MAIN Holidays Thanksgiving Turkey How-To's

How long to cook? Preheat the oven to 325^o, then place the bird in the oven to roast for 15 - 20 minutes per pound.

How big a turkey? You'll need 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person if you're buying the whole bird, fresh or frozen.

Of course, it's always best to go bigger. (After all, there are at least 50 ways to serve your turkey leftovers, including a winter store of turkey soup.)

There's a bit more turkey wisdom up ahead, with additional advice & tips on what to do on the big day - - from defrosting, brining, trussing, deep frying, stuffing & basting - - to the final golden brown moment of turkey perfection...

Turkey recipes & how to's around the Web:

Butterball: Turkey Recipes & Ideas, Tips & How To's
One of America's most popular brands, with online videos to show you how to thaw, stuff, roast, carve or grill, and check out the live Turkey Talk-Line for one-on-one instruction.

Eat Turkey.com - A Deep Fried Delicacy: The How-To on Deep Frying Turkey
Browse the complete recipe including safety tips and what equipment you'll need, along with additional how-to's for Cajun Deep Fried Turkey, and Louisiana Fried Turkey Breast...

Clemson University - How to Cook a Turkey
No fancy graphics, but plenty of warnings to keep it safe and hygienic. It's important information and they do a good job covering the basics.

How to Roast a Turkey

Cooking for Engineers - Classic Roast Turkey - Cooking for Engineers
The beginners guide with step-by-step instructions and plenty of photos to help you follow along.

University of Illinois Extension - Turkey for the Holidays
Everything from cooking techniques, to carving the bird, to what to do with the leftovers, courtesy of the University of Illinois Extension. And check out a huge helping of Turkey Side Dishes.

Shelton's Turkey - Roasting a Free Range Shelton's Turkey
If you were in any doubt, a free range turkey is cooked pretty much the same as mass-produced. Warning: free range turkeys do taste differently than traditional store-bought.

Wikipedia - Turducken
Encyclopedic knowledge from Wikipedia, including how the craze began for chicken-stuffed-within-a-duck-within-a-turkey, popular turducken variations, nutrition information including fat & cholesterol content, plus links to recipes...

O Chef - How to Cook a Turkey in an Electric Roaster
With complete instructions, and if you happen to have a big enough roaster, it's a good idea for freeing-up space in the oven for the side dishes.

All Recipes - Turkey Brine
Check out this five-star rated recipe with complete instructions, plus browse the left-hand menu for more on citrus and orange turkey brining techniques.