Decide whether to buy smoked or fresh
Step one: find the perfect turkey! At Gartner’s, we offer both fresh and smoked turkeys during the holiday season. Our whole smoked turkeys are fully cooked, and take minimal effort to prepare for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, all it takes is some reheating and it’s ready to serve.
Our smoked turkeys take 10 minutes per pound to reheat, while fresh turkeys take around 13-15 minutes per pound.
Deciding on whether to buy a fresh or smoked turkey entirely depends on preference. You can get a little bit more creative with a fresh turkey – seasoning it to your liking, finding the perfect brine, etc. If you’re looking for a more simple, no-fuss Thanksgiving turkey, a smoked turkey might be the best choice for you.
Find the perfect size
Now you’ve decided whether to get a fresh turkey, or a smoked turkey, but how big of a Thanksgiving turkey should you buy? We recommend a pound per person when it comes to whole turkeys. If you’re serving dinner for 12, a 12 pound turkey should be perfect. Add on an extra pound or two if you love those Thanksgiving leftovers!
Choose a wet or dry brine
If you’ve decided a fresh turkey is the choice for you, now it’s time to decide: wet brine, or dry brine? Brining improves the overall moisture of a turkey, which will add flavor to the end results.
You can either choose to soak your turkey in a saltwater solution, or cover the turkey in a dry salt blend. Choosing a wet brine increases the amount of liquid in the turkey, while the salt helps to retain the moisture during the cooking process. In contrast, a dry brine draws the natural moisture out of the meat onto the surface, and then the salt is mixed with the turkey’s natural juices and is absorbed back into the bird.
There are benefits to both of these methods, however, a wet brine tends to take up a bit more space, as you need a large pot to completely submerge the turkey. You can add spices and other rubs to your dry brine in order to add more flavor while still maintaining moisture.
Find the proper cooking time
Cooking your turkey fully is super important before you feed the whole family. As mentioned earlier, our smoked turkeys take around 10 minutes per pound to fully reheat, while a fresh turkey will take closer to 13-15 minutes per pound.
It is always important to use a meat thermometer when cooking. Your turkey should be ready to remove from the oven when it reaches an internal temperature of 170° F.
We always recommend fully thawing your turkey ahead of time, as it is more difficult to cook a frozen turkey and to determine when it is fully cooked.
Once your turkey has reached 170°, let it rest for 20 minutes before you begin carving.
Now, have a happy Thanksgiving and ENJOY!