Turkey Cook Off Results

[foggierbard9]

If you read the previous thread, you know that Chitownmelli and myself were having a "Turkey Cook Off" today. I let the hotcouponworld members vote for how I would cook my turkey, and honestly to my surprise the Reynold's Oven Bag won.

My results:

I had a 17.3lb turkey(named Charlie...ask Melli about the naming thing ) to cook. The directions on the bag suggested 350 degrees for 2 1/2 to 3 hrs....well the bag was wrong...it was closer to 4 hrs for that turkey to reach the right temperature.

When it was done, I admit the tops of the legs looked dry(the bag pulled off the skin there) and the skin was not very pretty in color. However, thankfully the white meat(which is what we ate tonight) was very moist and I'm sure the dark meat is as well. Needless to say there is A LOT of turkey left at our house. Tomorrow I will pick the meat off the carcass and make turkey stock in the crockpot with it(the carcass) and then FoodSaver and freeze most of the meat for later meals.

Here is a picture of Charlie after i ripped off the bag and tried to get him to brown a little.

[chitownmelli]

The turkey naming thing comes from my mom. We have always named our turkeys, it's just something fun.

So, Henry was cooked using the cheesecloth method. He had a very busy day.


henry getting ready to be cooked


all dressed up and no where to go


Who's a handsome turkey? You are, Henry ~ you are a handsome turkey!

Gobble gobble, time to make the gravy!

[foggierbard9]

Your Henry may look better than my Charlie...but who's tasted better?

[chitownmelli]

idk, I didn't taste yours, I bet they were both awesome though. Am I gonna have to cook you a turkey now? lol!

[foggierbard9]

No you don't have to cook me a turkey, I'm sure I can think of other stuff I want you to cook instead...like tamales or crab legs, or..well the list could go on and on.

[chitownmelli]

better get that list ready, summer is coming quick!

[dliver316]

Well Melli..your turkey DEF looked better!

Now tell me...what the heck is a cheesecloth and what do I do with it??

[chitownmelli]

Oh you can do so many things with cheese cloth. It's a woven material made out of cotton, you can find it by cooking supplies in your grocery store. You can make cheese with it, strain things with it, clean with it (I wouldn't for what it costs lol) cover turkeys in it to make them beautiful, lol.

Henry was lovely, and Charlie - well, I bet he was the most amazing, moist, juicy bird in the world lol! The oven bags steam the turkey sort of, which makes a less attractive bird, however they are normally exceptionally moist, so it's a trade off.

Henry did turn out extremely moist as well. I am very happy with this cook off.

[dliver316]

I guess you're right ...who needs a good lookin turkey if it is moist!

Thanks for the info on the cheesecloth!

Next time I make one..I will name him Fred.

[chitownmelli]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!! I like naming a Turkey fred, Foggie knows a Fred though, so I kinda thought that would be mean coming from me tee hee.