cooking a turkey!

[alake]

Next week I am going to attempt to cook my first turkey on my own, my parents will be out of town. My friends and I have decided to have a turkey dinner. I need some advice. Does it have to be thawed to cook it. How long should it cook for. Do you stuff it prior to cooking. I am now realizing that I should have payed more attention to my mom when she was cooking a turkey.

[bethanyam]

Ok.....here goes.
Yes Thaw your Turkey.....depending on how big it is it can take 3 or 4 days to thaw in the fridge.
Rinse it out, and pull all the extra parts out of the inside cavities...also look in the neck for parts.
You can stuff it if you want to, but I don't like the stuffing from the turkey, so I put onions and sage and salt and pepper in the cavitie.
I then salt and pepper the whole bird really well and rub squirt butter/margarine all over it. I put it into a reynolds turkey baking bag then on a large pan...if using a disposable one make sure to use a stronger one underneath. I cook mine on 350 for 1 hour (I put it in the oven around 10 or 11 pm. I then turn it down to 200 and cook overnight...usually around 6 hours. You could probably do it at a higher temp for about 2 or 3 hours, but we always have Turkey at lunch so this is the way my family has always done it.
Hope it helps and good luck!

[clp8904]

I do all the same as Bethanyam does and they come out perfect. It does seem intimidating, but I am sure you will do fine.

[bethanyam]

The main reason I like cooking mine overnight, is because I'm a freak when it comes to raw meat...NO way....I can't stand the thoughts of it. I've NEVER saw an undercooked Turkey when cooked this way.

[clp8904]

Sorry I missed that, I was speed reading. I put mine in at about 6am go back to bed and it's usually done around 1pm.

[bethanyam]

LOL I think that is still about the same amount of time....but hmmmm maybe I should try that idea...i like sleeping late

[CouponCutter]

The cooking part is easy. It's the carving that I can't stand! That's why I've done only turkey breast for Thanksgiving the past 2 yrs and this year will be the same.

[bethanyam]

I would love to have just the breast (that's all I like) but I have one son who LOVES turkey legs. He only get's the 2 at thanksgiving....so I fix a whole turkey so he can have the legs. My husband hates turkey so we rarely have it any other time of the year unless it is just a breast that I find very cheap.

[Sylvia]

Make sure your turkey is WELL THAWED. I also don't like the stuffing in the cavity (ick!)

The Turkey wrapper should have instructions if you get lost. It usually says XX minutes per pound at ZZZ degrees. I cover with foil until it's done then remove the foil and let the bird brown. Baste often. Make sure you let your turkey rest before carving.

If you need a more visual presentation.... YOUTUBE

[alake]

We thought about just doing turkey breasts. This supper has gone from five of us, to about twelve of us. a bunch of our friends heard what we were planning, so I bring the turkey, and everyone else will bring the rest of the fixings. Oh and I also have to make cheater cabbage noodle salad. It is a favorite of all my friends.