Let's Talk Turkey: 5 Things to Know About Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner

By Kara Seymour (Patch Staff)

There’s just a few days until Thanksgiving, which means you may have turkey on the brain.

Whether you’ve been cooking for decades or are preparing your first feast, experts from GIANT food stores have helped answer these five turkey-related questions to make sure your meal goes smoothly and tastes delicious.

How big should your turkey be?

It’s recommended to have at least one and a quarter pounds per person. If you go on the higher side of that, you’ll be able to enjoy leftovers.

How long does a frozen turkey take to defrost?

Many Thanksgiving feasters choose a frozen turkey. If so, you’ll need to make sure to allow ample time to defrost it in the refrigerator. Turkeys less than 12 pounds will take as long as two days to defrost; a bird more than 20 pounds can take as many as five days to defrost.

Do I cook the stuffing inside of the turkey?

For food safety reasons, it’s recommended to cook the stuffing in a separate casserole dish. If you choose to place the stuffing inside the bird, do it right before you put it in the oven. Take the stuffing out of the turkey immediately after cooking.

How do I know when my turkey is done?

Using a meat thermometer inserted into the meatiest part of the turkey, wait for the reading to reach at least 165 degrees. If you’ve cooked the stuffing inside the bird, make sure that also reaches the same temperature for food safety purposes.

How long do my leftovers last?

The best part of Thanksgiving (ahem, aside from of course seeing our families) is the leftovers. If you refrigerate the turkey within two hours of serving, your leftovers will last three to four days.

Photo credit: Douglas Ott via flickr creative commons