primitives discuss cooking frozen turkeys

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/115717205

Oh my.

eShirl (11,353 posts)    Wed Nov 21, 2012, 07:19 PM

in case anyone needs it, "Cooking Turkey from the Frozen State"

This week I'm honored to pass along an article from a study conducted by O. Peter Snyder, Jr., Ph.D. about a new way to roast your Thanksgiving turkey: put it in the oven frozen solid. Dr. Snyder is the president of the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management in St. Paul, Minnesota. You cook turkey from the frozen state. That's right - it goes into the oven frozen completely solid. I've used this method many times now and have the best results. The turkey is beautifully moist and tender and perfectly browned. And it's so nice to not have to worry about thawing that huge bird!
 
Cooking Turkey From the Frozen State

Introduction

A common problem on Thanksgiving is waking up on Thanksgiving morning and realizing that the turkey has not been thawed, and there is not enough time to thaw the turkey in the refrigerator or in flowing water at 70ºF, which takes hours.
 
However, there is a very simple solution – cook the entire turkey from the frozen state. The FDA Food Code allows this, and turkey hotlines suggest it. The following is a HACCP-based procedure for cooking a 12-to-13-lb. frozen turkey.
 
Method

Start 5 to 5 1/2 hours before you want to serve the cooked turkey. Set the oven temperature at 325ºF. It is much better that the turkey be done 30 minutes before mealtime than to rush and serve an undercooked turkey. Remove the wrapping from the turkey and put the turkey on a rack on a pan that has been covered with foil to make cleaning easy (Fig. 1). You can also cook the turkey in a covered roasting pan if you have one.
 -SNIP-

(continued at http://busycooks.about.com/od/thanksgiving/a/cookfrozenturke.htm )

Arkansas Granny (13,749 posts)   Wed Nov 21, 2012, 07:26 PM

1. Wow! That's a new one on me. Very interesting.

MuseRider (22,605 posts)    Wed Nov 21, 2012, 07:43 PM

2. Interesting!

I never thought of this. I hate handling the bird anyway since I won't eat it but this sounds safer as long as one monitors with a thermometer. Thank you!

gkhouston (19,868 posts)   Thu Nov 22, 2012, 02:09 PM

3. Never seen that before. Will have to try it sometime.

Today, we're trying out Alton Brown's method for brining a turkey and cooking it. Since it's just the three of us instead of a familypalooza, we're trying a few new things.

[Dori]

So they're cooking the neck and plastic bag of giblets inside the bird? 

[jukin]

NOTE TO DUMMYS:

The only way to cook frozen turkeys is to deep fry them in oil in a big vat.

[GOBUCKS]

So they're cooking the neck and plastic bag of giblets inside the bird?

They remove the bag after three-and-a-half hours of roasting.

I'm sure this method works, but they're talking about a really small turkey.

[Dori]

NOTE TO DUMMYS:

The only way to cook frozen turkeys is to deep fry them in oil in a big vat.

 

[GOBUCKS]

NOTE TO DUMMYS:

The only way to cook frozen turkeys is to deep fry them in oil in a big vat.

In the middle of the kitchen.

[ScubaGuy]

In the middle of the kitchen.

Be sure to get the oil extra hot (above 450) since the turkey is frozen. 

[NHSparky]

In the middle of the kitchen.

And make sure you place the bird in the hot oil properly--say, dropping from a height of 6-8 feet above the molten boiling pot of oil.

[GOBUCKS]

And make sure you place the bird in the hot oil properly--say, dropping from a height of 6-8 feet above the molten boiling pot of oil.

Now wait a minute! That would be dangerous.

You want to lower that frozen bird at a steady speed without splashing the 450F oil.

If you drop it, that oil will splash all over and we sure don't want that to happen.

Cleanup would be a bitch.

Just lower the bird in one quick smooth motion.

[NHSparky]

Just lower the bird in one quick smooth motion.

32 ft/sec² is about as smooth a motion as it gets.

[Dori]

Now wait a minute! That would be dangerous.

You want to lower that frozen bird at a steady speed without splashing the 450F oil.

If you drop it, that oil will splash all over and we sure don't want that to happen.

Cleanup would be a bitch.

Just lower the bird in one quick smooth motion.

and just so you don't splash on your good clothes, take off shirt or blouse

[NHSparky]

and just so you don't splash on your good clothes, take off shirt or blouse

And coat yourself in a mixture of Vaseline and gasoline while you smoke a cigarette.

[I_B_Perky]

NOTE TO DUMMYS:

The only way to cook frozen turkeys is to deep fry them in oil in a big vat.

And dummies... make sure you stick your hands in the vat first to make sure the oil is hot enough!!!! You should feel a little warm sensation.

[Tucker]

NOTE TO DUMMYS:

The only way to cook frozen turkeys is to deep fry them in oil in a big vat.

Yep.

Have the family gather round real close to watch the bird drop into the oil. It's something to see. I'm sure they'll remember it forever.

[franksolich]

So they're cooking the neck and plastic bag of giblets inside the bird? 

Seriously, though, has anyone ever been known to forget to thaw a frozen turkey?

As old as I am, I've never heard of anyone forgetting.