Cooking a turkey

katies mum · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:27 pm Post subject:

Hi,

We`ve bought a turkey which is rather huge, 8.2kg (normally we have a turkey crown of about 4kg) I have been reading up about cooking times etc and each time the cooking times and temps quoted are different.

Please if anyone is used to cooking a largish bird could you give me a pointer in the right direction for about how longish per kg and at what temp etc. Also do you tend to cook it breast side down??

Thanks,

Eljhem · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:48 pm Post subject:

Remove the legs and wings and cook them separately to prevent them drying out.

Season under the breat skin with butter and herbs of choice.

cover loosely with foil and coook at mark 4/5 for 25mins per 500g plus 25 (last 25 without foil.)

Check to see if juices run clear

And rest 20mins before carving
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numberplease · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject:

I usually have birds around 18lb in weight, and cook them at 20mins to the pound plus 20mins, and turn the turkey every hour till done. I also don`t use any oil or fat, I just stick it in the oven as it is and let it cook in it`s own juices. I admit to not being a very good cook, but hubby and 5 kids have never complained, and I`ve never poisoned anyone........yet!

polar · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject:

I use the 20 mins per pound and 20 mins over as a rule of thumb for all meats
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madsue · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject:

I use the same timings as numberplease but don't turn the turkey. I only stuff the neck end, cover the breast and legs with loads of streaky bacon, cover with butter papers (it's one of my habits to save butter wrappers

) and then cover with foil. I actually put the foil in the baking tray first, going both ways, then lay the turkey on top and bring the foil up round it. That way all the juices and drips stay inside!!!!! I cook it at 180 degrees. Well thats what I turn my thermostat to, but my oven cooks on hot or not!!!!!!! So the turkey can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours!!!!!!!! And no, before anyone says, I haven't poisoned anyone yet either!!!!!!

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ola12387 · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:39 pm Post subject:

always cook turkey breast down as t stops it from drying out! and you should take the legs of a turkey as they take a different amount of time to cook that the rest of the turkey this is another way to stop the breast from drying out.
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medot · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:52 pm Post subject:

i always do the 20 minutes for each pound plus 20 minutes extra.

one thing i do do, is remove the wishbone before cooking the turkey. it makes carving the breast much easier. medot.xx

waterford · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:06 pm Post subject:

Dont stuff your Turkey until Christmas morning because the juices from the uncooked turkey will go into the stuffing and can cause food poisoning.

The 20 min. a Lb rule is supposed to be 15 min if you have a fan oven. Hope this helps.
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MikeCunliffe · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject:

Well done Waterford. 15 mins a pound is right; I was thinking everyone's turkeys are going to be well cooked this year.

Viv say recently (probably Phil Vickery) on t.v. how the turkey was cooked most of the time in foil with water placed at outset in the base of the foil. This steams the turkey in effect and leaves the meat moist.

Towards the end, the foil is removed and the whole of the breast is rubbed with butter, then back in the oven. This gives the skin a crisp, golden colour whilst keeping the meat moist.

Another idea I've heard, place a container filled with water in the oven during cooking to create humidity and again stop the meat drying out.

I'm planning on letting this years 25-30lb turkey rest and cool for about 1.5 hours after cooking as they take ages to cool sufficient to pick some of the tasty dark meat off the bottom.

Dougie · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:21 pm Post subject:

You could always look at the cooking a turkey ads, which have now found this thread. :wink:

sanji · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:51 pm Post subject:

I`ve always used the 20 mins per pound method, and I brush the breast/legs with a little olive oil, place some fatty bacon on the legs and breast and then I cut an orange or a satsuma in half and sit it in the cavity (cut side up)...this will also help stop the meat from drying out, then wrap the whole thing up in foil.
I baise the turkey at several intervals during cooking.
Me personally, I make my stuffing seperately...it can also go "off" if left in the turkey cavity after Xmas day and it stops the flow of air through the cavity.
Never poisoned anyone yet :D

blackcat1 · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:05 pm Post subject:

Do you cook your turkey on xmas day or the day before ?
I usually do it the night before as the last time I cooked the turkey on xmas day the boys were quite young and I felt like I was up and down faffing on with the turkey instead of enjoying the morning with them.

madsue · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:09 pm Post subject:

I remember a few Xmas back we decided to cook the turkey on Xmas Eve, as my oven is so lousy. We then went out for the evening, just for a short while we said

, suddenly about 3 hours later, we realised that the turkey was still in on a fairly high heat! Someone from our party had to go pick up a child or something so said she would go past mine and turn it off, which she did! We all arrived home at god knows what hour, completely sozzled and fell into bed. Next morning remembered that turkey was still in the oven and half cooked! Cranked the oven back up and carried on cooking it!!!!!

Still haven't poisoned anyone!!!!!!
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Scarlett · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject:

After stuffing I put a (peeled!) orange in the neck and up the jaxi..........also cover the breast with bacon slices and cook breast down, 20 minutes per pounds plus 20 minutes..............

Half an hour before taking it out I turn it back onto its "Back" and take off the foil to let the breast brown.

It stays more moist because the juices have run down through the breast meat.

Theberrybrooks · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Katie's mum!!

Wow i dont know about you, but im more confused now than before i read this!

According to our very tried and tested cook book, 4-5 kg birds cook on 180deg c/ gas 4 for 3 to 3 1/2 hours and 6-8kg birds same temp but for 4 to 4 3/4 hours.

The above times are of course for completed defrosted birds and if you have a fan oven lower the temp by 10 - 20 deg c also check juices are clear. (we also make our stuffing and cook sep)

We have our Christmas dinner on christmas eve! :D just so we can spend most of Christmas day in the lounge all together, good quality time!(turkey sandwiches and quick oven nibbles for us on Christmas day!! wouldnt have it any other way now, the kids think its great and so do i! :D :D :D :D ) cant wait now getting excited just thinking about it!

So, are you glad you asked Katie's mum???????

Jane xx :Reindeer: :Reindeer: :Reindeer: :Reindeer:

waterford · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject:

I cook my turkey in an oven dish which has a wire rack in it about an inch off the bottom. I place the turkey on the rack and fill the bottom of the dish with water which I guess creates a steaming affect and helps keep the Turkey moist.

A few have mentioned taking the legs off and cooking seperately. We have a 14lb turkey. If I take the legs off and cook seperately how long will they take on a bird this size. (Just the drumsticks).

This is really interesting. Thanks for all the suggestions and keep them coming.

katies mum · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:41 pm Post subject:

Thank you all for the excellent advice, does anyone fancy coming round to cook it for me!!!! I think I will cut off the legs as advised (that is assuming they come off quite easily!), will also cook it breast down to begin with, in tin foil with water in the tray (turkey will be on a rack) will cook about 180` it is fan oven but can be bit ``off`` about 15 mins per lb on the calculator that works out about 4hr 50mins not adding in the extra 20 mins or so. Think I will start checking it after about 4 hours. I always do the stuffing seperately so will stick to that. Just hope it will fit in the oven!!!!!!

Hopefully that will work, and I won`t poision mum and dad!! our stomachs are more hardy than theirs.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Dinner.

hbrac · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:08 pm Post subject:

The woman who bought our first flat phoned me at my new house on Xmas Day asking how long it would take to cook a turkey in my old oven!!!
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boaz · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:13 pm Post subject:

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hbrac · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:15 pm Post subject:

I know buzzcock...mad or what

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Impotence..Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings,"