Thanksgiving is on the way to a holiday dining table near you, and today we’re holiday kitchen chatting Thanksgiving turkey, tools, and tips.
In this pre-Thanksgiving calm before the holiday prep, cook, and serve storm, I’m utilizing my time to gather the roasting pan, carving set, kitchen essentials and necessary information needed to ensure total Thanksgiving turkey success.
Herb, Lemon, and Garlic Turkey
How big of a bird will I actually need?
How do I properly defrost the thing?
How long do I cook a Thanksgiving turkey?
To stuff, or not to stuff, that is the question.
You’ve got questions, and this blog post has got answers.
Let’s talk turkey.
From the folks at Delish:
How much turkey do you need?
Thawing the Frozen Thanksgiving Turkey
For Refrigerator Thawing:
Place turkey on a tray to eliminate leakage to other areas of refrigerator.
Thaw breast side up, in original unopened wrapper on a tray in the fridge (40 degrees F or below).
Allow at least 1 day of thawing for every 4-5 lbs.
Suggested thawing time for a frozen turkey:
4 to 12 pound turkey: 1 to 3 days
12 to 16 pound turkey: 3 to 4 days
16 to 20 pound turkey: 4 to 5 days
20 to 24 pound turkey: 5 to 6 days
Cold Water Thawing:
Thaw breast side down, in original unopened wrapper.
Cover the turkey completely with cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes.
Estimate a minimum thawing time of 30 minutes per pound.
4 to 12 pound turkey: 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pound turkey: 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pound turkey: 8 to 10 hours
20 to 24 pound turkey: 10 to 12 hours
The good people at Butterball offer cooking calculators and conversion charts for everything Thanksgiving turkey.
Here’s the link: Butterball Calculators and Conversions Chart
The Amazon Echo calls up Alexa the answer machine, now we’re cooking playlists, recipes, and the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line® (connect with the Talk-Line through social media, live chat, texting — even Amazon Alexa).
All-new Echo Dot (4th Gen) Smart speaker with Alexa in Twilight Blue
Prep the bird and don’t forget to tie those bad boy turkey legs together with cooking twine.
Thawed turkey roasting times in a 325 °F regular oven:
6 to 10 pounds: 2 to 3 hours (unstuffed) – 2¼-3½ hours (stuffed)
10 to 18 pounds: 3 to 3½ hours (unstuffed) – 3¾-4½ hours (stuffed)
18 to 22 pounds: 3½-4 hours (unstuffed) – 4½ – 5 hours (stuffed)
22-24 pounds: 4-4½ hours (unstuffed) – 5-5½ hours (stuffed)
24-30 pounds: 4½-5 hours (unstuffed) – 5½-6½ hours (stuffed)
Thawed turkey roasting times in a 325 °F convection oven:
6 to 10 pounds: 1½-2 hours (unstuffed) – 1¾-2½ hours (stuffed)
10 to 18 pounds: 2 to 2½ hours (unstuffed) – 2½-3¼ hours (stuffed)
18 to 22 pounds: 2½-3 hours (unstuffed) – 3¼ hours (stuffed)
22-24 pounds: 3-3½ hours (unstuffed) – 3¾-4¼ hours (stuffed)
The turkey is done when the temperature with a meat thermometer reaches 170 °F in breast or stuffing.
Cuisinart Wireless Meat Thermometer
Use a food thermometer to check the turkey in the thickest part of the breast.
If you stuff the Thanksgiving turkey, the center of the stuffing must also reach 170 degrees F.
Cross contamination between turkey and stuffing is a concern, so just make sure both turkey and stuffing reach 170 degrees F.
Let the turkey stand 15 minutes before carving.
Safe Turkey Prep, Thawing, Stuffing, Cooking, Clean Up Tips:
Always wash your hands before and after preparing or eating food.
Thaw turkeys in the refrigerator, never on the counter.
Don’t wash raw poultry before cooking. It can spread germs to other areas.
Place stuffing in the turkey just before cooking.
Cook raw poultry thoroughly to an internal temperature of 170 degrees.
Wash your counters, cutting boards, and utensils after they touch raw meat.
Don’t feed your pets raw food.
Tools and Tips
Kitchen tools that get the job done are just one part of the turkey buying, thawing, prepping, and roasting are essential.
The black graniteware covered roaster speaks holidays to me, but I’m always open to a new trad roasting pan that gets the Thanksgiving turkey roasted to perfection.
Nordic Ware Copper Roaster XL Large
Cajun Classic 15″ Oval Aluminum Roaster GL10050
As I source and suggest I just ordered the Gibson Home Kenmar High Dome Oval Roaster Set.
