The question “Should You Let Turkey Sit Out Before Cooking?” gets people. Some say “yes” or “no.” I think that there are many, many reasons for not letting turkey sit out. This article explores some of the more common reasons that people are hesitant to let turkey sit out before cooking.
Turkey is one of the most popular meats on the planet. And if you’ve ever had Thanksgiving dinner with your family, you know that it’s not the easiest thing. Turkey is one of the most difficult meats to cook, and even more difficult to cook well. But because you’re going to be eating turkey all day, we’re going to assume that you’re going to want to make this delicious meal as thoroughly as possible.
Thats why I suggest that you let turkey sit out for around 2 hours before cooking it. First off, you’ll want to use turkey stock (a broth from the turkey that you cook in its own fat) to help ensure the turkey is moist and tender. Secondly, you’ll want to sear the turkey thoroughly before you start to cook it. The idea is that the heat from the turkey will help draw out the moisture in the turkey so that it cooks evenly.
Searing the turkey is a tricky step, but it’s one that I think most cooks can handle. It’s important to cook the turkey long enough so that the moisture that is lost during the process of cooking the bird will be absorbed by the meat. So you’re going to want to cook the turkey for at least 1 hour.
It is also important to sear the meat before cooking so that the juices and spices from the turkey will coat the meat. I recommend putting the turkey on the middle rack of the oven and resting it for about 15 minutes before you begin cooking. You can also cook it on the top rack and put it on the bottom rack for a little more control.
I understand that turkey is the most highly regulated bird in the US, and certainly the most expensive. However, you also need to think about the fact that if you do use turkey, you may want to cook it for a longer period of time. One study found that the rate of fat accumulation in turkey breast meat increased when the breast was cooked for more than 20 minutes. It is also important to cook the turkey whole, which means cutting the flesh away from the bones.
The study I cite is really interesting, as it looks at the length of time that a turkey breast is cooked, and whether less time was spent in the oven. What the study found is that the breast is more of a calorie burner when it’s whole. The breast is also much harder to chew than turkey thighs, which means it takes longer to digest. So cooking the whole turkey longer is probably a good idea.
Just because I don’t cook turkey whole doesn’t mean I don’t care about the health of the turkey. I care because I know that the longer it sits out, the more energy it loses. So I don’t want to cook it on the weekends or during holidays, which will reduce the amount of time the turkey is hanging out in the fridge. I also don’t want my turkey to be cold because that’s when it loses the most energy.
This is a good point, and one I haven’t fully considered. My advice to would-be turkeys would be to let them go for at least a few days after Thanksgiving (if they haven’t consumed any booze or candy), and then refrigerate them the day after you cook them. Also, I wouldnt let them sit out for too long. Some people like to cook them whole. Some people like to cook them in a certain way.
Turkey is a wonderful bird, but you can go hog wild on him. We’ve been told that stuffing turkey is the best way to ensure that the meat stays juicy and tender. I’m not sure how much to trust this. It seems as if stuffing a bird is the only reliable way to ensure that your meat is fully cooked and tender.