What about deep-frying, grilling, beer-can cooking or cooking a turkey in the Crockpot?
All of those are methods designed to help the turkey retain moisture. Are we sensing a theme here?
Many of these methods do a good job of it. But like the roasting upside down method, most aren't easy. Unless you're a seasoned veteran at deep-frying turkey, I wouldn't try it. A bird that big in that much oil is just an accident waiting to happen for a beginner.
Grilling, smoking, and beer can cooking have problems similar to flipping. A whole turkey is just too big to handle.
I don't recommend cooking a whole turkey in a Crockpot. But if you can find a small turkey breast or turkey tenderloins, a Crockpot is a reasonable alternative. The only drawback: You won't get that nicely-browned skin with a Crockpot turkey.
Why rub butter or oil under the skin?
Two words: moisture and flavor.The butter or oil keeps the breast moist, so that even if you do overcook the turkey, it won't dry out as much. Butter and oil also impart flavor, especially if you mix the butter with chopped fresh herbs. Here is my recipe for perfect roast Thanksgiving turkey, which is made with an herb butter under the skin.
What's the deal with those flavor injectors? They look like giant needles.
Flavor injectors are essentially giant hypodermic needles. The purpose is to add flavor and moisture to the turkey.Why do most people overcook their turkeys?
For years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended cooking a turkey to two different temperatures -- 180 degrees F for the thigh and 165 degrees F for the breast. That almost guaranteed the breast would be overcooked (not to mention a scientific impossibility).Several years ago, the FDA changed its recommendation to 165 degrees for all parts of the turkey. But apparently everyone didn't get the memo, so some folks are still cooking to higher temperatures.
Another reason is that people don't account for residual heat. Once you remove a turkey from the oven, you should let it rest. This allows the juices to redistribute and the turkey to finish cooking outside the oven from residual heat.
Typically, the temperature of the turkey will rise another 5-8 degrees during this resting period. Therefore, professional cooks will often take a turkey out at 160 degrees F, rather than 165 to allow for this residual heat effect. But most home cooks don't. So when you remove a turkey from the oven when the thermometer registers 165, the turkey will end up being cooked to 170 to 175 (thanks to residual heat). And that is basically overcooked.
The good news is if you've taken steps to add moisture to the turkey, whether through rubbing butter under the skin, wrapping in bacon or brining, it can withstand being overcooked a little without drying out.
Is it necessary to baste a turkey?
Basting has its place. It makes you feel like you're doing something to make things happen for the turkey. I get that. It also can help the skin brown nicely.What basting doesn't do is add moisture or flavor to the bird, despite what you might have heard. Basting can also lengthen your cooking time, because you're opening the oven frequently.
If you like to baste, I say go for it. It won't hurt much and can help the appearance of your turkey. But if you're busy with other things, faggedaboutit.
What's the deal with wrapping a turkey in bacon?
As with rubbing butter or oil under the skin, wrapping a turkey in bacon is a way to add moisture and flavor to the meat.The only drawback to this approach is that the turkey will often take on the smoky flavor of the bacon, which some people find distasteful. On the other hand, some people love it. It's a matter of personal preference.
Does cooking a turkey in a bag work?
Yes! Cooking a turkey in an oven bag can result in a much more moist and juicy bird than traditional roasting. The reason? An oven bag is essentially a moist heat cooking method. The turkey juices are retained in the bag, keeping the turkey moist and even enabling it to cook faster.It can be a bit unwieldy to deal with getting the raw turkey in the bag. But once you accomplish that, this is a fairly simple method. Just slice the bag open at the top with a knife, let the turkey rest for 20-30 minutes and transfer to a cutting board as you normally would.
Remember, even if you mess up with your turkey, your guests can still enjoy great Thanksgiving side dishes and pumpkin pie.
