All About the Turkey
2016-11-09 14:52:42
At Yoder's, we carry All Natural, non-injected Fresh Turkeys. We get several large shipments a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving and we flash freeze them to preserve all the natural goodness. This means your turkey will be partially frozen when you pick it up.
- **Note: We strongly recommend using a cooking bag and following the directions on the box. It is the only way we as a family cook our own turkeys.**
- Allow 1 day of thawing, in the refrigerator, for each 4 pounds of turkey. Once thawed, a turkey may remain in the refrigerator for 4 days before cooking. Use the roasting chart as a guide; it doesn't necessarily determine doneness. The best test for doneness is the temperature of the meat. A turkey is done when the thigh meat reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees. Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into the thigh area, making sure the thermometer is not touching the bone. Roast the turkey at 350 degrees.
- Size & Time (unstuffed) **for stuffed turkeys increase time by 15-45 minutes
- 8-12 lbs. for 2-3/4 to 3 hours
- 12-14 lbs. for 3 to 3-3/4 hours **our Smoked Turkeys are not fully cooked so the cooking times are close to the same
- 14-18 lbs. for 3-3/4 to 4-1/4 hours
- 18-20 lbs. for 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 hours
- 20-24 lbs. for 4-1/2 to 5 hours
- We take some of these same All Natural Turkeys and smoke them in our smokehouses using hickory wood chips to give them incredible flavor. These Smoked Turkeys are a personal family favorite and once you've had one, you are unlikely to go back to the non-smoked ones!
- Let the turkey sit for around 10 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to soak up and settle instead of letting them seep out.
- So, how much turkey do you need? On average, plan for 3/4-1 pound per person. This will ensure you don't run out and maybe leave some to try out those yummy leftover turkey recipes you've seen!
Yoder's Meat & Cheese https://yodersmeatandcheese.com/
