Turkey

[rockyracoon]

My brother has brought home a turkey from work, it weighs about 35lb, now, going by the 25 minutes per lb method, it'd take nearly 15 hours to cook, that can't be right can it? I've done a bit of googling and on an American site someone cooked a 35lber in 5 and a half hours. How long should I cook it for? I'm not stuffing it, I'll do that separately, also how long before cooking it should I take it out of the fridge. Dilemmas, dilemmas!

Thanks for any replies.

[rockyracoon]

Here's the beastie

http://s1217.beta.photobucket.com/user/frizzytwig/media/F9D28793-5CF8-4568-849E-9E4EE1E175C0-3325-000003D914FBA6F7.jpg.html

[Old_Geezer]

Ah, I can see what gave it it's wings.

[mazie]

Bloody Hell rocky ! I don't think it needs "beefing up" with the Red Bull ;o)

[shoota]

Have you an old fashioned butcher near you - perhaps they might joint it for your for a little consideration - it would take them about 2/3 minutes with the proper tools.

[tamborine]

Shove in oven Christmas eve 6pm & will be ready by 10pm, last hour with foil on breast. Leave to cool overnight & easy to carve Christmas day.

[Booldawg]

theres plenty of online calculators that will give you defrosting and cooking times when you input the birds weight.

[rockyracoon]

Lol @ old geezer.

Shoota, we do have a butcher near us but I'd feel far to cheeky to ask that, especially as this year is the first time we haven't bought our turkey from him.

Tambo, will it be ok to cook the night before? I would usually do a whole turkey overnight but could do without it this year, how would I warm the meat up the next day?

[nannybooby]

Rockyracoon , if you can set your oven to come on cook it long andlow overnight so when you get up in the morning its done. I put herb butter under the skin and herbs and an onion in the bum end ,cover it with a layer of steaky bacon and wrap in foil. All you need to do is brown it off in the morning if you want to. Drain the juices off ,make sure its cooked and wrap in new foil leave in a warm place it will still be warm at about 3 ish.
ps veryone will gobble up the bacon as you take it off , keep the juices for gravy , soup or DRIPPING (yum yum)

[rockyracoon]

Thanks Nanny, glad you reminded me about the bacon, something else for the kist.

[tamborine]

Heat the plates & all will be served hot.