OT: Baking the Perfect Turkey 101

Is there a class...?  Maybe a book "Turkey Baking for Dummies..."?  This is my dilema.... the one and only time I made a turkey I botched it and it was dryer than dry.

Whats a gal to do...?!  Turkey Day is at Casa Johnson this year and I am freaking out.  Besides the fact that I dont know how to make a turkey, I also do not like handling raw, whole turkeys/chickens...  It actually disgusts me and I have visions of headless birds attacking me.  YES..  I know I need therapy.....!!

Please give me the ABC's of baking that perfect Turkey....  Look'n for the most easy way that will be successful..  you know... like:

A - Turn on the oven
B - Put bird in oven
C - Take bird out of oven...  Walah...!!  Perfect Turkey...

SO...  What ya got..?  I got a 10lb bird that needs yours and our dinner guests help..

I will be making dressing however will not be inserting it in said bird.  That disgusts me even more..  more therapy.. I know...

Many thanks for any and all tips, comments..etc.. 

Dana,

I don't stuff my bird either.......

To have the white meat juicy and not dry, I cook it Breast side down, so then it cooks in the juices and doesn't get dry........For the juice I use 1 bottle of Holland house white wine, and 3T. chicken base mixed with 12 cups of water. I stick a stick of butter in the cavity of the bird. sprinkle the outside with salt, pepper, poultry seasoning.....

Good luck........Kelly

oooo Kelly...  I have heard of the breast side down factor...  uuuummm  Thanks for the tips

Unstuffed Turkey Baking Time
Size of Turkey	Hours to Prepare
8 to12 pounds	2-3/4 to 3 hours
12 to 14 pounds	3 to 3 3/4 hours
14 to 18 pounds	3-3/4 to 4-1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds	4-1/4 to 4-1/2 hours
20 to 24 pounds	4-1/2 to 5 hours

 

Stuffed Turkey Baking Time
Size of Turkey	Hours to Prepare
8 to12 pounds	3 to -1/2 hours
12 to 14 pounds	3-1/2 to 4 hours
14 to 18 pounds	4 to 4-1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds	4-1/4 to 4-3/4 hours
20 to 24 pounds	4-3/4 to 5-1/4 hours

Got it from: http://www.aliciasrecipes.com/purchasing-a-turkey.htm

Another great website: http://busycooks.about.com/od/thanksgiving/a/turkey101.htm

It has instructions for easy, easier and easiest!!

Your are a fantastic gal!!  Thanks for the direction Elena..  Wanna come over and cook it for me..

As long as you have a fire extinguisher..... lol

WE HAVE ONE IN THE CAMPER...!!  Come on over!!  2 heads are better than one when cooking a turkey... I think..LOL..!

I always cook the Turkey for Thanksgiving. No exception this year. My oven isn't very big so I cook my turkey in the electric roaster so I have lots of room in the oven for all the sides. I also do not stuff my bird w stuffing that is. I do follow the cooking times listed above. I usually loosen the breast skin and slather between the meet and the skin a bunch of butter, salt and pepper. Then give the skin a good rubdown, my husband likes the crispy skin. Then I do shove the cavity with a celery stalk, 1/4 of an onion, maybe and orange or an apple if I have an extra one on the fridge. Not sure if it really adds anything my husband thinks it does. Then cook til done. We are also deep frying a turkey.  We are having 21 people for Thanksgiving.

When I cooked my one and only bird it was in the roaster...  Im hoping the oven will be more successful..  Thanks for the tips!!