How to Tell if Thanksgiving Turkey is Done

The thought of Thanksgiving brings warm memories of spending time with friends and family, enjoying the wonderful flavors of foods like cranberry bread, stuffing, mashed potatoes and of course, the turkey. But if you are having 30 people to your house, getting the turkey right is a lot of pressure. Here are some tips to tell if the turkey is done.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Digital thermometer
• Pot holders

1. Read the directions on the package. Turkeys have proposed cooking times on the back of their wrapper. The larger the bird, the longer the cooking time. Do not be fooled if your turkey looks done much earlier, as the skin will be the first to crisp, but the meat will still have a long way to go. Follow the instructions, pre-heat the oven and let the turkey cook for a few hours.

2. Remove the bird from the oven and put it on the stove or heat resistant surface. Remember this turkey is going to be hot. No one wants a trip to the emergency room on Thanksgiving right before dinner. Use pot holders and beware of splattering grease.

3. Stick a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the bird. This is where the leg meets the base of the breast. Be sure not to come in contact with bone while placing the thermometer inside, as that temperature will be different.

4. Read the thermometer and see if the turkey has reached 165 degrees internally. If it has, then dinner is ready to serve. If not, then it's back in the oven for the bird for a few more minutes until it reaches that temperature.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the bird half-way through the cooking time. If the skin has browned, place a foil tent over the turkey. This will protect the skin from burning while allowing your turkey to finish cooking.
• After the turkey is finished, let it rest for 20 minutes. This will allow the juices to settle in the bird before carving. This is a great time to make sure everyone is refreshed on drinks before Thanksgiving dinner.