Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A Few Turkey Tips for Tomorrow



It's the day before "T-day" as in Turkey Day. Here are a couple of tips that will ensure a wonderfuly juicy turkey.

Tip 1: Free Range Turkey

Free range birds have outdoor access and they are not crowded in tight cages like conventionally raised birds. This means that the turkey can walk around and develop their musclar flesh, resuling in a juicy and richer flavor than their frozen counterparts. Also free range birds are raised without the need for antibiotics or hormones. So this year, forget about buying the cheap birds and give your family a better quality bird by buying free range - you'll taste the difference.

Tip 2: Invest in High-Quality Cookware

Forget about using a disposable roasting pan, they cook uneveningly and they poorly transer heat from pan to bird. Instead, buy a high-quality roasting pan and your turkey will roast evenly resulting in a juicy and tender bird - you'll never cook with a disposable pan again.

Tip 3: Cover with Foil and Leave It Alone

I've seen recipes where they have you baste the bird every hour or so, but I say, "Skip the basting and leave the bird alone!" Once I season my bird and cover it with foil, I don't uncover the bird until it reaches 150 F, and then I take off the foil and let the bird brown while continuing to cook until it reaches 180 F. Each time you uncover the bird you lose the moisture locked within the covered bird and you'll end up with a dry bird.

Simple follow these suggestions and your dinner will be a success!

Happy Thanksgiving

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