COOKING "TURKEY" question.

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Sourdough

"Eleutheromaniac"
HCL Supporter
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Mar 17, 2018
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7,406
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In a cabin, on a mountain, in "Wilderness" Alaska.
Is there any way to cook turkey other than slow roasting..?? I one tried frying turkey breast and it was hard as dry leather.
 
You can do anything you do with chickens, with turkey.
Sounds like you are leaving the turkey in the oil to long.
It should be crispy skin on the outside & moist meat on the inside.
 
debone it ad run it through the grinder. if no grinder..debone cut in small section/chunks and dip in flour and egg and quick fry in the pan...or you can leave off egg/flour and just cut it in thin strips and 'stir fry ' it.
 
I think it depends on how you are wanting it and what parts. White meat, best in butter can tolerate a little more heat if sautéing. If frying I would check grease temp. Dark meat, a little lower heat for a little longer. The test for poultry is: it’s done when it’s not spongy when pressed with a fork. (If that makes sense via internet).
 
Of course roasting it. But I cook alot of turkeys, and sometimes I cut the meat off the bones (raw) and boil it. Then boil the carcass for more meat and broth. Or cut the meat off and run it through a hand grinder. If it's a fresh kill, I chill it for a few days to let the meat settle before cutting and cooking. It's also good cut and chunked, then set in spices of your choice, and put on a stick with veggies for shishkabob.
 
Breast meat is always dry but can be cooked to be more moist. It can be injected
Are you cooking a whole turkey? Or are you cooking turkey parts?

I know you said you are not roasting it, but if you were to, if you cook it with the breast down, the breast meat will not be as dry. Cooking a turkey in a roasting pan with a lid helps too. They sell roasters that are open.

Something that is very popular is deep frying and people have big pots that they fill with oil and heat over an open flame on special cookers run by propane. You don't want to do that in the house or even too close to
the house. There have been house fires from these.

There are several models available.

turkey fryer.JPG
 
Cut it in chunks parboil what you think you'll use for an hour, place it in tinfoil with the usual herbs and spices, and grill that bad boy in bacon grease! Saves turkey, and tastes great!
 
"Tiger Sausage"
Grind and mix well equal parts turkey, home raised goose breast, home raised meat rabbit.. Season with summer sausage seasoning mix, form into a log, about a large banana size.. Wrap in an open top tin foil boat, smoke until a well done internal temp of 180F or so.. Enjoy with tea, crackers, cheese, mustard...
 
The Big Easy Total Air Fryer .
Has anyone used a Big easy air fryer.
Someone in my group wants to fry a turkey, but has no equipment, & has never done this.
It is my understanding that oil fryers are dangers in the wrong hands, like a loaded gun.
Burned people & house to the ground. So I think to keep everyone from being in the hospital for the holidays.
I should look into air fryers, which are good for other thing, like smoking meat.
What do you know about the Big easy air fryer.
https://www.charbroil.com/the-big-easy-total-air-fryer-bundle
 
The Big Easy Total Air Fryer .
Has anyone used a Big easy air fryer.
Someone in my group wants to fry a turkey, but has no equipment, & has never done this.
It is my understanding that oil fryers are dangers in the wrong hands, like a loaded gun.
Burned people & house to the ground. So I think to keep everyone from being in the hospital for the holidays.
I should look into air fryers, which are good for other thing, like smoking meat.
What do you know about the Big easy air fryer.
https://www.charbroil.com/the-big-easy-total-air-fryer-bundle
I don't know about that fryer. An oven with a convection setting is the same as an air fryer. Many of us probably air fryers, but they are probably also too small to hold a turkey, with the exception of a regular sized oven with a convection setting.

The fryer you posted about is $180. Seems like a lot of money to spend for roasting a turkey once a year, but you may use it more than that.
 
I don't know about that fryer. An oven with a convection setting is the same as an air fryer. Many of us probably air fryers, but they are probably also too small to hold a turkey, with the exception of a regular sized oven with a convection setting.

The fryer you posted about is $180. Seems like a lot of money to spend for roasting a turkey once a year, but you may use it more than that.
I agree. However it is easier to spend the money & use it to make twenty chicken wings every few months, then to hurt someone's feelings or watch them burn the house down.
I never thought of using a propane air fryer, did not know they made them until some one had a bright ideal.
 
My #1 favorite is to spatchcock it and smoke it indirect in the kettle grill with a nice flavorful dry rub- this one is some sort of black garlic/rosemary thyme Mashup.

20231123_153314.jpg


Using an oak/hickory lump charcoal in this case. It's super flavorful and juicy- It's wayyy better then drying it out in the oven and i even prefer it to deep fried.

If I'm in the woods and killed a wild one fresh- I sear it over the open flame to try and lock the moisture in, then slow roast it slightly angled downward with My canteen cup positioned to catch the juices so I can baste it with a sprig of pine.
 

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