Cooking the turkey

[catmoffat]

I'm not very good in the kitchen!!! Can someone please tell me how to cook the turkey and most importantly keep the meat MOIST!!! mine is always as dry as a stick.

[ursula62]

Follow the instructions on the packaging, but put the turkey breast side down for most of the cooking time as this lets the juices run into the breast meat. Then turn it up the right way for the last half an hour just to brown off the skin a bit.

Take it out of the oven and cover with tinfoil and let the meat stand for around 20 minutes or so - the foil will keep the steam in which makes the meat moister, and the standing time will make it easier to carve.

[Wino]

Buy a natural turkey (no self basted)

Soak in a brine solution for 8 hrs (remember to do this at Fridge temperature - not room temp!!!!)

Brine solution 1 cup of rock salt, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 8 pints of water.

After soaking wash under running water to remove sugar from the skin.

Apply a light coat of veggy oil to turkey and apply your favourite rub.

Roast the turkey at 325-350 F until it reaches 160-165 F in breast and 170-175 F in thigh.

Collect the pan dripping to make a gravy.

You can wrap in foil if you wish but the soaking does the trick. Allow to rest for half and hour when cooked.

[WendyS]

Cover the bird with streaky bacon and wrap tin foil over the whole tray before putting in the oven.

Baste it several times and before carving let it rest for 5-10 minutes, still covered with the foil.

[Scarlett]

Catmoffat- no remedies from me I'm afraid as I am hopeless at cooking too, but thanks so much for the laugh you gave me- describing your turkey as "dry as a stick" really made me laugh out loud!!!