How Do You Cook A Turkey And Other Thanksgiving Questions: Answers To Popular Thanksgiving Questions Found Here
Thanksgiving is here, and you may have some questions about your last minute holiday food preparations. From turkey cooking times and temperatures to the best method to boil your eggs, here are some of the answers to popular Thanksgiving day questions.
How To Cook A Turkey?
For many families, Thanksgiving centers around the turkey. All of the side dishes, desserts, and drinks are made to compliment this traditional Thanksgiving staple. However, turkey must be cooked thoroughly to avoid any nasty foodborne illnesses. Therefore, the person charged with making the Thanksgiving turkey is also charged with not getting everyone sick. So what can you do to ensure your turkey is thoroughly cooked? Follow these simple rules, and your Thanksgiving is sure to be a hit.
Food Network suggests planning for longer than will likely be needed to ensure enough time, should the turkey require additional minutes. When cooking a previously frozen turkey, the network suggests preparing for 20 minutes per pound. If you purchased a turkey fresh, the experts say to add 10 to 15 minutes extra per pound. Therefore, if you have a 15-pound, previously-frozen turkey, you would need to prepare to cook your bird for approximately five hours at 325 degrees. However, this amount of time may not be needed. Follow the chart below from Butterball, and then check your turkey temperature. Then add the turkey back to the oven for 30 minute increments until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. To do this, remove the turkey from the oven and use an instant-read thermometer. Check the thigh of the bird first. It should read 165 degrees F if it is done. Also, if you chose to stuff your turkey, check the internal temperature of the stuffing as well; it should also be at least 165 degrees.
For the juiciest and most flavorful turkey, tent your bird with foil after removing it from the oven and allow it to stand for 25 minutes before carving.
How To Thaw A Turkey Last Minute?
Okay, it is Thanksgiving day and you forgot to thaw your turkey. Is there anything you can do to speed up the process? Fortunately for those last-minute turkey buyers or busy people who simply forgot about their delicious bird, Butterball has a method to quickly thaw your turkey without sacrificing food safety.
This method requires about 30 minutes per pound to thaw. If your turkey is over 12 pounds, this one won’t save your Thanksgiving day feast. Therefore, if you need a bigger bird, you will want to head to the store for a fresh bird to cook.
How To Boil Eggs?
Deviled eggs are common at Thanksgiving festivities, and many people wonder how to boil eggs for easy shell removal. First, most recipes suggest that you bring your water to boil and then turn off the heat when dealing with eggs. Therefore, you will want to boil your water first, and then place the eggs into the water. Turn off the heat and allow the eggs to sit for 13 minutes if you want a thoroughly cooked yolk. After the eggs are boiled, place them in cold water until they are cool enough to touch. Next, follow the simple instructional video below for beautiful and easy-to-peel eggs.
How To Make Easy Turkey Stuffing?
If you want to impress family members with a homemade stuffing recipe instead of something from a box but aren’t sure where to begin, this recipe is a winner. This easy stuffing recipe requires a loaf of white bread, a small onion, a teaspoon of poultry seasoning (any brand), a pinch of salt, a pinch of black pepper, and 1/4 cup of water. Simply tear the bread into tiny pieces and wet it with the water. Once all the bread is moist, mix everything else together. Dump the whole lot into a piece of tin foil and cook for an hour alongside your turkey in the oven.
Are you making last minute Thanksgiving preparations this morning? What questions do you have about ensuring a successful holiday feast?
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