Planning and preparing an entire Thanksgiving should be classified as an extreme sport. Pulling this off is no small feat, and frankly, we think you deserve an award when you do. In our efforts to help ease your stress a bit, we are providing you with the information you need to cook whatever type and size of turkey you bought to delicious perfection.
Fresh or frozen whole turkeys
Cooking a raw turkey in a regular oven at 325F
Cooking in a convection oven at 325F
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Fully-cooked whole turkeys
Purchasing a fully-cooked turkey means cutting down on your cooking time.
Heating a fully-cooked turkey in a regular oven at 325F
Whole turkey breast
Frozen turkey breast
Roast skin-side down, uncovered, in a roasting pan at 325F for the first hour. Remove turkey from the oven. Carefully take out the gravy packet and refrigerate for future use. Turn breast skin-side up, and brush or spray lightly with vegetable or cooking oil for best appearance. Return to oven. Roast uncovered according to chart or until meat thermometer in the thickest part of breast reaches 170F. If the breast is stuffed, the center of the stuffing should register 165F. Let the turkey breast stand for 10 minutes before carving.
Cooking in a regular oven at 325F
Cooking in a convection oven at 325F
Cooking from frozen in a regular oven at 325F
Always let your turkey sit for 20 minutes before slicing to allow it to cool and re-absorb most of its juices, which greatly enhances the flavor.
Pop-up thermometers
Let’s talk thermometers: They’re crucial. Cook your turkey for too long, and you get a dry bird. Undercook it, and the only thing your guests will remember is the food poisoning you gave them. Many turkeys come with the pop-up thermometers already inserted. You also can purchase a pop-up thermometer to insert in the turkey before cooking. In theory, these are supposed to pop up when the turkey reaches the correct internal temperature, which is a minimum of 165F. Are they accurate? The short answer is no. Testing done on these thermometers showed that both types tend to pop up at the wrong times — some too early, some too late. The too-early indication is the biggest concern, of course, due to the risk of food poisoning. Food safety experts recommend that you not rely on these pop-up thermometers to test for doneness and advise you to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature with multiple readings. TRY THIS TURKEY: Roasted turkey with fresh herbs
Meat thermometers
With your diners’ health at stake, it’s wise to err on the side of caution and use a meat thermometer. They’re available online and in grocery and department stores. Instant-read thermometers Available with digital or dial gauges, these usually come with storage containers. Instant-read thermometers cannot go into the oven while the bird is cooking because of plastic parts; however, they read the temperature within 15 seconds once inserted into the turkey. Two of the top-rated, based on accuracy and ease of use, are the EatSmart Precision Elite Thermocouple Food Thermometer w/ Backlit Display & InstaRead Technology and the Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo Ambidextrous Backlit Instant Read Digital Meat Thermometer. Standard meat thermometers These are metal, so they go right into the oven with the bird, remaining there while it cooks. Be sure to read the directions to familiarize yourself with the thermometer and the depth to which it must be inserted. Two highly recommended models are the Taylor Precision Products Digital Cooking Thermometer with Probe and Timer and The ORIGINAL Oven & BBQ Touchscreen Digital Meat Cooking Thermometer and Timer.
If you don’t have a thermometer
The turkey is brined and resting in the roasting pan, the oven is preheating, and then you realize you forgot to get a reliable meat thermometer. Don’t panic! You can still cook your turkey without worrying about poisoning your guests. Here’s the best way to tell if your turkey is done: Cut a slit between the thigh, leg, and breast. This will release some of the juices of the turkey. If those juices run clear, it’s safe to take the turkey out of the oven. If they are still even slightly red, keep cooking. MAKE THIS TURKEY: Orange, anise and thyme roasted turkey
How long to cook a turkey
Making sure your turkey is done in time for Thanksgiving dinner takes planning; you have to take into account time needed for thawing (if your bird is frozen), prepping, cooking and carving. The charts above will help ensure your 4 p.m. dinnertime doesn’t turn into a midnight feast.
