AIBU to not wash the turkey?

[whoknows1230]

My first time cooking a turkey this year and both my mum and MIL have told me that they wash their turkey then pat it dry with kitchen roll apparently concentrating on the cavity as it needs to be completely dry.

I thought rinsing poultry was a thing of the past or will I be making a huge mistake if I don’t do this?

I’m already a bit nervous about cooking it as everyone seems to do it differently and thinks their way is best.

I was just going to lay bacon over the breast, season it and then stuff it with a couple of onions and lemons, then baste it every 30 minutes. Will it be awful if I do that?

It's a cultural thing, washing poultry doesn't seem to be a thing in the UK. Personally I would wash it because all the factory processing grime on it is gross. I always wash it. I clear the area, use a designated bowl and fill it so the tap isn't running/splashing. Then that slimy coating is rubbed off with lemons and vinegar in the water. Once done everywhere is cleaned. My whole family have been doing this for generations. No issues.
The heat of cooking will kill germs so if you don't wash it, that's fine I'm sure, but still gross.

As others have said no need to wash, I do trim off any excess fat around the opening and if not brining scrub the skin and insides with lemons or limes dipped in sea salt and then pat it all very dry with paper towels.

Are you sure your recipe book is as recent as 1980s? I mean I am in my 60s and I have always known you DO NOT WASH POULTRY.

I always follow the way of St Delia of Norwich, Blessed Be Her Name. She defo says nothing about washing it.

Aside from NOT washing it the best advice I can give is to let it come to (cool) room temperature before you put it in the oven.

Part of the reason why they are so dry is when you put a fridge cold bird in the oven and it takes ages to over cook because the thickest parts of the bird are so cold.

It can take longer than you think for a large bird to get to room temperature. I take mine out of the fridge the night before and put it (covered) in the utility room (with the heating turned off in there).

That's for a 1pm dinner. If you are eating later, taking it out early morning should be fine.

It is. We now know that poultry should never be washed! Though the older generation still do it.

There was a massive safe food ad campaign here in Ireland a few years ago and it was DO NOT WASH THE TURKEY

I think they wash poultry in the US more because the birds are washed in chlorine after they're killed.

You'll splash your entire kitchen with turkey germs. Don't do it.