9 Nasty Truths About Your Favorite Foods
Famous Death Row Last Meals
It happens to the best of us. We get so caught up in the planning of a grand Thanksgiving feast fit for a Pilgrim king -- we've got spreadsheets, project plans, timetables, shopping lists, guest lists, lists of lists -- that we forget one of the most basic things about the preparation.We forget to thaw the frozen turkey.
Hey, don't worry. It's not your fault that you were running around like a turkey with its head cut off, and we'll only make fun of you until three years from now, but all is not lost. You don't have to worry about whether you can safely cook a frozen turkey because the answer is "Yes" according to food safety experts at the Mayo Clinic (and trust me, I trust the Mayo Clinic).
The full explanation is on the Mayo Clinic's website, but I'll summarize for those of you panicked folks here.
What you CAN do:
- You can safely roast a frozen turkey; it just takes longer (duh).The USDA recommends that you add 50% of the normal cooking time for a thawed turkey to the total cooking time. Of course, we all know that cooking time is a very bad way to roast a turkey, so use a trusty thermometer and make sure that sexy inner thigh reaches a hot 165 degrees F.
- If the turkey was frozen, that little paper packets of creepy turkey innards was probably stuck inside the body cavity under a glacier's thickness of ice. Don't worry about it when you first start roasting the frozen turkey, but make sure to jiggle it out of there as soon as the turkey has defrosted enough in the oven.
What you CAN'T do:
- Roast only. You cannot grill, smoke, deep-fry or microwave (wait, who the hell microwaves their turkey?!) frozen turkey.
- If the creepy turkey innards were in a plastic bag and you foolishly didn't get them out in time and the plastic has melted all over the inside of the turkey, you're done. You can't eat that turkey that might have plastic chemical-y stuff all up inside it. You're also banned from ever making Thanksgiving turkey again because Mayo just gave you a second chance and you blew it with the plastic giblet bag.
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11-18-2007 @4:53PM sandy said... my daughter forgot her turkey and had all her inlaws coming. she decided to run it through the dishwasher. thawed it right out. i still laugh about this but am glad i was there that day i would of had a fit
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11-18-2007 @8:19PM Ed said... Why not cok a turkey in the microwave? I've done it several tims, in a cooking bag, until the legs fall off. Tasted great!!
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11-18-2007 @5:08PM Kay said... OK, we just got the biggest kick out of the comment "wait,who the hell microwaves their turkey?!". We often joke, but will never let my mom forget the year she actually forgot to thaw the turkey and did indeed attempt to microwave the turkey for the Thanksgiving meal.....so I do know someone who would microwave their turkey. But some words of wisdom.....it doesn't work, it was the absolute worst turkey I have ever tasted (notice I didn't say ate) and we were all looking for ANY restaurant that was open that day!!! Of course, this was even before the stores would open for the day, much less select restaurants!!!
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11-18-2007 @5:29PM Crystal said... I live near D.C. so its usually pretty cold out by Thanksgiving. I keep my turkey outside in the garage in a large plastic tub. Its about 30-40 degrees out there so its perfect!! It keeps my fridge from being to full and I don't have to worry about freezing or defrosting!
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11-18-2007 @5:33PM Rebecca said... I take my turkey out the day before around 11 pm. Put it in a sink with luke warm water and go to bed. The next day I take the gibblets out and boil them for my dad and I to eat before supper. I roast it and check it every few hours until it is almost done. Then I turn the heat up for some crispy skin. I love my turkey. I get some super juicy dark meat, because besides the gizzards and the neck, the dark is my favorite.
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11-18-2007 @5:36PM Annie said... I have a frozen turkey since last year, Is it safe to cook it this year?
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11-18-2007 @5:38PM hugh said... I have had a frozen turkey in the oven for a year and it was still good for last years dinner. A turkey will last for a year in a freezer. Also remember, meat, poultry, pork, can be freezed a long, long time, only thing that will happen is the taste, especially if it got freezer burn. But as far as being good for eating, yes it will be fine.
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11-18-2007 @6:47PM marla said... You may not be able to cook a turkey in a crock pot but you can certainly cook a turkey breast in one - Just pour a can of chicken broth in your crock pot and put the turkey breast in. I just put it in and forget about it for a few hours and it comes out moist and flavorful and you wouldn't believe the juices - very moist and juicy and this is so fullproof and easy. I've even put one in the crockpot and went to bed and the next morning the whole house smells wonderful and your turkey is ready.
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11-18-2007 @6:44PM KMCCLA said... One of the most important things is to remember safe food handling. Always wash your hands after touching the raw turkey, or anything that touches the bird that will come in contact with something else (cutting board, knives, the pan thawed in, etc. Also, if thawing in the fridge, place a pan under it to keep it from dripping on to everything else. A quick way is to use cool (not warm) water and check every few hours. When checking internal temperature in the thickest part, and not touching any bone, and should be a least 165* F. Also do not leave it out too long afterwards. It is easy to forget to forget the leftovers for several hours. Remove the rest of the meat from the bone, and refrigerate as soon as possible.
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11-18-2007 @6:50PM ronn said... What Id like to know is HOW CAN ANYONE EVEN THINK OF MAKING A TURKEY WITHOUT CLEANING THE INSIDES ALL OUT?? All that crap inside, the loose membranes and yucky stuff. Not to mention the bag with all the stuff in it. Its just not right. I can remember my mother washing the turkey with a brush and salt! Im glad Im not going to any of these peoples dinners that cook a frozen turkey. Actually, theres no reason to still have it frozen on Thanksgiving morning anyway. Whats so hard getting the turkey ahead of time and defrosting it 4-5 days in the fridge, or get a fresh one?
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11-21-2007 @2:00PM gemma said... thanksgiving dinner is the most special meal most people cook all year, and they buy a frozen bird. why is that? fresh turkey tastes better, and all the moisture doesn't get thawed out of it and poured down the sink, so it's less likely to dry out.
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11-18-2007 @7:07PM LARRY said... I JUST PUT IT ON A PLATE, AND MICROWAVE IT UNTIL ITS COOKED.
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11-18-2007 @7:31PM That Girl said... Mike,
That wand that you said was a thermometer was not a thermometer. I had a microwave like that and the wand was used for cooking meat.
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11-20-2007 @8:03PM TeeJay said... Hi Everyone I love all the comments about how to and what not to do with turkeys. Anyway I always clean my turkey up good the night before wash it out especially the inside and I put it in a large pan and set it up cavity down so that all the gunk drains out. Then I wrap it in siran wrap and put back in refrig. Then I make all my dressing and put in refrig. I set my alarm for 4 am get up and stuff my turkey put it in a roaster pan go back to bed and when I wake up at about 9am my turkey is all most done and it smells so good. Try it sometimes and you'll be glad you did..
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11-18-2007 @9:10PM Van said... WHY NOT JUST FORGET COOKING AND GO OUT TO A NICE PLACE TO EAT. LET SOMEONE ELSE DO THE COOKING. LOL
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11-22-2007 @8:15AM Rick said... We have a frozen pre-cooked turkey. We had it in the refrigerator since Sunday but is still not completely thawed in fact quite frozen. Suggestions on how to prepare?
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