Thanksgiving is almost upon us and if you’re anything like us, that means you’ll soon be turning to the internet for help in figuring out how much turkey to buy, and how to cook it.
Canadian Living has a great article on figuring out how much turkey to buy, but your general rule is 1.5 pounds per person – plus we always recommend going a little bit bigger, because leftover turkey sandwiches are so delicious!
As for cooking the turkey, the traditional method is to stuff it, season it, then put it in the oven at 325 degrees for 20 minutes per pound. Always check the internal temperature for safety, though – the thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh should register 180ºF (82ºC) for an unstuffed turkey. Stuffed turkey should be cooked to the same temperature, and the stuffing itself should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Now, to tent, or not to tent? Some people swear by tenting their turkey (but always remove the tent for the last hour of cooking); others avoid the need for a tent by keeping their turkey moist by basting it with butter or laying bacon slices on top.
We’ve heard great things about Gordon Ramsay’s method of gently peeling back the turkey skin an inserting seasoned butter right inbetween the skin and the meat. It takes a lot of patience and care, but is apparently delicious!
To Try: Gordon Ramsay’s Roast Turkey with Lemon, Parsley, and Garlic
Whichever method you try, we hope Thanksgiving is happy for you and your family, and full of fantastic food!
