cooking a turkey for the 1st time, any tips?

[desperateforaholiday]

Instead of our usual lamb I'm going to cook a turkey as we have family over this Christmas.

Ive never cooked a turkey before and don't want to end up with one like the griswolds

Would appreciate any tips as there are so many methods on the internet and I don't know which way is best

Go for a M&S dressed turkey crown. We've bought them for the last few years and delicious every time. They come in a foil tray all prepped ready for the oven. Usually feeds 10-12 people easily.
You can book online and collect 23rd/24th dec, I always add a few of their other festive bits too.

I keep it really simple.
-Don't use stuffing, just a handful of any herbs you have available, and a couple of cut up oranges and lemons.
-Streaky bacon rashers on top.
-Baste with butter.
-Cover loosely with foil
-Initial high blast of heat 220c for 40mins, then 170c remaining time.

I aim to have the turkey cooked 2hrs before lunch, gives wiggle room, but if it is cooked by then, cover with several still folded bath towels (over the foil); it's amazing, will still be piping hot and v tender by the time you are ready to serve.

We get a turkey crown from the farm shop and it takes up so little space in the fridge and oven. You can't go wrong with a turkey crown.

Another vote for turkey crown, and let it rest (see flip flops's bath towel trick) for two least two hours. Good Housekeeping website has lots of tips for nice home made extras you can do in advance so you're not stuck in the kitchen all day, or cheat (like I do) and get M&S, love the apricot stuffing.

1. Follow Nigella's recipe in Feast (the normal one not the crazy brine one).
2. Ignore all MIL etc. comments e.g. "Haven't you put the Turkey in yet??".
3. It really can't rest for too long.
4. Smugly bring juicy turkey to the table.

Has been working for me for 5 years now. If it ain't broke...

Agree with 1stMrsF
Giving even a cheap turkey a nigella brining gives you a wonderful moist tasty turkey.
I used to hate turkey until I tried this.
Mmmmmmmm..... Actually salivating.

By the very best you can afford.

Do not iover cook it. It needs much less time than you think! Put it in at room temperature.

Cook it upside down for three quaters of its time, then finish off the right way up.

Cover in butter and streaky bacon.

Use a suagae meat based stuffing.

Rest, rest, rest.

Firstly don't stress and trust your instinct.

The turkey will stay warm for agggggges on the kitchen side trust me ;) so this gives you a lot of wiggle room timing wise.

Butter that bird up well.

Ohh and it must be referred to at all times as "the bird" -this may just be an our house thing-

Thanks everyone, my dh thinks I'm stressing for no reason and just cook it like a chicken

Have cooked many a turkey. Number one tip: brine it. Just google brining and there are tons of recipes. I usually brine mine for about 24 hours.

-Don't get a bigger bird than you need, smaller ones are easier to cook. Free-range is better for both welfare and taste. Buy fresh, not frozen.

-Put a carrot, a peeled onion, some butter and a bundle of fresh herbs (thyme and sage) inside the cavity. Smear a lot of softened butter all over the outside of the bird (you may need the best part of a pack). Season with plenty of salt (for a crisp skin) and a few more fresh herbs on top.

-Cover with foil for part of the cooking period, then remove foil to allow the bird to brown.

It really isn't much more difficult than a chicken.

MinnesotaNice is spot on. We use the Nigella recipe, she adds various spices, maple syrup, etc to the brine. Even a common-or-garden turkey comes out brillantly, and the leftovers, if any, remain succulent.