Turkey Taboos: What NOT to Do This Thanksgiving

When it comes to preparing the Thanksgiving bird, everyone has an opinion. But with these tips in your back pocket, your beloved bird will taste better than ever.

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Essential Turkey Day Tips

When it comes to preparing the Thanksgiving bird, everyone has an opinion. We all have our favorite turkey, whether it’s Aunt Sally’s or Alton Brown’s 5-star fan favorite. There are some words of wisdom, though, that apply no matter what turkey recipe you choose. Chef Ariane Daguin, co-founder of D’Artagnan, a leading gourmet-food purveyor, shared her essential tips for what not to do when it comes to the turkey. With these in your back pocket, your beloved bird will taste better than ever.

Keep It Fresh

Don’t buy a frozen turkey. A fresh bird will always have flesh that is more moist and tender.

Turkey Inferno

Don’t preheat your oven to a temperature lower than 350 degrees F or the turkey’s skin won’t lock in enough juices to ensure a moist bird.

The Rinse Cycle

Don’t cook your brined turkey before rinsing it. Without a good rinse, excess surface salt and any herbs or sugars that could potentially burn will be left on the skin.

Winging It

Don’t leave the bird’s tips uncovered while grilling. If you don’t cover the wing tips and the tips of the drumsticks with foil, you will end up with charring.

Skin Is In

Don’t pierce the turkey’s skin when putting fat (butter, duck fat, etc.) between the flesh and the skin; but do consider this method, as it imparts even more flavor to your bird.

The Stuffing of Dreams

Don’t stuff a bird ahead of time or you will increase the chances of promoting the production of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Better yet, cook your stuffing in a separate casserole.

Turkey R&R

Don’t carve the bird directly after cooking. Let it rest for 30 to 40 minutes to redistribute the juices before you carve.

Pecking Order

Don’t carve the white meat before the dark meat. The dark meat (legs and thighs) should always be carved before the white meat (turkey breast), since the latter dries out faster.

The Rest Is Just Gravy

Don’t throw raw flour into pan juices to make gravy. Lighter and more flavorful methods include blending the chunks of carrots, turnips and other winter vegetables that have roasted beneath the turkey and adding the puree to the gravy, or whipping generous dollops of truffle butter into the pan juices for a taste of luxury.