whether you don't have a meat thermometer and would rather not buy one just for Thanksgiving,there are a few steps you can take to make sure your turkey is fully cooked and not overcooked. According to the experts behind the Turkey Talk-Line at Butterball, this is precisely what you need to finish to ensure a fully cooked yet still moist bird. 1. Find out the cooking time based on the weight of your turkey.
Using the turkey-cooking calculator is the easiest way to find out how long your turkey will need to cook based on its weight. A 20-pound turkey will take three and a half to four hours to cook at 325°F.2. Don't peek!Although it's tempting to check on your turkey, and opening the oven only lowers the temperature and prolongs the process,potentially screwing up your initial estimated time. Keep the oven closed until you're approximately two-thirds of the way through to check on it for the first time. whether the turkey breasts are getting too browned too quickly, cover the turkey in a tent of foil. whether they don't look browned, or feel free to skip that step. 3. Keep your eye on the thigh.
The deepest fraction of the thigh muscle is the very last fraction of the turkey to be done. The internal temperature should reach 180°F. To check for doneness without a thermometer,pierce the thigh and pay attention to the juices: whether the juices sprint clear, it's cooked, and whether the juices are reddish pink,it needs more time. do the turkey back in the oven and check again after a short time. Related:
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The Disgusting Reason You Should Never Rinse Your Turkey
A Better, Simpler Way to Brine Your Turkey
Source: popsugar.com