The Perfect Turkey

[JustShaggingForNow]

Some serious advanced planning here!!!

I'm hosting 10 for Christmas this year (my first year as host!!!) and want to make sure that the turkey is perfect and moist (DH hates turkey because he's had some bad experiences in past years but I am standing firm and we're having it as it's traditional in my family!!!) Please can someone give me a good recipie that has been tried and tested. I don't mind if it's complex as I am reasonably adept in the kitchen.

Yes that's definitely some serious advanced planning.

Well I've bought a Kelly Bronze Turkey which has its own cooking instructions which you have to follow & trust they work- it's an unusually short cooking time they suggest but it works & that turkey is the best you can get, super moist.. You can get them online, but I warn you they're expensive.

The other thing you can do which is tried & tested is use Nigella Lawson's recipe for super moist turkey (if you can't afford the Kelly Bronze turkey). It works a dream. Its in her Feast book and also I think in her Christmas book but I'm sure you can also find it online. She also offers a recipe for the traditional method using a Kelly Bronze turkey.

Oh Brilliant!! My parents are getting the turkey as my father is a farmer and knows someone who rears amazing birds so Nigella it is!

Can't believe I'm plannign os far in advance but as it's my 1st xmas I want to make sure it is a perfect as possible. Currently being ruined by FIL not accepting or declining the invite (I need to think about it...) it's been 6 months since we mentioned it and 3 since we invited them properly!!!!

You are MAD.

It's August!

Oh well, though, I love Christmas as well.

I totally agree that Nigella's super moist turkey (IN her Christmas book) is excellent. It means just soaking it in salty water and spices etc for 48 hours or so. It does work and is not difficult to do.

As an added measure, I wiggle my fingers to make a cavity between the breast and the skin and put either butter or sausage meat in. I do this with normal roast chicken during the year as well.

JustShagging (love your name by the way, keep at it, that's what life is all about) I would recommend actually that if you want a 'perfect' Christmas (as you say) that is also enjoyable & not too stressful, you dish out & buy the Nigella Xmas book which is entertaining to read & browse through, and gives you loads of ideas that work & are actually not too time consuming. You can pick & choose obviously, not do it all!!

TBH i don't bother with a whole turkey - i do a turkey crown instead.

There going to be twelve here for Christmas day God knows where i'm going to put them and we like to have turkey sarnies in the evening and turkey and chips on boxing day, so i imagine i'll be getting a humungous one!

I'm just going to adapt what i usually do - gently pull the skin away from the breast and stuff with unsalted butter, then season with black pepper, put strips of smoky streaky bacon over and then cook slowly in oven - when turkey has about half an hour to go i take off the bacon (and as is cooks privilidge, get to have a bacon butty with it!) and put turkey back in to go golden brown.

I always cook it on Christmas eve and it always stays lovely and moist. I try and do as much as is possible on Christnmas eve then i can just relax and put everything together on Christmas day.

This year i'll be serving it with... roasties, mash, sprouts, peas, carrots, broccoli, little sausages wrapped in bacon, stuffing balls, cranberry sauce, bread sauce and gravy.

Can you tell i love Christmas and the whle planning of everything?

What deemented suggests (the slow cooking method) also works, I'm sure for many people & turns out delicious, but the Nigella recipe goes in a completely different direction, I personally feel if you haven't done turkey before Nigella gives very good, clear, simple instructions & you can't go wrong :) So you have a choice between either slow-cooking method or quick-cooking method.

Personally I wouldn't do a turkey crown but would go for a whole turkey, it looks majestic. It's only once a year after all.

I only do a turkey crown because nobody here really eats the legs and i hate waste

Oh I see makes sense.

Am loving all this roasting turkey discussion in the middle of august

i find that the best way to cook a turkey to avoid the breast drying out, is to cook the bird upside down, with foil shiny side in over the top. take the foil off and turn the bird over for the last 45 minutes to brown the skin. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm