Holiday Recipes -
How to Cook a Turkey
The holiday turkey is the
traditional centerpiece of
Thanksgiving dinner.
Cooking a turkey will
probably be the easiest part
of your Thanksgiving dinner.
General Tips on How to
Cook a Turkey in the Oven:
The Turkey should be cooked
at 325 degrees F. for 15 to 20
minutes per pound.
To figure out the size of the turkey you need for your holiday gathering,
count your guests. You'll need about 1 and 1/2 pounds of turkey
per person.
Wash hands and any surfaces frequently that come in contact with raw turkey using warm sudsy water to avoid bacteria which could lead to foodborne illnesses.
What do to prior to cooking a turkey:
- Thaw turkey in the refrigerator or in a sink full of cold water.
It takes several days to thaw a turkey in the refrigerator.
- If you didn't do that, don't panic! Place the turkey, still in
its wrapper, in a sink full of cold water. Refill the sink with
fresh water every 30 minutes. Plan on about 30 minutes
per pound of turkey.
- Be sure to remove all the giblets from inside the turkey
cavity before baking. Open wide do heat can circulate through
the turkey.
To Cook Turkey:
- Place in roasting pan at least 2 inches deep, breast side up.
- Baste turkey with olive oil
- Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer deeply into lower part of the thigh next to the body of the turkey. Do not touch the bone.
- When the turkey is about 2/3 done, cover lightly with tin foil.
- The turkey is finished cooking when the thigh's internal temperature is 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Let the turkey stand for about 15 minutes before carving.
Turkey Nutrition
Turkey is a healthy protein because it is low in fat. Buy more than one when turkeys are on sale for the holidays for an inexpensive source of iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and many B vitamins.
© Copyright 2009 by Path2HealthyLiving
Holiday Recipes - How to Cook a Turkey
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