Gibson Home Kenmar High Dome Oval Roaster Set
All-Clad B1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Roaster with Rack
Oster 18qt Roaster Oven Black CKSTRS18-BSB
Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 6.5qt Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer with High Gloss Finish
Going the pressure cooker and air fryer route gives the holiday cook a holiday helping hand.
Turkey breast is the requested option of the Places In The Home crowd, and I usually go with a 3lb. bird breast.
Here’s my two-step how to air fry a Thanksgiving turkey:
Remove any netting from around the breast, lightly coat turkey breast with olive oil and season with preferred seasonings.
Select the air fryer or air crisp function and set fryer to 350 degrees.
The first round of “frying” is for 20 minutes.
Now comes step 2.
Using caution as not to burn yourself, turn the turkey breast and re-coat with olive oil and seasonings.
Set to air fryer or air crisp function at 350 degrees for an additional 30 minutes or until internal temperature of turkey breast reaches 165 degrees.
Allow turkey breast to rest in the place for 10-15 minutes.
For the slow-cooker cooks:
Time saving culinary companion pieces aka time-saving kitchen tools and gadgets qualify in my recipe book as a sous chef.
Emile Henry Artisan Deep Ruffled Pie Dish
Things can get mighty hectic in the holiday kitchen, and a cook is only as good as the kitchen gadgets, tools and accessories he or she uses.
Anchor Hocking Laurel 9.5″ Rosewater Pie Pan
Connecticut Cottages & Gardens
A well-stocked and organized holiday pantry becomes the star of the kitchen show everyday of the week, but it’s especially popular at holiday hosting time.
Lock & Lock canisters from QVC are my go-to storage containers to store sweet potato puree to cornbread to chocolate walnut fudge.
Lock & Lock 4 piece Tall Canister Storage Set
Classic style measures up in the holiday kitchen.
Corningware Cornflower 4 pc. Measuring Bowl Set
Holiday in the Kitchen tip:
Choose dishes and recipes you’ve met and mastered to prevent a cooking-baking meltdown.
If your dying to try that new dish you saw in a cookbook, on social media, or on a cooking show, prepare it a week or so out to get the hang of it.
Nordic Ware Autumn Wreath Bundt® Pan
BakerEze 6 Pc Copper Nonstick Bakeware Set, Muffin Cake & Cookie Pans
Lodge 7 Quart Oval Dutch Oven – Oyster White
Pots, pans, Dutch ovens, and cocottes with high performance cook and serve capability add a kick to your kitchen style.
Staub Ceramic 16-oz Petite Artichoke Cocotte – Basil
Lodge 5 Quart Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Holiday in the Kitchen tip:
Take an inventory of the dishes that have to be cooked on Thanksgiving day and the total prep to stove to oven to table time.
Allow ten extra minutes per recipe to help rule out any issues.
Circulon Innovatum 2qt Stainless Steel Nonstick Covered Straining Saucepan with Pour Spouts
Select by Calphalon 12″ Cast Iron Round Skillet
Instant Pot Duo 6qt 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker
The Pioneer Woman Instant Pot 6-Quart Programmable Multi-Cooker
Thyme & Table 4-Piece Copper Measuring Cup Set
Carbon Loft Owen Rolling Kitchen Island
Tabletops Gallery Hobnail 4-pc. Mixing Bowl Set
Wilton Bake It Better Non-Stick Baking Pan Set, 3-Piece
Wilton Bake It Better Copper Oven Crisper Basket
Sing it with me, friends.
♫ I can mash potato, I can mash potato ♫
Starfrit Rotato Express Electric Peeler
Holiday in the Kitchen tip:
Mashed potatoes will stay warm for an hour or so in a slow cooker set to low.
Holiday in the Kitchen tip:
If you slightly scorch the gravy, don’t panic.
Add 1 teaspoon of smooth peanut butter until the burnt flavor is gone.
You may need to add more peanut butter. Do so 1 teaspoon at a time.
Aladdin Heritage Vacuum Bottle 24oz, Plaid
Holiday in the Kitchen tip:
Use a vacuum bottle (Thermos) to keep the gravy warm and free up another stove burner.
BLACK+DECKER 9 Inch Electric Knife
Thyme & Table Gold Chef Knife Set, 3 Piece
Holiday in the Kitchen tip:
Cut up vegetables such as green onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and root vegetables ahead of time and store in the refrigerator in air tight containers.
Farberware Hardwood Drip Trench Cutting Board
Pyrex® 6-piece Glass Food Storage Container Set with Wood Lids
The countdown to Thanksgiving turkey times is on, here’s hoping this in the holiday kitchen chat offers the information and source suggestions needed to ensure total Thanksgiving turkey success.
Relax.
Turn up the music.
Enjoy the day!