A few simple steps won't only ease your holiday fears, but will make definite a delicious as well as a safe meal for you, your relatives, and your friends. The following information may help you prepare your special Thanksgiving meal and help you countdown to the holiday.

As Thanksgiving approaches, cooking the traditional turkey dinner gives rise to anxieties and questions. What kind of turkey ought to I buy? Ought to I buy a frozen turkey or a fresh one? How do I store my turkey?

Fresh or Frozen

In the event you pick to buy a frozen bird you may do so at any time, but make definite you have adequate storage space in your freezer. In the event you buy a fresh turkey, be definite you buy it only 1-2 days before cooking. Do not buy a prettified fresh turkey.

Plan Ahead

Plan your menu several weeks before the holiday. Shopping early will ease the countdown tension for your Thanksgiving meal. Ask these questions to help plan your meal. Would you like a fresh or frozen turkey? Do you have space to store a frozen bird if bought in advance; if not, when ought to you buy a turkey? What size bird do you require to buy?

Use the following chart as a helpful guide:

Thawing
In the refrigerator

Place frozen bird in original wrapper in the refrigerator (40 °F or below). Permit about 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. A thawed turkey can stay in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

In cold water

In the event you forget to thaw the turkey or don't have room in the refrigerator for thawing, don't panic. You can submerge the turkey in cold water & change the water every 30 minutes. Permit about 30 minutes defrosting time per pound of turkey. The following times are suggested for thawing turkey in water. Cook immediately after thawing.

Preparation

The day before Thanksgiving
Make definite you have all the ingredients you need to prepare your holiday meal. Check to make definite you have all the equipment you will need, including a roasting pan large to hold your turkey & a food thermometer. Wet & dry stuffing ingredients can be prepared ahead of time & refrigerated separately. This may even be done on Thanksgiving Day. Mix ingredients before placing the stuffing inside the turkey cavity or in to a casserole dish.

In the microwave

Microwave thawing is safe if the turkey is not large. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the size turkey that will fit in to your oven, the minutes per pound, & the power level to make use of for thawing. Cook immediately after thawing.

Thanksgiving Day

In the event you select to stuff your turkey, stuff loosely. The stuffing ought to be damp, not dry, since heat destroys bacteria more quickly in a damp surroundings. Place stuffed turkey in oven immediately. You may also cook the stuffing outside the bird in a casserole. Judging cooking time for your turkey will be simpler if the following chart is used. The times listed are for a fresh or thawed turkey in an oven at 325 °F. These times are approximate.

Timetables for Turkey Roasting
(325 °F oven temperature)

When turkey is removed from the oven, let it stand 20 minutes. Remove stuffing & carve turkey.

Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey.

A whole turkey is safe cooked to a maximum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the bird. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh & wing & the thickest part of the breast. All turkey meat, including any that remains pink, is safe to eat as soon as all parts reach at least 165 °F. The stuffing ought to reach 165 °F, whether cooked inside the bird or in a separate dish.

Storing Leftovers

Cut the turkey in to little pieces; refrigerate stuffing & turkey separately in shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking. Use leftover turkey & stuffing within 3-4 days or freeze these foods. Reheat thoroughly to a temperature of 165 °F or until hot & steaming.,