How Long To Cook A Turkey

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SAN FRANCISCO (GaeaTimes.com)- Come Thanksgivings and people all over the planet have been busy planning the perfect dinner for their family and close ones. For many the occasion would serve as the perfect opportunity to get together with family members and friends. For some, it is the special Thanksgiving dinner that could etch their names in culinary history if the meal turns out great. Thus the web has been abuzz with the recipes and techniques for the Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey, which is by far the most significant symbol of the Thanksgiving feast, is also one of the most delicate birds for cooking. A lot of people complain that the meat often remains chewy in spite of cooking for a long time and even proper brining. The key to how long to cook a turkey, therefore lies in understanding how the weight of the bird and the cooking time is related.

The general principle behind cooking the large bird is to keep the oven temperature high initially (325 degrees). This adds that crispy shiny crust to the turkey. The temperature should then be brought down to cook the meat through and through. One should not stuff the bird completely and neither keep the stuffing in the bird too long before putting it in the oven. The amount and type of stuffing also determines how long to cook a turkey.

Though many are wondering how long to cook a turkey, people should also keep in mind that the bird also needs a resting time after being completely cooked. This allows the juices from the stuffing and the meat to spread throughout the bird.