Having Turkey for Christmas Dinner
Just because Thanksgiving is dedicated to turkey doesn’t mean it can’t also be enjoyed for Christmas! If you want a second-go at cooking this bird to perfection, follow these tips to avoid drying out the turkey and drying out the party:
1. Always purchase a fresh turkey, not a frozen one. This is the cardinal rule.
2. Choose a smaller turkey, and buy multiple if needed. They’ll cook more evenly, and faster.
3. Soak it, raw, it salt and water. This process is known as brining and it will moisten and flavor the meat.
4. Rub butter under the skin. This will help baste and flavor the meat.
5. Use a thermometer that you can insert into the thickest part of the turkey to help monitor the temperature inside of the turkey, different from the temperature of the oven.
6. Allow the bird to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving into it. In this time, the juices will redistribute so that each slice is more moist.
Finding the Right Turkey
Follow these tips and you just might surprise yourself at how simple it actually is to cook the perfect turkey. And for any Christmas dining guests you’re serving this to who have never really enjoyed turkey – well, now they will because you did it right.
Remember the cardinal rule – always purchase a fresh turkey. Fresh (and grass-fed!) turkeys are available from Premier Meat Company, and they get shipped directly to your home. Ordering online is easy at PremierMeatCompany.com. Shop now!