Ten Ways to Cook a Turkey

Thanksgiving is just a couple days away, are you prepared? Be ready to wear your loosest pants and your baggiest shirts to make sure you have enough space to pig out all you want. After all, this is the one day out of the year that you can eat everything in sight and get away with it. Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, and of course, the turkey. Turkey is probably the most important dish in a Thanksgiving feast. That is why it is super important that it is cooked well. So what is the best way to cook a turkey? Decide for yourself. Here are ten deliciously scrumptious ways to make your Thanksgiving turkey a meal to die for.

1. Roasted Turkey – This is the most traditional way to cook a turkey. You pretty much cover the turkey in foil, plop it in the oven for 4-5 hours and then check it with a food thermometer to see when it is done. After cooked, most like to brush with spices or vegetable oil.
2. Fried Turkey – This method is used with smaller turkeys, usually 8 to 10 pounds. The turkey is stuffed with garlic, peppers, and other seasonings and then the entire bird is lowered into hot oil until fried to a crispy brown.
3. Grilled Turkey – Grilling a turkey takes a lot of time and preparation. You must place the turkey on a rack above a drip pan surrounded by coals in a covered kettle-style grill. Dampened wood chips are sometimes added to give the turkey a smoky flavor.
4. Marinated Turkey – People marinate turkeys to give them more flavor. You put the turkey in a big stockpot or kettle and cover it with the marinating liquid. The liquid is usually composed of spices, herbs, peppers, garlic, lemon juice, or other seasonings. After marinating you may cook the turkey in any way you like.
5. Brine Method – Brining is almost like marinating a turkey. You put the turkey in a stockpot and fill it with cold water, salt and sugar. Let it chill for 6-8 hours in the refrigerator. After the time has passed, wash the turkey off and it is ready to roast!
6. Braised Method – Braising a turkey is where you just put a turkey with a small amount of water in a covered roasting pan and cook until the turkey is ready. The cavity of the turkey can be filled with different vegetables of stuffings.
7. Oven Cooking Bag – Oven cooking bags are a very safe way to cook a turkey. The bags can be bought at most grocery stores. The turkey is put in the bag and placed in a stockpot to be cooked in an oven. Instructions are on the back of the oven cooking bag boxes.
8. Foil Wrapped Method – Wrapping a turkey in foil required increased oven temperatures, but gets cooked faster. You brush the turkey with butter or vegetable oil and then wrap the bird in heavy duty aluminum foil and place it in a shallow roasting pan. To brown the turkey, open the foil for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
9. Slow Cooking Overnight – This method is very dangerous because it requires the turkey to be cooked over night for 12-13 hours at 200 degrees F. Cooking things at temperatures lower than 325 puts your guests at a high risk of getting food poisoning. We recommend that you do not use this method as your choice of turkey cooking.
10. Microwave Oven – Microwaving a turkey is also not recommended. You must be cooking a small turkey and make sure that it is completely thawed out. A whole turkey takes 7-9 minutes to cook one pound. Consider an oven cooking bag to ensure even cooking. Microwaves may not be safe for cooking a turkey, but they are great for heating up left overs!

Now that you know several simple ways to cook a turkey your Thanksgiving feast should be magnificent! People will be raving over your amazing cooking for years. But be careful, if you cook the turkey too well, you will be the one voted to cook the turkey every year!