vs.
Okay, so it’s that time of the year again. This year you are hosting the big Thanksgiving dinner party and you have no idea how you should cook that famous bird. Here’s a few methods to consider and recipes for you to review.
Brine - Brines are traditionally salt water solutions with other seasonings. The turkey is placed in a cold brine solution for 6-8 hours before being cooked in the traditional oven method. The brine helps the meat stay moist during the cooking process. Although, I have seen people say that they are not fans of brined meat others swear by it. (Including Alton Brown) Here’s the link to Alton’s recipe if you are interested - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_8389,00.html.
Trash can turkey - Okay, so that might be a new one to some of you and it definitely was to me. I have to say the thought of turkey in a trash can conjures up all kinds of funny images, but I have seen this one done and it was a pretty neat process. The turkey is placed on a stake in the ground and a trash can is placed over the top of it. Then hot coals are placed on the top of the can and around the outer edge - creating an outdoor oven essentially. This one can be a tricky method for first-timers. It’s hard to stick a thermometer into the thigh of a turkey covered with hot coals and a trash can. My aunt swears by this method. Here’s a fun little article if this piece has intrigued you - http://www.steppinoutmaine.com/archives/2005/nov_11/feature1.html
Roasting - Probably the most traditional of all methods and in some instances the simplest. Roast turkeys done the right way can be moist and flavorful. There are a bunch of different seasonings that can be used with roasting a bird, but the method is pretty much the same throughout. Here’s a link to Food Network’s extensive recipe list for turkey -http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/et_hd_thanksgiving/text
Deep Fried - This one has been popular for a while now. I think people like this one because of the cooking time and the crispness of the skin. Here’s an article on the deep frying method. http://www.fabulousfoods.com/school/cstech/fryturkey.html
So, as you can see the possibilities are endless with turkey. I hope you enjoy your holiday no matter what method you choose to cook the bird.