Do You Let Your Turkey 'Rest'?

jenk_3

Im cooking a turkey crown this year and was wondering if people normally leave turkey to rest or is this a tip for red meat only?

Im not a great cook (obviously) so all help is fantastic :beer:

Thank

Jenk

moggins

Yes but mostly because it leaves room in the oven for finishing off the trimmings and making the gravy. I always cook mine breast side down and only turn it up the right way for the last 30 minuts to brown nicely. It comes out lovely and juicy with no nasty dry bits.

suzy_g

I normally put the alarm on and me and my OH nip down stairs and put the turkey on something like 3am, then we go back to bed so its done in the morning . that way we have plenty of oven space, also I think it carves better after it cooled.

kitekat

I always let mine rest for 30mins and i also cook it breast side down sat on a wire rack with a little water in the tray below which keeps it moist,the turkey juices then mix with the water and i use this to make my gravy.

Creditcardkid

Yes definitely, you need to have it upside down (breast side down) to allow the juices to re-infuse the meat otherwise you get a very dry turkey. Hope that helps.

Steve

wendym

Mine gets a nice long rest, as the only way I have enough oven space is to cook it on the evening of 24th.

Rachie_B

same here we cook ours on xmas eve

victory

yes covered in tin foil and a tea-towel, keeps the heat in resting and tastes better as the juices have settled....

bambam_2

Creditcardkid wrote:

Yes definitely, you need to have it upside down (breast side down) to allow the juices to re-infuse the meat otherwise you get a very dry turkey. Hope that helps.

Steve

A friend of mine read that you should cook the turkey upside down for a jucier bird. Trouble was when she took it out of the oven it was hard to distinguish which way was up. Due to a large intake of christmas 'cheer' she forgot that she had put it in upside down. The family sat down to carve the turkey and complained about the lack of meat on the 'breast'. It wasn't until the next day that she realised what had happened.
Loads of leftovers!

jenk_3

:beer: Thanks everyone :beer:

I will defo leave it out to rest and turn it upside down, i hadnt even thought about that

Jenk

newcook

if its any help Nigella is on bbc 2 tonight at 8pm showing the perfect xmas dinner - my OH thinks she is brilliant but I think that may have something to do with her being provocative with food!