This is sort of a follow up to my turkey shopping fail. Yesterday i got two butterball turkeys at aldi for .89/lb and i went in kroger and they had Kroger brand turkey for .59/lb.
I decided to cook the cheapo Kroger turkey this morning.. no expectations..it wasnt Butterball. I was gonna snack on it for a few days and my dogs would get the bulk of it..
I thawed it overnight, soaked it in the sink this morning and rinsed it good with warm water. Took a fair bit to get the frozen 'gravy' packet out and the heart and liver.
I preheated the oven to around 375 and forgot to turn it down. I installed turkey with no seasonings, no prep.. just a turkey in a pan.
About an hour later i peeped in on it and the skin was dark brown.. like leather. Oh no. The wing tips had char marks as well but nothing was burnt.
I turned it off.. and let it rest for about an hour in the still hot oven.
I took it out and inspected it.. skin was brittle. The bottom of the pan was full of watery oil goo..so i poured it all off.
I made a rub in a bowl from seasonings in my spice cabinet. Poultry Seasoning, Thyme, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Sage, Paprika and Salt. I slathered the now cool to the touch turkey and peeled the skin back and rubbed the meat all over. I rubbed a little bit of olive oil just in case..
I installed the dry pan back in the oven, with the rubbed turkey and put it on low. I let it cook for about another hour and then peeped in again.
Smelled great. Pan had a 1/8 inch of good greasy oil..not watery like the first time. I pulled it out and poured off this spiced oil and poured it all over the turkey. And the remainder into the carcass.
I noticed that the little plastic thing had popped out..so it was done i guess. I dont trust the plastic thing so i gave it another half hour.
I installed it back in the oven on low low and checked again in about a half hour. Looked done. I let it rest in the oven turned off.
After about 2 hrs i pulled it out and began to investigate. May as well tear it down at this point. It was slightly warm to the touch.
I pulled it all the way down tasting as i went.. every bit of meat except for the outside of the legs and wings were buttery soft and moist.
Flavor was spot on. This may be the best turkey i have had.
It may turn out exactly the same if you cook it on low for more hours i dont know.
I have no idea what the difference in a cheapo Kroger turkey and a Butterball turkey is.... but the cheapo tasted pretty darn good.
I just accidently cooked the best turkey i have had while i was doing chores and other things. Happy.
PS. My dogs got a snack and i havent seen their tails wag so hard in a long time.. i have been making them pretty bland chicken for a week. Anyone that says dogs dont have taste buds are nuts. They will have a big dinner tonight.
I decided to cook the cheapo Kroger turkey this morning.. no expectations..it wasnt Butterball. I was gonna snack on it for a few days and my dogs would get the bulk of it..
I thawed it overnight, soaked it in the sink this morning and rinsed it good with warm water. Took a fair bit to get the frozen 'gravy' packet out and the heart and liver.
I preheated the oven to around 375 and forgot to turn it down. I installed turkey with no seasonings, no prep.. just a turkey in a pan.
About an hour later i peeped in on it and the skin was dark brown.. like leather. Oh no. The wing tips had char marks as well but nothing was burnt.
I turned it off.. and let it rest for about an hour in the still hot oven.
I took it out and inspected it.. skin was brittle. The bottom of the pan was full of watery oil goo..so i poured it all off.
I made a rub in a bowl from seasonings in my spice cabinet. Poultry Seasoning, Thyme, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Sage, Paprika and Salt. I slathered the now cool to the touch turkey and peeled the skin back and rubbed the meat all over. I rubbed a little bit of olive oil just in case..
I installed the dry pan back in the oven, with the rubbed turkey and put it on low. I let it cook for about another hour and then peeped in again.
Smelled great. Pan had a 1/8 inch of good greasy oil..not watery like the first time. I pulled it out and poured off this spiced oil and poured it all over the turkey. And the remainder into the carcass.
I noticed that the little plastic thing had popped out..so it was done i guess. I dont trust the plastic thing so i gave it another half hour.
I installed it back in the oven on low low and checked again in about a half hour. Looked done. I let it rest in the oven turned off.
After about 2 hrs i pulled it out and began to investigate. May as well tear it down at this point. It was slightly warm to the touch.
I pulled it all the way down tasting as i went.. every bit of meat except for the outside of the legs and wings were buttery soft and moist.
Flavor was spot on. This may be the best turkey i have had.
It may turn out exactly the same if you cook it on low for more hours i dont know.
I have no idea what the difference in a cheapo Kroger turkey and a Butterball turkey is.... but the cheapo tasted pretty darn good.
I just accidently cooked the best turkey i have had while i was doing chores and other things. Happy.
PS. My dogs got a snack and i havent seen their tails wag so hard in a long time.. i have been making them pretty bland chicken for a week. Anyone that says dogs dont have taste buds are nuts. They will have a big dinner tonight.