Learning How to Cook a Turkey
For those who have never hosted a Thanksgiving meal, it can be a daunting task. One of the most difficult things will be to figure out how to cook a turkey. There are a lot of different options available. While many people roast their turkeys, it is also becoming more common to cook deep fried turkey. There are hundreds of recipes on the internet that you can use in order to cook a delicious turkey.
As for the basics, first you are going to have to defrost your turkey if it is frozen. You can do this in cold water in the sink, or in a microwave if you are in a hurry, but the safest way to do this is over time in the refrigerator. Once it is defrosted you will want to make sure to remove the packet of organ meat that is inside the turkey, and tuck the legs in close to the body so they don’t cook too quickly. Most recipes will call for you to add a light coating of oil to the skin to help keep it moist.
Once you have prepared your turkey, you will need to cook it at between 325 and 350 degrees for approximately 15 or 20 minutes per pound. You will know that it is done when it has reached the proper safe temperature (170 degrees in the breast meat and 180 degrees in the thigh meat).