How do you prepare your turkey?

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cloneluke80

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
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West Des Moines, IA
So I am doing the turkey this year. Which I like to do, but I have done the whole throw it in the oven thing... it was just meh...

I will still cook in oven
I am going to brine it the night before

Should I stuff it?
Any other tips?

I'm not a big turkey fryer guy or grill guy, you guys can talk about it but I want more of the oven advice...
 

ianoconnor

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SuperFanatic T2
Nov 11, 2007
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Johnston
Last year was my first year frying (& also first year of me doing the turkey rather than my mom or some other female relative). Everyone loved it. Definitely will be frying them each year now. I used cajun dry rub last year & will probably do the same again. I'm adding some injected marinade this time.
 

cyclones500

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2010
35,685
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Michigan
basslakebeacon.com
So I am doing the turkey this year. Which I like to do, but I have done the whole throw it in the oven thing... it was just meh...

I will still cook in oven
I am going to brine it the night before

Should I stuff it?
Any other tips?

I'm not a big turkey fryer guy or grill guy, you guys can talk about it but I want more of the oven advice...

I'm still a novice (roughly five years as turkey-maker) and I typically go by the book, too, but a couple of things that have worked for me:

*If you aren't cooking the stuffing inside the bird, put some chopped onion & garlic in the cavity.
*Put turkey in oven, then mix a bloody mary.
 

letsCYber

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2010
1,661
104
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U.S. of A.
So I am doing the turkey this year. Which I like to do, but I have done the whole throw it in the oven thing... it was just meh...

I will still cook in oven
I am going to brine it the night before

Should I stuff it?
Any other tips?

I'm not a big turkey fryer guy or grill guy, you guys can talk about it but I want more of the oven advice...

Here's all you need to know.

[video=youtube;HcpjP8vHLKY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcpjP8vHLKY[/video]
 

3TrueFans

Just a Happily Married Man
Sep 10, 2009
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Ames
The first thing I do is my wife tells me what kind of turkey she bought. Then around 9:00 or so on Thanksgiving I wake up and my wife tells me that the turkey is in the oven. Then when she tells me to I take the turkey out of the oven. Then we eat the turkey. Anything that happens inbetween those steps is anyone's best guess.
 

letsCYber

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2010
1,661
104
63
U.S. of A.
The first thing I do is my wife tells me what kind of turkey she bought. Then around 9:00 or so on Thanksgiving I wake up and my wife tells me that the turkey is in the oven. Then when she tells me to I take the turkey out of the oven. Then we eat the turkey. Anything that happens inbetween those steps is anyone's best guess.

I'm glad you've effectively established roles.
 

Mr Janny

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Mar 27, 2006
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You gotta smoke that bird!

this.

Inject it with creole butter, liberally apply a spice rub, smoke it for12 hours with hickory chips.
 

19210

Well-Known Member
Apr 19, 2006
2,111
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83
Seems like we never have enough for leftovers so this year I decided to try out Famous Daves. They will do a cherry wood smoked turkey for like $40 (12-14 lbs). So I'll be picking that one up and then the ladies will do one with just the breasts because they don't like the dark meat. Darn racists! :wideeyed:
 

ken

Member
Dec 28, 2008
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Stuff and put in a cooking bag. Cooking bags are one of the best things that ever happen to preparing Turkey.
This. It's the most fool proof way to make a perfect bird. Put a little flour in the bag along with some onion and celery. Butter the bird, and stuff it. Place in bag and cook until popup timer pops. Use the juice for some killer gravy.
 

twojman

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2006
7,094
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Clive
After the turkey is cleaned up I put a bit of oil and butter on it. I then put on just a bit of garlic, some black pepper, oregano and parsley. Next I put the turkey inside a bag and pour beer in the bag, probably about a half a can and drink the rest. About every 30 minutes I check to make sure it is cooking well and add a bit more beer. All told I probably end up with 1.5 beers poured over and around the turkey and it is ALWAYS juicy and falls right off the bone.

I usually do this every year for our friends when we gather. We all agree it is the best turkey ever and generally cannot eat the turkey at our family gatherings.
 

Wesley

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
70,923
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Omaha
The first thing I do is my wife tells me what kind of turkey she bought. Then around 9:00 or so on Thanksgiving I wake up and my wife tells me that the turkey is in the oven. Then when she tells me to I take the turkey out of the oven. Then we eat the turkey. Anything that happens inbetween those steps is anyone's best guess.
Sounds like she is a keeper.