Anyone use Alton Brown's Turkey Recipe?

[bakechef]

Originally Posted by luv2cook35

I'm going to take the brining bag suggestions and line a cooler with that. Hoping the drippings won't be too salty for good gravy. Thanks for sharing!

As andy said, give it a good rinse. You may be surprised how flavorful the gravy is.

We had our Thanksgiving lunch at work today. One of the employees brined the turkey and baked it at home and made gravy from the drippings and it was fantastic!

[luv2cook35]

For those who have seen the video and cooked using Alton Brown's directions, did you use the turkey triangle? It isn't mentioned anymore in the recipe on the Food Network site.

[Andy M.]

Originally Posted by luv2cook35

For those who have seen the video and cooked using Alton Brown's directions, did you use the turkey triangle? It isn't mentioned anymore in the recipe on the Food Network site.

That's strange. I do use the foil. I shape a double layer of foil to cover the breast and put it on the turkey after the initial 500º F cooking. I leave it on for the rest of the cooking time.

[Katie H]

As for putting a foil tent over the turkey, what I do is to drape the turkey with cheesecloth that's been soaked in a white wine/butter mixture. I leave that on during the cooking time, basting through the cheesecloth as it cooks.

Always have a fabulous golden turkey.

[luv2cook35]

Ok Andy and Katie, thanks for the input. I don't have cheesecloth on hand so I think I'll try the foil and watch it closely. Wonder why that changed? Thank you both for helping me with this dinner and all my questions.

[Andy M.]

Originally Posted by luv2cook35

Ok Andy and Katie, thanks for the input. I don't have cheesecloth on hand so I think I'll try the foil and watch it closely. Wonder why that changed? Thank you both for helping me with this dinner and all my questions.

There isn't only one right way to roast a great turkey. Katie's cheesecloth method works for her recipe, The foil triangle works with AB's recipe.

[Effington]

A lot of recipes also call for cooking with Alton's temperature method (high temp 30 minutes, lower temp the rest of the time) except they cook the turkey upside down for that initial high heat period, then flip over for the rest of the time.

I'm going to use this method.

Obviously the key is ignoring the pop-up thermometer and ignore any recipe or recommendation that says to cook your turkey to an absurd, cardboard-inducing temperature of 185°.

[luv2cook35]

Ok, then I'm trying that and will rinse inside and out well. Did my brine today and everyone already thinks it smells like Thanksgiving - I just warned them not to taste because of the salt. Will post again if we're successful!