Turkey for 12

[RedRider]

Help, I've never roasted a turkey before!

I'm cooking for a dozen this Christmas so I'm after a big old bird. How big a beast should I get and are there any scrummy tips to make it juicy and good?

Thing is, I'll only have around three or four hours cooking time on the day. I'm ordering the thing tomorrow.

 

[Peteaud]

Help, I've never roasted a turkey before!

I'm cooking for a dozen this Christmas so I'm after a big old bird. How big a beast should I get and are there any scrummy tips to make it juicy and good?

Thing is, I'll only have around three or four hours cooking time on the day. I'm ordering the thing tomorrow.

I know Nigella has put a bit of weight on, but ...............

 

[TVC]

If you're limited for roasting time than go for two smaller joints - a turkey and beef. Shorter cooking and mucho kudos for giving a choice.

 

[Andy_R]

If you're limited for roasting time than go for two smaller joints - a turkey and beef. Shorter cooking and mucho kudos for giving a choice.

Yup, not everyone likes turkey. We normally have a large chicken and a marmalade glazed gammon.

 

[gbb]

We're cooking for 11 and just got an extra large turkey (serves 12 ro 14 or so IIRC) from iceland, Any reason why you cant cook it overnight ? the wife always does so. Can't beat waking up on Xmas morning to the smell of turkey cooking.

 

[biggs682]

Start cooking your turkey upside down. This allows the fat in the turkey in to melt into the breast of the turkey keeping it extra moist. Then once you have flipped it over cover in streaky bacon - delicious.

 

[bicyclos]

I use a slow cooker for big joints and chicken saves the oven to cook roasties and yorkshire puds etc. never bothered with turkey at xmas or anytime, find the meat too bland.

 

[Arch]

If you're limited for roasting time than go for two smaller joints - a turkey and beef. Shorter cooking and mucho kudos for giving a choice.

As long as you have room for both in the oven....

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

never bothered with turkey at xmas or anytime, find the meat too bland.

That's why you have the gravy.

 

[bicyclos]

Still bland with gravy

 

[RedRider]

Mmmm. Thanks all, some food for thought.

We're bound to cook turkey following a democratic decision-making process (no, seriously) and I'm cooking it in the workplace so an overnight roast is ruled out on the remote health and safety ground of burning the whole shebang down.

Ideally I'd want to serve it hot. I'm wondering whether it's possible to part cook it Christmas Eve and finish it the following morning or would this ruin it/the diners?

 

[RedRider]

As long as you have room for both in the oven....

Two ovens! I'm like the John Prescott of the turkey-roasting world.

 

[Arch]

Ideally I'd want to serve it hot. I'm wondering whether it's possible to part cook it Christmas Eve and finish it the following morning or would this ruin it/the diners?

That does sound a bit like a recipe for salmonella...

Remember when calculating cooking time, to allow time for the bird to stand once cooked, to relax the meat - makes it easier to cut.

 

[lukesdad]

Mmmm. Thanks all, some food for thought.

We're bound to cook turkey following a democratic decision-making process (no, seriously) and I'm cooking it in the workplace so an overnight roast is ruled out on the remote health and safety ground of burning the whole shebang down.

Ideally I'd want to serve it hot. I'm wondering whether it's possible to part cook it Christmas Eve and finish it the following morning or would this ruin it/the diners?

not a good idea

 

[postman]

We're cooking for 11 and just got an extra large turkey (serves 12 ro 14 or so IIRC) from iceland, Any reason why you cant cook it overnight ? the wife always does so. Can't beat waking up on Xmas morning to the smell of turkey cooking.

Iceland thats a long way to go for a bird.We got ours from the local Sainsbugs.Bernard Matthews and the turkey both have something in common both dead and as stiff as a board.