The most common meat eaten on Xmas Day is roast turkey. Research has shown that over eight out of ten of British families would only eat oven cooked turkey and everything else that goes with it at Xmas, nothing else will do!
As with all poultry, turkeys must be cooked to a specific interior temperature. Salmonella food poisoning could be contracted if the meat is left even slightly undercooked. This is particularly relevant to frozen birds. They must be properly defrosted.
Today most turkeys come ready to put in the oven, there’s no need to gut or pluck feathers although the giblets will need removing from a plastic bag that will have been placed inside the cavity of the turkey. Boil the giblets in a saucepan and the stock can be used to make delicious gravy. The cooked liver can be chopped up finely and used in the stuffing.
A decision must be made as to whether the turkey is going to be stuffed. If this is so a lot more time must be allowed to allow the turkey to be cooked properly. The legs should not be trussed to the side of the bird as this also increases cooking times. Cover the turkey streaky bacon strips and in foil until the turkey is cooked and only uncover the turkey to allow the skin to brown and crisp. Cooking times will vary greatly, depending on the size of the bird. Consult recipe books.. And don’t fprget the gravy boat for that perfect turkey gravy.
If the dish holding the oven is not large enough the fat and juices will ooze out and make a mess in the oven. Place the turkey on the bottom shelf of the oven. If the turkey is placed in an oven that is too hot, the meat will only cook on the outside and will be raw inside. Light meat does not take as long to cook as dark so the turkey should be placed inside the oven legs first as the back of an oven tends to be hotter. The best cutting boards will hold a full size bird
Before the big day invite family and friends round. On Xmas Eve make sure vegetable and other preparations are in hand. On the day, an early get up is required to get everything under way. Serve the oven roasted turkey dinner and the drinks when guests have arrived and enjoy. Worry about washing the pots later!