Leaving the turkey unsupervised

[Helenahandkart]

I’m hosting my first ever Christmas. Cooking a turkey for 6 people. We want to have a 2 hour family outing which would take place at exactly the time I’d need to cook the turkey, although we have some wiggle room about the exact time we eat.

Is it ok to leave the turkey cooking unsupervised for about two hours? Or does it need constant basting and checking? (I’m not a very experienced cook!)

You cook it and leave it to rest for at least an hour!! Whilst you cook all the potatoes etc so you don't have to produce a hot steaming turkey as it needs to rest any way 😀

thanks, but doesn’t that mean I would have to cook everything else while it was resting, so I’d have to stay home?
I was hoping to stick it in the oven, go out for a couple of hours, and then finish cooking/rest the Turkey and cook all the other stuff when I got back.

Wrap in foil it will be fine

www.bacofoil.co.uk/recipe/foil-tent-roasted-turkey/

www.jamieoliver.com/features/tips-and-timings-for-perfect-turkey/

No. You shouldn't leave an oven on unattended. If it catches fire, you won't be there to stop it so a small incident could easily become a big fire.

Cook your turkey earlier then go out afterwards.

Yes, it’ll be absolutely fine. As others have said above, make a tent out of foil. Stick it on the oven. Come home, take the tent off for it to brown up. Take out, stick a towel on it to keep it warm, rest for as long as possible whilst you cook everything else.

I recommend a meat thermometer to help you take the guess work out of knowing if it’s cooked.

Thank you.
I take on board the comment about it being a fire risk, but I often leave casseroles etc cooking while I’m out.
My concern with the turkey was that it would require basting or something, but if it can just be ignored and left in its tinfoil tent for a while then I’m happy.
Thanks for the advice 🙂

I always cook ours overnight, it's never failed me.

Is it not cold by lunchtime? Do you reheat it?

The gravy warms it all up anyway but no, the towels will keep it warm.

I do every year to go to church. Don’t worry (or set a timer on your oven)

When I was growing up we always used to go off to church in the morning and leave the turkey in the oven, so I'd have no problem with it.

Maybe not if it's a gas oven though I guess.

Basting happens when the foil comes off, so depending on the size of turkey you could have an uninterrupted 2 hours.

Seriously? I often put casseroles in the oven on low for the afternoon while I go out, I imagine plenty of other people do too!