Cooking the turkey

Soxgirl07

I know there's already a Thanksgiving menu thread, but how do you guys cook your turkey?

Last year I did a whole brining and bacon blanket thing. DH said it was nice but not to bother if I didn't want to and that he wasn't sure it was that much better to be worth the effort.

I just read a method about stuffing it with aromatics and cooking breast side down that looked interesting and easier. https://www.simplyrecipes.com/m/recipes/moms_roast_turkey/

What are your tried and true methods?

NotSharknado

I do it the old fashioned way.

ferris0906

We'll be spatchcocking ours (see here).  Everything about it is great including the fact that DH can't handle saying the term "spatchcock".  He lost it for a good three minutes when combining it with "dry rub".  

Soxgirl07

NotSharknado said:

I do it the old fashioned way.

See, I'm a vegetarian. I just starting cooking meat for my family recently and I need to know what the old fashioned way entails.

NotSharknado

Soxgirl07 said:

I do it the old fashioned way.

See, I'm a vegetarian. I just starting cooking meat for my family recently and I need to know what the old fashioned way entails.

Simplicity mostly! I do stuff the bird with stuffing(we don't eat the stuffing), butter compound of Rosemary and thyme on and under skin. High heat for an hour then reduce to 300 degrees. A 20lb bird is done in about 5 hours. Little chicken stock in pan, no basting and of course you'll need a rack in the pan.

NatureLovers

Regal Mama said:

kirotea said:

Regal Mama said:

If you smoke or fry the turkey do you not have any gravy? I need gravy if mashed potatoes are involved in the meal (and they always are).

It's probably sacrilege, but we use jar gravy.

I have never seen gravy in a jar. The more you know!

Williams Sonoma has a turkey gravy base that's very good.

tattooedtragedy

I work for a hospital and yesterday at work our screen saver had a reminder that all supplies must be scanned and accounted for to a patient account. I'm starting to see why they put out that reminder this time of year