Have The Family And Friends Over For Roasted Turkey On Christmas Day
The most common meat eaten on Christmas Day is roast turkey. Research has shown that over 80% of UK families would only eat oven cooked turkey and everything else that goes with it at Christmas, nothing else will do!
As with all poultry, turkeys must be cooked completely. 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.
If the turkey is going to be stuffed more time must be allowed for the turkey to cook properly. Cooking times will be increased if the legs of the turkey are trussed. The turkey should then be covered in streaky bacon and the whole bird covered in foil which should only be removed when the meat is cooked to allow the skin to crisp and brown. Consult recipe books for cooking times as larger turkeys will obviously take much longer to cook.. 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 turkey
Don’t forget to ask family and friends round before Xmas Day. Make sure all other preparations are well advanced on Christmas Eve. Get up very early on Xmas Day to get the oven roasted turkey cooking. When everything is ready open the drinks, sit everyone down and enjoy the meal. Wash the dishes another day!