Preparing for Thanksgiving

As we approach Thanksgiving, we thought we’d put together a simple guide to help you prepare your time.  In the coming weeks, we’ll also share some recipes and other tips to help make sure your day goes smoothly and deliciously!

Turkey Cooking Times

When fully cooked, the breast meat of the turkey should be about 170 degrees F and thigh meat should be about 180 degrees F (don’t let the thermometer touch the bone!)  The cooking times here are for turkeys grilled using the indirect method and medium heat (325-350 F)

How big of a bird do you need?  Figure on roughly a pound a person.

How To Thaw A Turkey

Except around the holidays, turkeys mostly come frozen (fresh turkeys can be ordered from your local meat market). There are 2 ways to safely thaw a frozen turkey: in the refrigerator and in cold water.  Note: don’t thaw a turkey at room temperature because you run the risk of it becoming contaminated by bacteria.

To thaw a frozen turkey in the refrigerator, place it in a roasting pan to catch any dripping liquid.

To speed up the thawing process, place the turkey in a sink or large pot (or cooler) filled with cold water. You will need to change the water every 30 minutes (the water must remain cold to avoid the risk of bacterial contamination. Use the thawing times below: