Live Countdown to Thanksgiving Day & Turkey Prep

Lara

Lara

Friend of the Arts
Location
Mid-Atlantic Coast
Countdown Link: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/thanksgiving#

Be forewarned...Covid is expected to affect availability of Turkeys.

Are you buying a fresh Turkey? I'm calculating when to pick it up...while considering that
Covid changes for availability might mean they will run out sooner than last year.
That could shorten the time by 2 days or more.

Costco only has fresh Turkeys. They last 7 days from the time it was processed (whenever that was).
After 7 days you have 2 more days in the fridge if it's cooked. Then it must go to the freezer.
 

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I’ve had fresh and I’ve had frozen.

I’ve always been satisfied with an inexpensive frozen bird, usually offered as a supermarket loss leader.

I start to defrost the turkey in the refrigerator on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Some years I’ve miscalculated and had to leave the packaged bird in the kitchen sink filled with cold water covered with a thick bath towel on Wednesday night.

Years ago Julia Child expressed her distrust of ‘fresh’ turkeys, due to the volume required many were processed and held at low temperatures for several weeks before they reached the consumer.

The turkey may be the focal point of Thanksgiving, but there are so
many wonderful sides that I really don’t pay much attention to the turkey until it’s time to make a sandwich.

Happy Thanksgiving!
 
I remember turkey leftovers in the fridge for a week too @jujube , I ordered an amazing toasted turkey sandwich at a restaurant recently and it had melted brie cheese, a few chopped cranberries, and a few candied pecan pieces in it...and of course turkey, lettuce, and mayo.

Thanks for the tip about fresh Turkeys @Aunt Bea , it's a game changer. I've read that frozen Butterball are King of all turkeys so maybe I'll do that. I've struggled in the past with inconsistencies as some turn out moist and some dry.

This Thanksgiving is special with my entire family together including my 4 children traveling here from coast to coast. So no room for errors.

I may roast my turkey in an oven bag...probably a 20lb for 9 people...possibly 11. I used to have 12 people and would get a 23lb turkey but that was a lot of turkey!...made for some nice pics though.

I saw a video chef NOT pierce the bag. The bag didn't explode, much to my surprise and the turkey was a beautiful dark golden brown. He cooked it to 185 degrees and it looked overdone as the meat was way off the bones on the legs. He didn't show it being cut but I suspect it was dry...lots of juice in the bag for making gravy though.
 
I don’t mean to create more stress for you, but I tried a roasting bag once and the poor turkey turned to mush from all of the steam in the bag.

Things may have changed since then, but I would stick with conventional roasting.

Also consider roasting two small birds to make things easier and reduce the cooking time.

My mother cooked the turkey breast side down and flipped it breast side up halfway through the roasting time. I always thought that it was too dangerous and roasted breast side up with good results.

The important thing about Thanksgiving is getting together with family and friends to share blessings and give thanks.
 
😁 No stress for me, Aunt Bea. I'm taking it all in, and in the end I'll do what feels best. It was good that you brought up the fresh bird issue because it reminded me that I did a fresh bird once and it wasn't that great...can't remember what the exact issue was with mine but I remember I didn't want to ever do fresh again.

I've done the plastic bag thing...before I was afraid of heat/plastics. Now that you bring it up it reminds me that the turkey wasn't a crispy golden brown when finished baking...but it was moist...I'll give it that lol.

Hmm...never thought of 2 small turkeys :unsure:...that's food for thought

How do you keep your turkey moist when roasting....basting a lot?...using it's juices?
 
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No countdown here ... Everyone enjoy your day, and all the work put into it!

I'm having a Turkey food basket delivered for Thanksgiving .. no stress .. and Lil'Bear and I will enjoy it.

My daughters and their families are having a camping trip holiday to northern Texas for 5 days over next weekend.
It's something that has been in the works for a couple months now ... an entertainment and camping park venue they like.
They text pictures along the way ... hope the weather cooperates
 
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No problem. The local meat market here is holding a Cajun Fried Turkey for me. Also picking up the sweet potatoes and brocolli cheese casserole there. I am doing dressing and gravy and making fresh cranberry sauce. Pumpkin pies are being made by Patti LaBelle and her blackberry cobbler. Choice of sweet tea, milk. coffee and white wine are available. We will have a green salad with Olive Garden dressing as a side dish also.
 
Lara said:
😁 No stress for me, Aunt Bea. I'm taking it all in, and in the end I'll do what feels best. It was good that you brought up the fresh bird issue because it reminded me that I did a fresh bird once and it wasn't that great...can't remember what the exact issue was with mine but I remember I didn't want to ever do fresh again.

I've done the plastic bag thing...before I was afraid of heat/plastics. Now that you bring it up it reminds me that the turkey wasn't a crispy golden brown when finished baking...but it was moist...I'll give it that lol.

Hmm...never thought of 2 small turkeys :unsure:...that's food for thought

How do you keep your turkey moist when roasting....basting a lot?...using it's juices?
Click to expand...
I’ve never done anything special other than baste the turkey a few times.

IMO a dry bird should be close to impossible with the various brining solutions that are injected into today’s frozen turkeys.

Try not to overthink it!

Just follow the instructions on the wrapper and remember to remove the neck and bag of giblets. 😊
 

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