Thanksgiving: Last minute turkey tips
If you forget to thaw your turkey in advance (or if you thought you took it out in plenty of time but didn't, like I did last year), don't panic. Place the turkey in its wrapper in a sink filled with cool water. Make sure the water covers the turkey, and change it often so that it remains cool. The USDA has guidelines for how long it will probably take to thaw your turkey in this manner, according to pounds. It works out to about 30 minutes for each pound of turkey. Don't use warm water, which could let bacteria to grow. For the same reason, don't thaw the turkey on your kitchen counter.
The USDA page also has all the guidelines you need to roast your bird in the morning. Basically, wash your hands often when handling turkey, a whole turkey should be cooked to 180 °F, and let it sit 20 minutes before carving.
My favorite tip when cooking a turkey? Whatever else you add, the best way to get a juicy turkey is to rub it all over well with butter before putting it in the oven. Stick little pats of butter in all the crevices and folds, and you'll end up with a great turkey. To achieve a beautiful brown color, keep the turkey covered with a lid or alumninum foil. In the last half hour or so, remove the lid or foil and allow to brown.
Above all? Don't worry about it. Things are going to go wrong, and there's nothing you can do about it. Enjoy your family and accept that you are making memories to share for years to come :)
Happy Thanksgiving!
