• The Thanksgiving turkey is the main attraction of the Thanksgiving dinner, and is straightforward to prepare, as long as one has allowed ample time for thawing and cooking. Other methods, such as brining and deep frying may liven up the traditional meal's centerpiece, but require special equipment.

• 1. Methods of cooking: Roasting, baking, grilling and deep frying
  2. Thanksgiving also known as "Turkey Day"
  3. Thanksgiving: Fourth Thursday in November
  4. Due to salmonella threat, wash hands and surfaces after touching raw turkey

• Turkey Cooking by the Numbers

  1. Plan for 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per personMartha Stewart: How Big a Bird...
  2. Thaw frozen turkey on the bottom of the refrigerator; allow 5 hours per pound thaw timeMartha Stewart: Food Safety, Fallacies and Facts
  3. Roasting times for unstuffed birds at 325 degrees:
     • 8-12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours
     • 12-14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours
     • 14-18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
     • 18-20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hoursUSDA: Let's Talk Turkey
  4. Cook to 165 degrees internal temperatureUSDA: Let's Talk Turkey

• More Thanksgiving Turkey Help

  1. How to Pick a Thanksgiving Turkey | How to Thaw a Turkey
  2. Brining | Turkey Brining Videos | How to Brine a Turkey
  3. Thanksgiving Leftovers
  4. Deep Fry Turkey Videos | How to Deep Fry a Turkey

Categories