How long do you cook the turkey and what is the best temperature?

Thanksgiving is when Americans eat 46 million turkeys, according to the National Turkey Federation. Approximately 50% of those are thought to have been frozen when purchased.

How do you defrost a turkey?

The USDA advises using a refrigerator to safely thaw your frozen turkey and advocates allowing one day for every 4-5 pounds of weight. Therefore, it will take around four days for a 16-pound turkey to thaw. Before cooking, the turkey can sit out for an additional two to four days after it has thawed.

How do you defrost a turkey?

Per pound of turkey, thawing takes about 30 minutes. Still, a very long time. A 12 pound turkey, which is on the smaller side, will likely take about 6 hours to prepare.

How do you defrost a turkey?

Cross contamination is a concern that frequently arises while preparing raw meat, particularly a large bird like a turkey. But Symon says there are a few simple steps you can take to take no chances when you prepare your Thanksgiving meal.

How to avoid cross contamination while cooking a turkey

When handling raw meat, it's always better to be safe than sorry. More thorough cleaning and safety measures like hand washing while cooking are preferable.

How to avoid cross contamination while cooking a turkey

According to Guillard, you should cook a chicken at a lower temperature and for a longer period of time the larger it is. Make sure it's fully cooked inside without turning too brown on the exterior, he advises.

What temperature to cook a turkey

Guillard claims that he would cook a 20-pound turkey at about 300 degrees, for instance. That's lower than the standard 350 degree cooking temperature for turkey.

What temperature to cook a turkey

Some individuals prefer to start roasting a turkey at a very high temperature before lowering it to a lower temperature to finish cooking it, according to Guillard. But different people prepare turkeys in different ways. There is technically no proper method, either.

What temperature to cook a turkey

Guillard notes that some people adopt a completely different strategy, starting slowly at around 250 and then ramping it up toward the end to induce skin browning.

What temperature to cook a turkey

In addition to improving aesthetics, decorative additions like apples, oranges, lemons, and limes as well as fresh herbs like chives and parsley help distinguish the meal and occasion as being unique.

How to garnish your turkey

There is one more step to take after cooking and carving your turkey before it gets buried in gravy or cranberry sauce. The meat needs to be garnished.

How to garnish your turkey

Guillard claims that many birds are already brined. Therefore, before beginning, be sure your buy requires a brine. There are a few ways to brine a turkey if you need to.

How to brine a turkey

Meat is soaked in a solution of salt and water during the wet brining procedure. The meat's moisture is preserved by the salty treatment. The turkey produced with this technique is flavorful and tender with a crispy golden exterior.

How to brine a turkey

"Having the perfect textures and making sure it's thoroughly (cooked) throughout, but not to have a dry meat, is the crucial thing to strike a balance on this," says the chef.

How long to cook your turkey

If you're preparing an unstuffed turkey at 350 degrees, Guillard advises cooking it for 12 to 13 minutes per pound (approximately 3 hours for a 12- to 14-lb turkey). Increase the cooking time to 15 minutes per pound if the meat is filled.

How long to cook your turkey

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