Turkey help!!!!!!

[mommy2alissa]

 This is my first year makint thanks giving dinner. I have no clue how to do a turkey! Im not so concerned about cook time (that part i know) but i dont know any thing about seasioning it or basting it or any thing like that, help! I have a 13lb turkey breast.

here is my "menue"

Turkey

Dressing

Mashed potatoes (and turkey grevy0

Green beans or peas

Mac and chz

Rolls

Home made pumpkin pie

It is just going to be me DH DD and possible one of my friends so im not making a big spread. Any advice/ tips will be great!!!

[indymom72]

I just rub mine with butter, the real stuff, and salt and pepper and then cook it in one of those oven bags.  Turns out juicy every time!   Have fun with it..I love cooking for thanksgiving, but it can be nerve wracking!

[tkdchk]

I inject my turkey with some butter stuff, then put it in the oven over night on like 250. It cooks over night and is usually done by like 12-1 if you put it in at like 10-11 that night. I do it like that so I don't have to worry about whether or not it's going to be cooked all the way when I check on it. The turkey also usually says how long per pound to cook it for.

[mommyziegler]

I take my turkey and i take 2 onions and 2 oranges and i cut them in half and i stuff them in the cavity of the turkey and then i take a stick of butter and rub it all over the outside of the turkey and i do a turkey rub over that! Good luck mama i'm sure it will turn out wonderful!

[mommy2alissa]

ill make DH pick up an oven bag tuesday. Do you think it would be good to  baste it with a LITTLE liquid smoke? Like to give it that smoked turkey thing. I mean i guess it shouldnt need it, its just like cooking an over sised chicken right?

Quoting indymom72:

I just rub mine with butter, the real stuff, and salt and pepper and then cook it in one of those oven bags.  Turns out juicy every time!   Have fun with it..I love cooking for thanksgiving, but it can be nerve wracking!

[mommy2alissa]

thanks =) i didnt think about stuffing it with any thing. lol

Quoting mommyziegler:

I take my turkey and i take 2 onions and 2 oranges and i cut them in half and i stuff them in the cavity of the turkey and then i take a stick of butter and rub it all over the outside of the turkey and i do a turkey rub over that! Good luck mama i'm sure it will turn out wonderful!

[Rosesandlilys]

I wrote this out for a friend in another group, hopefully it helps you too, its a step by step of what to do to make your turkey YUMMMMY and its super duper easy.

1. Rub down the whole of the turkey with some olive oil, not alot just enough to cover all the skin around the top.

2. Spice turkey to taste. At the least just salt and pepper. We also do some onion powder and garlic powder, try to not overspice, this is just for a lillte pizzaz.

3. Melt one stick of butter the the microwave and pour over the entire turkey.

4. Pour approx 1/2 a cup to one cup of water in the bottom of the turkey pan.

*note all of this is done IN the turkey pan to begin with, sorry I didnt mention that.

5. If you have a roasting pan with a lid, put the lid on and open the trap to let the steam out. If NOT, just cover the pain with foil.

6. Okay now here is where you get the great moist flavor, for the first 30 minutes cook your turkey at 500 ( we learmed this from emeril so its a REALLY good trick), this will also ensure your turkey WILL be cooked all the way through.

7. Turn heat down to 350, and you bake it if stuffed an average of 20 minutes per lb, of not stuffed and average of 15 per lb, OR untill the little timer pops.

8. When the timer pops, take lid/ foil off, turn the heat down to 300, and let turkey continue to bake untill you have YOUR desired browness of the skin.

9. This is VERY important. Pull the turkey out and LET SIT FOR 30 MINS before carving. The reason for this is that the turkey will continue to bake once removed from the oven, and if you carve it right away it will be stringy and very difficult to carve.

Note, of your still uncomfortable, get a meat thermometer ( a few  bucks at walmart) and put it down the breast bone and into the big leg down the bone, you want your turkey to be approx 170- 180 internal temp when you take it out of the oven. If you take the turkey out of the oven at about 160-165 after you let it sit it will be the perfect temp for you to eat. Enjoy!