{"id":714,"date":"2019-01-26T21:10:30","date_gmt":"2019-01-26T21:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eatturkey.org\/?page_id=714"},"modified":"2025-11-10T14:31:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T19:31:16","slug":"traditional-thanksgiving-turkey","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.eatturkey.org\/traditional-thanksgiving-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Going Whole Bird"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Going whole bird? We’re here to help. There’s nothing more synonymous with Thanksgiving than that big, beautiful turkey at the center of the table. It’s a symbol of tradition and comfort – plus, a whole turkey is simply delicious. Let’s get ready to gobble up the Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving!<\/a>) feast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Roast Turkey w\/ Herbs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Harissa Spatchcocked Turkey<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sherry Butter Turkey<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Cajun Roasted Turkey<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Favorite Whole Turkey Preparations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of ways to prepare a whole turkey. Whether you’re going for something more traditional or thinking outside the oven, here are some of our favorites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convection Oven 101<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Roasting a Turkey<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spatchcocking a Whole Turkey<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fried Turkey 411<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simplest Smoked Turkey…Ever<\/a><\/strong> and the recipe<\/strong><\/a>, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How-to Carve a Turkey<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking Turkey: Whole Turkey Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Courtesy of Taste of Home.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

1. Plan ahead! <\/em>While the thought of tackling the entire Thanksgiving meal can be intimidating, a little bit of advance planning and organization<\/strong> can go a long way in helping your holiday run smoothly. Know what recipe your preparing and size of turkey you will need. If you want plenty of leftovers<\/a>, plan for 1.25-1.5. pounds of turkey per person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re buying a frozen turkey, get it in advance. You can also check with your local grocery store or meat purveyor to get a better idea for when turkeys will be in stock or place a special order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Make sure your turkey is thawed!<\/em> There’s nothing like a frozen turkey on Thanksgiving Day to throw off meal prep. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Get ready for “The Great Thaw” by checking out our blog post<\/a> for some quick turkey thawing tips. You can also visit USDA’s How to Safely Thaw a Turkey<\/a> resource to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. To brine or not to brine? <\/em>Brining really has one main goal: keeping the turkey tender and extra juicy while it cooks. We recommend taking this extra step<\/a>. You won’t regret it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Don’t overcook the turkey!<\/em> Keep that turkey tender by using a meat thermometer to make sure your turkey reaches a safe internal temperature of 165\u00b0F. Our guide<\/a> can help you use this handy tool to determine if your turkey is ready for the table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And a few more for good measure… <\/h3>\n\n\n\n