OT: How To Cook A 27 Pound Turkey?

[tdrink]

My trick is to cover the entire top of the turkey with bacon for the last 45 minutes or hour. Keeps everything from drying out.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

You're not supposed to use propane indoors (Actually, I believe it is illegal and if something does happen, would not be covered under homeowners insurance), let alone a turkey fryer.

As an aside, we are supposed to be getting our Turkey today.

9

I always cook the turkey and this year at Price Chopper all they had were small birds and monsters so I got this 27 pound frozen Butterball. It looks like it could be saddled. My plan is to season it the day before and leave it in the fridge overnight then cook it at high heat 450 for 30 minutes and reduce to 325 leaving it uncovered with a thermometer in it,, but I never cooked one this big and the question is will it dry out? I have 21 people coming. 21 very hard to please and picky people. There is no "flipping a bird" this big. Anyone have experience with this size bird?

Aside from cooking it breast side down for the first hour or so, l usually by two packages of cheese cloth fold them in several layers and place it over the breast. Melt some butter and intially saturate the cheese cloth using a baster. Then use the resulting pan juices to keep saturating the cloth as it drys out. The last half hour take the cloth off to brown the skin.

 

[dtrumpet]

Brine for sure, I have also used Emeril's citrus brine for years. I have a butterball this year and plan on cutting back the salt but still brining. I used to do a big bird for our always large 20+ gathering. 10 years ago I started using a couple of 14's instead. Its so much easier.

 

[tdrink]

I dry brine only. Full brine was way too salty, especially noticeable in the gravy.

This method creates perfection every time and the gravy has a nice bacon flavor.

 

[Caronimo]

Deep fried turkey all day

 

[Deepster]

Deep fried turkey all day

You'd need a helluva pot for a 27 pounder. Most standard fryers probably max out around an 18 pounder.

 

[August_West]

Americans have spoken. Turkey is over.

Good riddance

Turkey Losing Its Popularity On Thanksgiving

 

[mauconnfan]

Make 12 of 21 threes and take all but Carey out of their offense....

Oh is This the right thread? LOL

 

[jibsey]

Americans have spoken. Turkey is over.

Good riddance

Turkey Losing Its Popularity On Thanksgiving

A non biased study from a steak company. Who could have predicted? Turkey will never be supplanted on our best holiday. BTW the 40% still hungry after the meal is a believable stat.

 

[Husky25]

A non biased study from a steak company. Who could have predicted? Turkey will never be supplanted on our best holiday. BTW the 40% still hungry after the meal is a believable stat.

I can't believe it. Just because they eat more after TG dinner doesn't mean they are hungry.