities. Fill the cavities loosely. Cook the turkey immediately. Use a food thermometer to make sure the center of the stuffing reaches a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.
  
  
• A whole turkey is safe when cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook turkey to higher temperatures.
  
  
• If your turkey has a "pop-up" temperature indicator, it is recommended that you also check the internal temperature of the turkey in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast with a food thermometer. The minimum internal temperature should reach 165 °F for safety.
  
  
• For quality, let the turkey stand for 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to set. The turkey will carve more easily.
  
  
• Remove all stuffing from the turkey cavities.

Timetables for Turkey Roasting
(325 °F oven temperature)

Use the timetables below to determine how long to cook your turkey. These times are approximate. Always use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of your turkey and stuffing.

Unstuffed
4 to 8 pounds (breast) 1½ to 3¼ hours
8 to 12 pounds 2¾ to 3 hours
12 to 14 pounds 3 to 3¾ hours
14 to 18 pounds 3¾ to 4¼ hours
18 to 20 pounds 4¼ to 4½ hours
20 to 24 pounds 4½ to 5 hours


Stuffed
4 to 6 pounds (breast) Not usually applicable
6 to 8 pounds (breast) 2½ to 3½ hours
8 to 12 pounds 3 to 3½ hours
12 to 14 pounds 3½ to 4 hours
14 to 18 pounds 4 to 4¼ hours
18 to 20 pounds 4¼ to 4¾ hours
20 to 24 pounds 4¾ to 5¼ hours

It is safe to cook a turkey from the frozen state. The cooking time will take at least 50 percent longer than recommended for a fully thawed turkey. Remember to remove the giblet packages during the cooking time. Remove carefully with tongs or a fork.

Optional Cooking Hints

• Tuck wing tips under the shoulders of the bird for more even cooking. This is referred to as "akimbo."
  
  
• Add ½ cup of water to the bottom of the pan.
  
  
• If your roasting pan does not have a lid, you may place a tent of heavy-duty aluminum foil over the turkey for the first 1 to 1 ½ hours. This allows for maximum heat circulation, keeps the turkey moist, and reduces oven splatter. To prevent overbrowning, foil may also be placed over the turkey after it reaches the desired color.
  
  
• If using an oven-proof food thermometer, place it in the turkey at the start of the cooking cycle. It will allow you to check the internal temperature of the turkey while it is cooking. For turkey breasts, place thermometer in the thickest part. For whole turkeys, place in the thickest part of the inner thigh. Once the thigh has reached 165 °F, check the wing and the thickest part of the breast to ensure the turkey has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the product.
  
  
• If using an oven cooking bag, follow the manufacturer's guidelines on the package.
  
  

REMEMBER! Always wash hands, utensils, the sink, and anything else that comes in contact with raw turkey and its juices with soap and water.

For information on other methods for cooking a turkey, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)
www.fsis.usda.gov

Storing Your Leftovers

• Discard any turkey, stuffing, and gravy left out at room temperature longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F.
• Divide leftovers into smaller portions. Refrigerate or freeze in covered shallow containers for quicker cooling.
• Use refrigerated turkey, stuffing, and gravy within 3 to 4 days.
• If freezing leftovers, use within 2 to 6 months for best quality.

Reheating Your Turkey

Cooked turkey may be eaten cold or reheated.





In the Oven

• Set the oven temperature no lower than 325 °F.
• Reheat turkey to an internal temperature of 165 °F. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature.
• To keep the turkey moist, add a little broth or water and cover.

In the Microwave Oven

• Cover your food and rotate it for even heating. Allow standing time.
• Check the internal temperature of your food with a food thermometer to make sure it reaches 165 °F.
• Consult your microwave oven owner's manual for recommended times and power levels.

For more information about food safety (in English and Spanish), call:
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHotline
(1-888-674-6854)
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday
E-mail: mphotline.fsis@usda.gov
Or "Ask Karen," FSIS' Web-based automated response system - available 24/7 at www.fsis.usda.gov.

Last Modified: January 12, 2011