Cooking A Turkey - Gas Oven

[chrissa1]

For the first time in 35 years I have to cook the Xmas Turkey in a gas oven.

My "Delia" says 45 mins at gas mark 7 then 3 hours on gas mark 3 for a 12lb bird. Would other Gas Users agree?

[dr b]

I just did this at Thanksgiving (here in the US, so I had to look up "gas mark" conversions on the Wiki), but I would agree that this seems about right. I did an 18 lb stuffed turkey for 5-1/4 hours at 325 ("Gas mark 3") and it came out nicely. I guess my only concern would be the gas mark 7 (425 degrees!) for 45 minutes - I might cut back on this time.

I always cover turkey with a cheesecloth after about half an hour, baste it well (combo of chicken stock and melted butter) and then baste to keep the cheesecloth moistened every half hour or so. Keeps the skin from getting overly dark, but still nice and golden/crispy.

[gollysailor]

http://www.bernardmat...-cook-your-turkey.htm

[Mattk]

Surely it tells you on the label?

[chrissa1]

I know that Mattk man! I just wondered if anyone had a surefire gas oven timing.

Thank you dr b.

Your link gollysailor, is completely different from Delia's and dr b's.
See what I mean mattk?

[askyourgran]

Gas mark 7 is pretty high, 6 is better for 45mins and then I would turn down to 4 or 5. Cover the breast with bacon strips and foil for a couple of hours baste regularly and uncover for the last hour to brown the skin. I've seen recently that people are cooking the turkey breast down with good results, I've never done that, perhaps someone on here has. I usually cook 25min per lb then 25 mins extra. Delia is supposedly the queen of roasters so I assume you can't go wrong with her.

[chrissa1]

Thanks ayg. That's the way I've also done it too. it's just the temperatures I was worried about.

[rowanwitch]

always cook birds breast down keeps the meat moist (sorry to those who hate that word)

[Noraq]

Upside down..cook on Christmas Eve, Slice Christmas Morn, place slices in roasting tin with a little water and lump of butter, cover with foil and put in medium hot oven while getting everything ready to plate up.

[gingejbee]

dr b's temps are Fahrenheit (him being American an'all). My gas oven doesn't have "gas mark" - it has actual temps in Celcius. GM7=220C and GM3 = 170C , if that helps.

[clipclop1]

I like Noraq's answer...! Maybe that's a good idea to cook it on Xmas eve mama??? :) x

[EDDIE51]

Last year I cooked the turkey breast down on 'slow' overnight 10 hours. Slow is 85 Deg C do not know what that is on a gas cooker , my electric oven has a slow setting.
The turkey looked a bit pale but it was the best ever VERY juicy and tender.
I did the Turkey,beef and the gammon all at the same time all on slow for 10 hours. No cross contamination and everything perfect , melt in the mouth tender.
You can cook anything on slow and the time does not matter much, any where from 8 to 12 hrs is fine, no need to worry about the weight.

[chrissa1]

No, no, no clipclop. Xmas Day is the day for cooking the turkey. DOO IT!!!!