Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
MrSenpai
10
Nov 21, 2017
What is the best way to not dry out a tukey when baking?
sailorspence
7
Nov 21, 2017
MrSenpaiThe absolute best way is to brine the turkey overnight using any one of several brines using a large pot or a plastic bag if you do not have a pot large enough. My preference is then to smoke it at a low temperature of 225 deg F and do not over bake. It is done when it reaches 160 deg in the breast and 170 in the thigh.
insolentcur
18
Nov 21, 2017
MrSenpaiBaste, baste, baste!
mundo472
29
Nov 22, 2017
insolentcurI'm told that basting is a myth.
insolentcur
18
Nov 22, 2017
mundo472Myth? Nope. Just labor intensive.
kathPoole
0
Nov 22, 2017
MrSenpaiDon't cook it too long. Cooking causes the juices to evaporate or run into the pan. You can salvage it a bit by making gravy out of the juices. But the big secret is to not over cook.
jkiemele
222
Nov 22, 2017
sailorspenceDon't baste. It does nothing for the meat. It gives a nice, crispy skin, but the disadvantage is greater. Continual opening of the oven door to baste drops the oven temperature, thus needing to cook the bird even longer and making it more prone it to overcooking.
Besides, there is zero chance basting a turkey with its juices will ever reach even 1 cm below the meat surface. The skin will get the basting liquid and run off back into the pan. It will do nothing for the moistness of the meat.
csgebhart
6
Nov 22, 2017
MrSenpaiuse a meat thermometer
CoconutMonkey
4
Nov 22, 2017
MrSenpaiYou can also try using an injectable butter based marinade. Hope this helps!
Koku
3
Nov 22, 2017
sailorspenceLow and slow is a great way. Always comes out better!
DavidtheGnome
5
Nov 22, 2017
MrSenpaiUse a cooking bag?
sifu257
11
Nov 23, 2017
csgebhart
6
Nov 23, 2017
DavidtheGnomeThat works.
GooeyCheese
16
Nov 23, 2017
MrSenpai Don't make turkey -- it's foul fowl. Seriously, though, if you enjoy turkey, brine it overnight, as others have mentioned. I don't care much for turkey, but the best I've tasted is brined using a recipe from Alton Brown from years ago. Turns out nice and moist and has very good flavor (for turkey)!
islandstyle_44
1
Nov 23, 2017
MrSenpaiBag it. Makes life simple
Jay_F
90
Nov 23, 2017
MrSenpaiWe do a three prep process to the bird before cooking. 1) We do a Brine for the turkey to sit in for a few days before cooking : https://www.marthastewart.com/274271/how-to-brine-a-turkey 2) We inject butter, fresh garlic and herbs under the skin: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/butter-injected-turkey-102444 3) We wrap the turkey in thick bacon strips to protect and hold in the moisture... Plus you can eat the bacon with the turkey for awesome turkey bacon sandwiches the next day: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-a-bacon-wrapped-turkey-237557 By doing all three steps to prep the turkey, you will have the most moist flavorful turkey you have ever had. I can't imagine ever doing it any other way now that we have discovered this way of cooking a turkey.
Jay_F
90
Nov 23, 2017
GooeyCheeseAlton Browns brine is the best!!!!!
Lib029745
0
Nov 23, 2017
MrSenpai Use a roasting bag to help keep moist
GooeyCheese
16
Nov 23, 2017
Jay_FI agree! The best I've tried, anyway, and, like I stated, I'm not much of a turkey fan. Alton's recipe actually makes it decent for even a non-turkey lover.
Jay_F
90
Nov 23, 2017
GooeyCheeseYeah for me the three steps, of brine, injection, and bacon wrap is ~tgm... Takes turkey to a whole new level... :)
TheOldFatGuy
60
Nov 23, 2017
sailorspenceYou are absolutely correct about not over cooking. I actually experimented with taking the bird off at 160 F internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast. I left my thermometer in the breast as it sat for 30 minutes and it got to 165 F while resting. I get my moistest turkey by doing this and it meets the USDA guidelines for safe cooking.
jammydodger1407
2
Nov 23, 2017
MrSenpaii wrap it in aluminium foil and put it in a pot. then i fill the pot with broth and leave overnight
Icefalkon
227
Nov 23, 2017
mundo472No not at all! :D
GooeyCheese
16
Nov 24, 2017
Jay_FYou can NEVER go wrong with bacon.
Jay_F
90
Nov 27, 2017
GooeyCheeseBacon wrapped turkey, that had a brine bath, then injected with butter and herbs. Three steps... You will never eat turkey any other way ever again 😎
211bma
67
Nov 3, 2018
MrSenpaiBrine
MZHMD
5
Nov 11, 2018
MrSenpaiBrining certainly helps, but you can also take a baking bag or a plain new brown-paper bag, butter the bag inside, also butter the turkey and sprinkle with your favorite herbs and spices. Throw a LOT of sliced onions, some cut carrots and celery, parsley, etc into the bag, lay the turkey (breast up) on top of the onions, carrots, etc - then staple the bag shut. Put the whole caboodle in a roasting pan and into the oven and cook until about 1/2 to 3/4 hours short of doneness - then cut open the bag and let the skin brown for the last part of cooking. Moist meat, falling off the bone.
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in More Community Picks