How to Buy the Best Thanksgiving Turkey
A Thanksgiving turkey is a big purchase—or at least, it’s a big bird with big dreams riding on it. Even if you know how much turkey to buy (two pounds…
This Buttermilk Brine Will Turn You Into a Turkey Breast Enthusiast
Over the years, I have not been shy about my indifference toward turkey. I’ve called it “a bit of a thermodynamic nightmare” with “the dumbest meat.” I’ve also been pretty…
Don’t Fall for These 8 Modern Thanksgiving Lies
Photo: Africa Studio (Shutterstock) People on Facebook posting a recipe for “popcorn stuffing” reminded me of the following true story: When I was 16, I attended Thanksgiving at my religious…
Save This USDA Hotline for Emergency Food-Safety Questions
Photo: Elena Veselova (Shutterstock) The United States Department of Agriculture might not be the first place you think of when you’re unsure whether it’s okay to stuff the turkey the…
Don’t Just Roast Your Turkey, Roulade It
Photo: zoryanchik (Shutterstock) Wrestling a whole turkey body into a roasting pan (or rather, onto a wire rack), isn’t for everyone. Even I, a seasoned professional, have to steel myself…
Throw Away Your Turkey’s Worthless Pop-up Thermometer
Photo: Lost_in_the_Midwest (Shutterstock) Knowing when the turkey is “done” is the most anxiety-inducing part of cooking a turkey. You don’t want to food poison anyone, but you don’t want to…
The 7 Deadly Sins of Making Thanksgiving Dinner
WKRP Turkey Drop Maybe there isn’t a quality difference between a frozen and fresh turkey, but that doesn’t apply if you defrost your turkey incorrectly. Luckily, though, defrosting a turkey…
The Most Important Thanksgiving Turkey Terms, Defined
Photo: Brent Hofacker (Shutterstock) Much like eggs or beef, turkeys come with all sorts of words written on their packaging. Words like “heritage,” “air-chilled,” “kosher,” and “pre-basted” all tell you…
What to Do Instead of Buying a Giant Thanksgiving Turkey
When buying the big bird for the big meal, aiming for 1 1/2 pounds of turkey (including bones and all in your calculations) will ensure you have enough for everyone,…
How to Plan a (Relatively) Cheap Thanksgiving
Grocery prices are being what they are in 2022, I’m not looking forward to Thanksgiving shopping. I recently noted my much-needed 12-packs of Diet Coke, which I buy at least…