How to prepare the turkey please!?

[Lessismore2056]

Can anyone recommend a good recipe on how to prepare a turkey? 🦃
I've cooked plenty of roast dinners but never actually cooked a turkey. I have a 'small' 4kg turkey to cook. Ideas please!

lift the skin and put plenty of butter underneath, add a little water to the bottom of the pan, cover in foil and put in the oven at gas 6 or 180 till you can put a sharp knife into the thickest part of the bird and the juices run clear and then take out of the oven and allow it to rest for around 30 - 40 minutes do not put the stuffing into the cavity as it soaks up the raw juices while its cooking and not recommended nowadays

I've done it this way for the last few years.

Any tips for a boneless turkey crown?! It's 2 kilos

Butcher said to take out the feeezer on 23rd to defrost

I've never cooked one before either, have got a foil tray, lots of foil, oh and smoked bacon

turkey crown more or less as above but put the crown on a wire tray to keep it above the water line and after buttering the top of the crown lay the bacon over this keeps the flavours in the turkey

Should I use string to tie the bacon to the turkey?!

It's got string round it in the freezer but no bacon yet

As well as what isseys said, I stuff the neck end - the flap of skin can be tucked underneath - it looks v nice when cooked. Also rashers of streaky bacon laid all over the top - any foil comes off for the last half hour to let it brown.

Once cooked take it out to rest for at least half an hour - an hour is better - before you sit down to eat. Wrap in foil with a couple of tea towels on top - it will stay hot and carve better.
That hour gives you plenty of time for cooking veg and any side dishes, and making gravy, if you’re doing that.

I always undo the string before it goes in the oven - helps the heat to circulate so the thighs are properly cooked.

No, you don’t need to tie the bacon on.

Brine your turkey, it makes a huge difference.

Butter it, bacon, on a wire tray, onions/lemons/ carrots/ celery chopped into the tray. Water and steam it.

20 mins per lb.

When I cook a turkey crown I add bacon over the top of it and cover it with foil, then remote foil for the last 20 minutes. Then leave it to rest while I get the veg cooked.

@gobbynorthernbird ok thanks...please tell me how!

[quote Lessismore2056]@gobbynorthernbird ok thanks...please tell me how! [/quote]
Auntie Nigella will tell you (it's her method I follow).

I'll be trying Phil Vickery's method this year with my 4kg crown 👑

Remove the neck & giblets from the cavity.
Stuff the neck end (the small end not the giant cave) if desired.
Put some streaky bacon over the breast & legs
Melt a good size chunk of butter and paint it all over the turkey
Wrap loosely in tin foil.
Calculate cooking time based on weight including the stuffing
Remove foil 20-30mins before end
Can take it out an hour before serving, wrap in tea towels to keep warm