Can I cook a turkey without having a food thermometer?!
Answers: I plan on just going by the directions on the turkey package. 15-20 minutes per pound. I hope the darn thing cooks. Has anyone ever cooked one without a thermometer? How did it turn out?
Do you see a little red button on it? That is a pop-up thermometer that will pop up when the bird is done. If there is none, bake until the juices run clear when stuck with a skewer.
I would cook it just a little bit extra just to make sure!
I've been cooking turkeys for 25 + years and have never used a thermometer!
If you stuff your turkey, 20 minutes/pound is good, any more than that and you'll dry it out too much. Be sure to baste it a lot, remove excess fat regularly so the turkey's not sitting in it (you'll get really good gravy, too). I cook it uncovered for about the last half hour to get it really nice and brown.
I don't have a thermometer either. I was looking into that when I saw this.
http://southernfood.about.com/library/in...
Basically, it says that "In the absence of a meat thermometer, pierce an unstuffed turkey with a fork in several places; juices should be clear with no trace of pink."
Just remember... poke it with a fork under the leg.... clear juices means it done