I need to know how to cook a turkey?

Question

I never cooked a turkey before and now i decide to make it but I`m not shure how. Please help me!

Imsorry but in my country we don`t celabrate Thanksgiving. I want to try something new for new year because my family don`t eat pork meet anymore because of the fat. In our country it`s a tradition to eat pork meet.

Answer 1

GET A COOKBOOK!!!

Answer 2

The Turkey will come with directions on how long to cook it per pound. Let say it is about 20 pounds it will need to be cooked about four hours. Basically it needs to cook to 165 degrees internally. You check this with a meat thermometer. But here is the kicker don't cook it to this temperature. Cook it to 145 and then let it sit it will continue to cook when it is out of the oven. If you cook it to 165 it will be dry and taste bad.
If you want to make a great Turkey cook it upside down. First start right side up at about 425 degrees for half an hour. This will brown the top.Then flip the Turkey over and cook it at 350 ( make sure you change the temperature or you will burn the turkey) with the breast facing down and the back up. This will cause the juice to run to the white meat. The dark meat is on the back side and has more fat. The white meat has less. after about two hours flip the Turkey right side up Breast up. finish cooking it another hour or till it is 145-150 internal heat. You can baste it if you want.
Never put the stuffing inside the Turkey. It can lead to salmonella poisoning. You can stuff it with apples and onions as well as garlic ans herbs like tarragon and Rosemary or thyme. You need to rub some sea salt on the bird as well as pepper. before cooking. Bon apetite

Answer 3

Lots of people and media make a big deal about cooking a turkey. I don't see the fuss. I cook it the way I cook a chicken.
I usually do not stuff it, mix butter with whatever spices I want ie:poultry seasoning, lots of garlic(personal choice) I spread it lightly on the skin and under the skin as well, stick it on a rack in a 350 oven and cover it. I usually only uncover it during the last hour to brown the top. I use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. My mom always said when you move the leg and it is loose then it's done. Always let it rest before carving it. I saw on tv if you rest it breast side down in ice with the legs and thigh out you get more even cooking but I never tried it. You can always cut off the dark meat if the white meat is done first and place it in a covered pan and pop back in the oven while the breast meat rests and after it's carved. The dark meat should be done by then.
Good luck

Answer 4

EASY COOKING GUIDE: ROASTING TO PERFECTION


Whether you're a novice cook or a seasoned pro, this will help you roast a tender, juicy, picture-perfect turkey every time. It's easy with the Butterball Open Pan Roasting Method.


Place thawed or fresh turkey, breast up on a flat rack in a shallow pan, 2 to 2-1/2 inches deep.
Brush or rub skin with oil to prevent the skin from drying and to enhance the golden color.
Insert oven-safe meat thermometer deep into the lower part of the thigh muscle, but not touching the bone. When thigh is up to temperature and if turkey is stuffed, move thermometer to center of stuffing for stuffing temperature.
Place in a preheated 325°F oven.
When the turkey is about two-thirds done, loosely cover the breast and top of drumsticks with a piece of lightweight foil to prevent overcooking the breast.
Use this roasting schedule as a guideline; start checking for doneness 1/2 hour before recommended end times:
Net Weight (in pounds) Unstuffed (in hours) Stuffed (in hours)
10 to 18 3 to 3-1/2 3-3/4 to 4-1/2
18 to 22 3-1/2 to 4 4-1/2 to 5
22 to 24 4 to 4-1/2 5 to 5-1/2
24 to 30 4-1/2 to 5 5-1/2 to 6-1/4



If unstuffed, the turkey is done when the meat thermometer reaches the following temperature:


180°F deep in the thigh; also, juices should be clear, not reddish pink when thigh muscle is pierced deeply.
If the turkey is stuffed, move the thermometer to the center of stuffing to read temperature. If both the thigh and the stuffing have reached temperatures listed below then the turkey is done.


180°F deep in the thigh; also, juices should be clear, not reddish pink when thigh muscle is pierced deeply.
165°F in the center of the stuffing.
Before removing stuffing and carving, let turkey stand 15 minutes to allow juices to set.

Answer 5

350, start with the breast side down, stuffing isnt really a good thing to have in the turkey because it absorbs the turkeys juices which can be uncooked or undercooked and harbor bacteria. Stuff the bird with herbs and spices like rosemary and thyme. Cook 20/30/mins per pound, 2/3s to 3/4s of the way through, flip the bird over and finishing cooking. let it rest 15/30 mins so the juices can absorbs, then cut

Answer 6

the EASIEST way is buy one that is alreay cooked for you... you can order one at most grocery stores! 2nd easiest, buy a turkey and take it to a local market/bbq resturant and they will cook it for you. (you should be able to find a local merchant online.) 3rd easiest and my preference, if you insist on cooking it yourself, buy a fresh turkey or thoroughly defrosted a frozen one. take out the giblets. place it in a deep baking pan. preheat the oven to BROIL. drizzle the juice of one/two fresh squeezed oranges on it and stick the rinds from the oranges inside the empty cavity. prinkle the turkey with salt, pepper, paprika and a little powdered rosemary. then cut squares of butter and place all over the skin of the turkey (use a whole stick of butter) brown the turkey for about 30 minutes. keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn. once it is a nice color, turn the oven all the way down to 200, cover the turkey and leave it for the next 6 hours. I like to do this at night before i go to bed. so put it in the oven at 9 or 10 pm and set your alarm clock so you can get up, go turn off the oven, and go back to sleep. it's super easy! hope yours come out GREAT!

Answer 7

Pork Tenderloin has less fat than turkey.

Get a Jennie-O turkey from the market. You pop it in the oven and it's done. Simply follow the directions on the side of the bag. It can't get any simpler than that.

Answer 8

use a turkey cooking bag, get a turkey with a button that pops out when it's done, cook the turkey upside down so the juice will keep the breasts moist, place in a large tin pan, put some chicken broth in the bottom of pan, the slower you cook it the better, try 350 degrees

Answer 9

ok, just remember to take the bag of stuff out of his butt. I forgot to and my husband is still laughing about it. So in case you can't tell, I don't really know how to cook a turkey either. You need a turkey baster, and some stuffing, that's all i remember, and it takes like six hours.

Answer 10

There should be directions on some turkeys. They come with papers inside the wrapping.

Answer 11

Go to Betty Crocker.com and search the recipe files.