The Turkey Doctor: Cures For All Your Bird Blunders

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The doctor is in, ready to diagnose your turkey problems. When the holidays roll around, the first questions that pops into many people's minds is: How will I make that perfect turkey? The holiday meal isn't a cakewalk for everyone -- it involves careful orchestration of countless casseroles, side dishes, pies, desserts, and, of course, the bird! It's the center of the dinner -- so it must be flawless! There are many blunders that can befall roasting a turkey -- it can be undercooked, it can be overcooked, or it could burn. If you've roasted a turkey in the past with lackluster results or you just want to brush up on your expertise, this is the guide for you.

Whether your turkey comes out almost raw or charred, there's a cure for it all. After reading this guide, you'll soon be roasting a turkey like a professional. This guide will come in handy especially since Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Step into the Turkey Doctor's office, please!

Browse the Blunders and the Remedies

Turkey Doctor

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INFRWKSNJ

How to cure any turkey blunder: dine out and blame the resturant for any screw ups.

November 13 2011 at 6:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to INFRWKSNJ's comment

petpetdonna

But then you don't have any leftovers.

November 21 2011 at 1:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jpsun2rain

If you want to know of a No-Fail way to have your turkey be the best tasting, juiciest bird, season the outside, butter it up, stuff w/ onions, carrots, celery and put it in the Reynolds oven bag! May not be glamorous going in and out of the oven but then does that really matter? Try it - I always get RAVE reviews at Thanksgiving!!

November 13 2011 at 12:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

goofballgrammie

Why is my turkey so dry

November 13 2011 at 12:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to goofballgrammie's comment

homesbyjanice

Probably too high of heat or too long cooking. Try my reply to Eric (below).

November 13 2011 at 12:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to goofballgrammie's comment

Because you cooked a 12 pound turkey for 6 hours. DUH.

November 21 2011 at 1:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mefisher76

You didn't brine it

November 21 2011 at 8:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Eric Shawn Moore

How can I make my turkey moist and well sesoned all the way through

November 12 2011 at 11:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Eric Shawn Moore's comment

barnesvera

Rub zesty italian dressing completely over the whole turkey, lift skin and rub all over, remove giblets on the inside and pour some dressing inside. Marinate good. It will come out so so juicy.

November 22 2011 at 12:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Type your comment here How can I make my turkey moist and well sesoned through and through

November 12 2011 at 11:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Brining a turkey for several hours before cooking it will do the trick. Get a brining recipe online, or purchase a brining mix (Bed Bath & Beyone have one called Turkey Perfect. It's pricey ($9.99), but good!) I buy one of those large orange 5Gallon uckets at Home Depot, and put it in the cold garage overnight, with a heavy bath towel wrapped over the top. Before refrigeration, Rock salt (kosher salt is used today) and ice water kept most things preserved and kept them from going bad; this concept is true today. Also, I mix softened butter with garlic, salt, pepper, chopped fresh parsley, maybe some thyme and using my hands slather it un UNDER the skin, inclusing the tops of the drum sticks. Roast with foil (tented) and remove foil to brown turkey in the last 30 minutes. Yum!

November 13 2011 at 12:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to homesbyjanice's comment

sorry for the typos; it's late! lol Beyond / 5 gallon buckets / including

November 13 2011 at 12:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down

lukedude27

When my wife and I were first married I was working part time in a gas station and going to school and running my landscape business. The owner of the gas station gave all of us a turkey and $20 for thanksgiving. I offered to give my back. My wife did not know how to cook it. Bob the owner said kid thaw that bird out, wash it and stuff it with oranges, grapefruit, lemons. Slather it in butter and put it in a roasting pan and cover it with foil until the timer pops up. Take the foil off and let it cook 30 more minutes. Baste it a few times. This was the best turkey I ever ate. Every year around this time I always think of Bob and Karen and My first thanksgiving.

November 12 2011 at 5:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply