Cooking a Turkey

The directions for the Turkey say 5 to 5 1/2 for a stuffed 23 pound turkey. I will have to get a thermometer that is a good idea. Thank you so much and wish you a great Thanksgiving.

I read the other comments and personally I don't put a lot of faith in the pop up timer, I actually remove mine! and I don't use the thermomenter. If you stuff the turkey, there are a few small things to do and not do. The brand of turkey you bought is one of my favorites. One year I got a store brand one and it was so dry and tuff. Think it was an old bird! if you know what I mean. I'll never buy one of them again! DO NOT stuff your turkey the night before, and refrigerate it. This will cause the stuffing to be cold and take a longer time to cook, it has to get hot all the way through. Also prestuffed and refrigerated will cause bacteria to grow in there. I have made my stuffing the night before but waited until the next morning to add the liquid to it, and stuff the 'bird'. I love stuffing, and I think the turkey taste better if it is stuffed. Also please don't, stuff or unstuffed, your turkey the night before and let the turkey set out! I just had a lady tell me she always puts it in the roaster the night before then gets up early and turns it on. I almost droped in shock, I can't imagine leaving it out over night. I always use a chicken broth on my turkey. I always stuff it. then I pour the broth over the turkey. For the broth you can use Swanson Chicken Broth( the large can) and add 1 or 2 chicken bouillion cubes to it. This is the way my daughter does it. I use Watkins Chicken Soup mix. I make a quart up and pour it on. Either way, If you put the broth on it will keep your turkey from drying out. I also always cover mine, but I have a large metal pan and lid that I use, I have never uncovered mine to let it brown and it browns just fine. I do however put some butter/margarine on the top of the turkey when I put it in the pan to bake. The big thing is to be sure your turkey is done and rather then to depend on the meat thermomenter I would do as the post below and move the leg. (I know mines done the leg is usually falling off!) I understand your concern about it being dry. I have never had a turkey come out dry that I have cooked. But I have had them come out not done, because I depended on the thermomenter. Well, I hope I have been of help. You have cooked a turkey before so I think you know what you are doing. They aren't any harder then a chicken. I don't know as if gas or electric make that much difference. My first turkey I cooked I didn't know what to do with it and my mom wasn't any help because she hadn't cooked one! My dad didn't like turkey so we very seldom got turkey! She never cooked one at home! Anyway, we had friends coming for dinner. So I waited on cooking the turkey until she got there cause I knew she knew how to cook it! Good thing they got there about 10am! We didn't have dinner at noon, but it wasn't much later! I didn't know they took so long to cook!!! So happy thanks giving! Oh my daughter, one year went to her sisternlaw's for turkey dinner...they had NOT even bought the turkey yet!!! Good luck hope you got a chuckle out of that.

Thank you so much for your detailed comments. I always prepare my turkey the night before but the stuffing is always done first thing in the morning and then I stuff the turkey. Leaving it out all night I could never. I usually wash my turkey then I poke the turkey all over with a knife and the use lemon juice to cover it. I then add garlic, a little salt, pepper, oregano, italian seasoning and either paprika or sazon to give it a great color once it cooks. I then cover it with aluminum foil and put it in the fridge overnight. I learned this from my mom when I was a young girl and have been cooking it this way for over thirty years. Thankfully I have 99 percent of the time was able to buy a butterball and they have always come out juicy and delicious. I hope the same thing happens cooking it in my electric oven. Have a wonderful Thanksgivings.

Thank you so much I have now been put to ease because I really thought it was going to be difficult. I just want everything to turn out good. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

Thank you so much. I usually take it out of the oven once its done to avoid drying the turkey up or burning it. Thanks again! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Well I ended up making my turkey just like I would if I was using a gas stove and it came out great. Thank you though for your response.

Hiya lelin, Great the Turkey came out well. I did not get a Turkey in the end but I managed to do other things equally as well. I did the other big meals yesterday and until Thursday which is Three Kings Day on the 6th of January I don´t have to bother too much except for buying a Cake for my Husband´s Birthday which was yesterday. I have too buy those too as the Oven is a wash out no good at all.

Thank you so much for your input. I usually put the Turkey in the oven first thing in the morning. I will cook it like I always do and wish for the best. Have a wonderful thanksgiving and enjoying the good food and family.

Hi Lelin. Good for you hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving too. Your turkey will turn out just like it always does. Cooking with electric isn't much different just have to pull your things off the eyes cause they stay hot for a bit. That is why I like cooking with gas. Can hardly wait to have our gas stove put in. Happy Thanksgiving!