Cooking my first turkey

Any ideas on how to keep my turkey nice and juicy?? I dont want to screw this one up.

Re: Cooking my first turkey

Great! I cooked my first one for Thanksgiving.

I used the squeeze margarine on the outside, with some Mrs Dash. I put a red apple inside the cavity, I do not believe in stuffing the turkey. Put it in the oven and make sure you bast it. Mine was really juicy and people ate all of it... that meant no leftovers...

Good Luck!

Re: Cooking my first turkey

You could do breast side down..

or my MIL's trick, take BACON and put slices all over the turkey even wrap it around the legs... the greese from the bacon basts the turkey, and it DOESNT taste like bacon.. her turkeys are always very juicy!! Good luck.. let us know how it comes out!

Re: Cooking my first turkey

When I start raosting it, I cookit upside down for the first 20 - 30 minutes, then baste every 20 minutes.
Last turkey I made I added chicken broth and white wine to the pan, becasue the juices didn't start flowing for a while

Follow the inxs for cooking time

Let it sit 10 - 15 minutes (tented) before carving

Re: Cooking my first turkey

kptoys, I cannot offer any cooking advice to you, since I've yet to cook my first turkey. You see, it's an on-going 'discussion' in my house. It seems that my wonderful hubby has been told numerous horror stories of a girl's first turkey from his nanny!! My argument back is how hard can it be? As long as you remember to clean the darn thing and take the crap out, and baste it every now and then, you're good as gold!!

So I wish you luck and hope your turkey comes out absolutely delicious!!! I will win the battle of the turkey in my house someday soon!!!!

Re: Cooking my first turkey

Apply cheese cloth over the turkey before you put it in the oven. It helps by retaining some of the juices.

Re: Cooking my first turkey

I rubbed my turkey with butter. Then basted it every 15 minutes. I also basted it with cranberry juice and 2 tablespoons of butter. The turkey was extremely juicy. If you want the recipe, FM me.

Re: Cooking my first turkey

I used the Reynolds Oven Bag, it was juicy and cut an hour off the cooking time!

Re: Cooking my first turkey

Suzanne...I'm afraid to tell DH your secret...he loves bacon...maybe I'll have to get a small turkey for him...

Re: Cooking my first turkey

I have succesfully made two turkeys so far...and it was delicious!... here's the secret, get one of those Renolds plastic oven bags and marinate your Turkey for two whole days...first you take lemon and put it all over the Turkey use lemon juice if you don't want to use fresh lemon, then take garlic minced with olive oil and rub it all over the Turkey and then put in the Orange Juice, yes orange juice and wha la! you have yourself a juicy Turkey, don't forget to baist (sp?) it at least once an hour, more if your not lazy like me to get up.

Edit for mis-spelled words (the ones I knew how to spell anyway )