Is it possible to cook or partially cook a Thanksgiving turkey a day in advance and still have it taste yummy?!
Answers:
My honest suggestion to you if you know you are going to be super busy the actual day ( I usually am) is please do NOT partially cook the turkey!.
Start everything else the night before!.!.prep veggies, peel potatoes, stuff the turkey, etc!.!.!. If you cook anything before you are almost ready to eat usually turns out less than terrific!.
I have a very large family and I always get up at about 7 to cook my 30Lb turkey on regular oven temp to be done by 4 pm and it is always tender and juicy and never over cookedWww@FoodAQ@Com
Start everything else the night before!.!.prep veggies, peel potatoes, stuff the turkey, etc!.!.!. If you cook anything before you are almost ready to eat usually turns out less than terrific!.
I have a very large family and I always get up at about 7 to cook my 30Lb turkey on regular oven temp to be done by 4 pm and it is always tender and juicy and never over cookedWww@FoodAQ@Com
Partially cooking ahead is asking for food poisoning!.
If your turkey is so big that you need to put it on at like 2 or 3 in the morning, try putting it in the oven the night before securely cover it with aluminum foil or put it in a roasting pan with a tight fitting lid and set the temp @ 250 and cook it time and half (this comes up to about 30 minutes per pound) It will baste itself and be very tender too!.
Or you can get two smaller turkeys that take less time to cook!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
If your turkey is so big that you need to put it on at like 2 or 3 in the morning, try putting it in the oven the night before securely cover it with aluminum foil or put it in a roasting pan with a tight fitting lid and set the temp @ 250 and cook it time and half (this comes up to about 30 minutes per pound) It will baste itself and be very tender too!.
Or you can get two smaller turkeys that take less time to cook!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You should never "partially cook" any type of poultry, especially a game bird or large bird!. (Turkey, Pheasant, Goose)!. You can cause bacteria to develop in an undercooked bird and this will cause food born illness including salmonella poisoning!. After reading most of the answers here you can see that the popular choice is to put the turkey in the oven the night before, let it slow cook and try to keep it 160f until time to serve!. Then, you would want to chill the bird after dinner to below 38f!. Bacteria will grow between the temperatures of 40 to 160 f and will cause illness!. You want some hints on a tasty turkey!.!.!.!. put some slices of bacon on the bird while it is cooking!. This will baste and flavor it at the same time!. Or put bacon on the inside of the bird for better flavor!. Make sure you cook to 160f or hotter!. Read some cookbooks and ask some other good cooks for tips!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
If you are going to do this do not I repeat, do not stuff the turkey!.
Cook the turkey as you would!. Cool but do not slice!. The following day prepare your stuffing and all the other things you would do!. Make your gravy, make a lot of it!. Slice your turkey and place slices it the hot gravy to re heat!. If necessary place sliced turkey and gravy in the oven for a while!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Cook the turkey as you would!. Cool but do not slice!. The following day prepare your stuffing and all the other things you would do!. Make your gravy, make a lot of it!. Slice your turkey and place slices it the hot gravy to re heat!. If necessary place sliced turkey and gravy in the oven for a while!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You definately don't want to partially cook it and then finish it the next day!. There is a potential for bacteria/salmonella when doing this!.
As far as totally cooking it the day before and reheating it, it's not going to be quite the same!. (Think leftovers!)
Www@FoodAQ@Com
As far as totally cooking it the day before and reheating it, it's not going to be quite the same!. (Think leftovers!)
Www@FoodAQ@Com
My grandmother cooks it over night!.!.!. well she wakes up and puts it on at about 4AM and then lets it cook throughout the day!.!.!. Its usually done by dinner time!.!.!. we eat around 3 or 4 (we are greedy LOL) Www@FoodAQ@Com
HELLS YEA!. MY MOM PUT HER TURKEY IN THE OVERN BOUT 11 THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKS GIVING AND DONT WAKE UP UNITL BOUT 4 OR 5 IN THE MORNING TO CHECK ON IT!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
no way
maybe cook it overnight into morning but same day is bestWww@FoodAQ@Com
maybe cook it overnight into morning but same day is bestWww@FoodAQ@Com