| Whenever one hears turkey, Thanksgiving immediately | | | | and sage. Make sure that the marinade coats the |
| comes to mind. However, turkey can be enjoyed the | | | | turkey meat well and is allowed to rest for at least an |
| whole year round on the dinner table with little fuss. | | | | hour before cooking. |
| Just remember a few steps on the best way to cook | | | | To best cook turkey, one has to choose a cooking |
| turkey. | | | | style as well. Roasting is the most popular wherein the |
| The first step to best cook turkey is choosing good | | | | turkey is cooked in the oven. The result is moist meat |
| quality turkey meat. Make sure that the turkey meat | | | | and crispy skin. Another popular way of cooking |
| comes from a reputable source. Some believe that | | | | turkey is by grilling. With this method, a smoky flavor is |
| fresh, free-range or organic turkey is better that the | | | | infused into the turkey meat. Turkey meat may also |
| frozen ones at the supermarket. One thing to | | | | be deep fried. However, to best cook turkey with this |
| remember though is that fresh turkey has a tendency | | | | method, smaller turkey meat cuts is ideally used to |
| towards a more gamey taste while frozen ones tend | | | | ensure a crispy exterior and well-cooked meat. |
| to taste sweeter. The bottom line really is preference | | | | Another consideration to best cook turkey is the |
| for the taste. | | | | cooking time. This is usually given a general guide |
| Second consideration to best cook turkey is its | | | | based on the weight of the turkey. Another |
| preparation. Because the turkey meat is leaner than | | | | consideration related to cooking time is the preparation |
| chicken meat, it holds more flavors but may also have | | | | of the turkey, whether it is stuffed or not. Generally, a |
| a tendency to dry out during the cooking process. That | | | | 10-18 lbs. of turkey meat cooks from 3 to 3.5 hours |
| is why preparation of the turkey meat is an important | | | | when not stuffed and 3.5 to 4.5 hours when stuffed. It |
| step. | | | | is best to cook turkey weighing 15-22 lbs from 3.5 to 4 |
| One popular preparation is stuffing the turkey. Stuffing | | | | hours when not stuffed and 4.5 to 5 hours when |
| allows for the taste of the stuffing ingredients to | | | | stuffed. Bigger portions of about 24 lbs to 29 lbs cook |
| permeate from within the meat of the turkey. Also, the | | | | from 4.5 to 5 hours when not stuffed and 5.5 hours to |
| stuffing may be served alongside the turkey as | | | | 6 hours and 15 minutes when stuffed. |
| additional siding. To best cook turkey, these common | | | | However, experts still recommend the use of a meat |
| ingredients may be used as stuffing: carbohydrates | | | | thermometer to measure the doneness of the turkey |
| such as bread, rice and couscous; fruits and | | | | meat. The best way to check that the turkey meat is |
| vegetables such as apples, lemons, oranges, apricots, | | | | cooked is when the internal temperature of the meat |
| papayas, chestnuts, potatoes and turnips; and herbs | | | | reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. After cooking, to |
| such as sage, cloves, ginger and rosemary. | | | | ensure that the juices are locked in the turkey, allow to |
| Another option is by marinating the turkey. For the | | | | rest for 20 minutes under foil before serving. |
| marinade, a little sweet, salty, tangy tastes with | | | | There really is no one way to best cook turkey, but |
| additional herbs and oils is the ideal combination. In this | | | | there are a series of steps one can take to make |
| case, sweet may be brown sugar or honey, salty may | | | | sure that the turkey served is the best in town. After |
| be salt or soy sauce, while tangy may be apple cider | | | | which, these steps can be personalized to suit individual |
| vinegar or balsamic vinegar and lemon or orange juice | | | | preferences. |
| and zest. To best cook turkey with herbs, use cloves | | | | |