Turkey Temps?

Joshuall said:

For a number of years I never had a problem getting a nice browned turkey
with moist meat out of the oven. Lately however (like the last 5 or 6 times)
it's been a nightmare and every bird I've cooked has come out like turkey
jerky ! And I just don't know what I'm doing wrong since I've of late been
following cooking directions to the T. For thanksgiving I even tried brining
the damn thing. Came out like saw dust.

So my question is . . . is there a meat thermometer that one can leave in
the bird and watch it? And why put it in the thigh, the breast looks fatter
to me. This last weekend I stuck the thermometer in the thigh and got a 180,
took the bird out, let it rest for about 10 -15 mins and carved. Deep breast
meat wasn't done ...grrrrrrrrrrrrr. + Dressing in bird was half done.

Any help greatly appreciated .

Try using a covered roaster. The bird will cook faster, and you can
cook it until it's fully done (the joints will be loose and the juices
will run clear if you poke it) without drying out the breast.

I think it helps too if you cook it breast-down, but that might be my
imagination. The fat that cooks out of the back will help baste the
white meat.

Best regards,
Bob

On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 23:48:27 -0600, "Joshuall" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

For a number of years I never had a problem getting a nice browned turkey
with moist meat out of the oven. Lately however (like the last 5 or 6 times)
it's been a nightmare and every bird I've cooked has come out like turkey
jerky ! And I just don't know what I'm doing wrong since I've of late been
following cooking directions to the T. For thanksgiving I even tried brining
the damn thing. Came out like saw dust.

So my question is . . . is there a meat thermometer that one can leave in
the bird and watch it? And why put it in the thigh, the breast looks fatter
to me. This last weekend I stuck the thermometer in the thigh and got a 180,
took the bird out, let it rest for about 10 -15 mins and carved. Deep breast
meat wasn't done ...grrrrrrrrrrrrr. + Dressing in bird was half done.

I can only offer one tiny bit of advice. If you don't stuff the bird,
you won't have to cook it as long in order to get the stuffing cooked
thoroughly. Just cook the dressing in a casserole dish outside the
bird.

Good luck!
Carol

"Joshuall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For a number of years I never had a problem getting a nice browned turkey
with moist meat out of the oven. Lately however (like the last 5 or 6

times)

Quoted message said:

it's been a nightmare and every bird I've cooked has come out like turkey
jerky ! And I just don't know what I'm doing wrong since I've of late been
following cooking directions to the T. For thanksgiving I even tried

brining

Quoted message said:

the damn thing. Came out like saw dust.

So my question is . . . is there a meat thermometer that one can leave in
the bird and watch it? And why put it in the thigh, the breast looks

fatter

Quoted message said:

to me. This last weekend I stuck the thermometer in the thigh and got a

180,

Quoted message said:

took the bird out, let it rest for about 10 -15 mins and carved. Deep

breast

Quoted message said:

meat wasn't done ...grrrrrrrrrrrrr. + Dressing in bird was half done.

Something is wrong with your thermometer. 180F is death valley dry. The
bird keeps cooking even when you take it out of the oven. 165 is a far
better target temperature. I will never stuff a turkey again. They take so
much longer to cook when stuffed the meat has no chance. Also, after last
Thanksgiving I will never not brine a turkey ever again. The results were
incredible.

Paul

"Joshuall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For a number of years I never had a problem getting
a nice browned turkey with moist meat out of the oven.
Lately however (like the last 5 or 6 times) it's been a
nightmare and every bird I've cooked has come out like
turkey jerky ! And I just don't know what I'm doing
wrong since I've of late been following cooking directions
to the T. For thanksgiving I even tried brining the damn
thing. Came out like saw dust.

So my question is . . . is there a meat thermometer that
one can leave in the bird and watch it? And why put it
in the thigh, the breast looks fatter to me. This last
weekend I stuck the thermometer in the thigh and got
a 180, took the bird out, let it rest for about 10 -15 mins
and carved. Deep breast meat wasn't done ...grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
+ Dressing in bird was half done.

Sounds like your oven's running hot -- have you checked its temperature
recently?

Temperature of the bird is taken in the thigh rather than breast because the
dark meat is more dense and takes longer to cook than breast meat. I also
seem to recall that one's "supposed" to take the temperature of the
stuffing, too, to make sure it's properly heated through (although I have to
admit, I've never bothered ... but, then, I've not had the problem you
describe above).

Hope this helps.
-j

Joshuall said:

So my question is . . . is there a meat thermometer that one can
leave in the bird and watch it?

The best sort of thermometer for that purpose is an electronic probe.
It has a digital display portion that remains outside, which you can
set to alert you when the desired temperature is reached.

Quoted message said:

And why put it in the thigh, the breast looks fatter to me.

I don't, I put it in breast, following the Alton Brown method. After
the alarm goes at around 160F, check the thigh as well. After I
switched to a dark-colored roasting pan, I've never had any problem
with the thigh being done.

Stuffed birds are tougher to get right. My family has always cooked the
dressing separately, so I have no information on that.

Brian

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Thank you all !

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Josh The Bad Bear