How Are You Cooking Your Turkey This Year...?
 

We always brine ours for 1.5 days, then roast it in a roasting bag...but this year, I'm going to brine it -- then use an oil-less fryer, which will be new and exciting.

I found a nice oil-less fryer on Amazon - and the reviews are amazing! I guess the turkey ends up really crisp on the outside, but super juicy on the inside. I bought a "practice turkey" (lol) yesterday so once the new fryer arrives, I will try the practice turkey first to make sure we like the cooking method.

How do y'all cook yours and have you ever used an oil-less fryer?

We're going to order BBQ from a restaurant. :p That's how we're cooking this year.

And you get my vote for the smartest cook of all :D!

What kind of BBQ will you get...ie, ribs, wings....?

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Please let us know how this works out!!! I saw this advertised someplace and was really interested in how this was going to come out....I would LOVE a first hand, unbiased review on this!! We did the one with all the oil....my anxiety level was so high, afraid those men were going to burn the house down, I really would like to know how this works out! Meanwhile, Honeybaked Hams got my order for the ham, the smoked turkey , and pork chops, delivered to the front door, the 25th......

Tri tip, ribs, brisket, sides and buscuits. I'm rrying to comvince my brother to make cheesecane. His always comed out so much better than mine. I'm also trying to convince my mom to make aguas frescas too. It's going to be a crazy mash up of food.

I drag out my once a year electric roaster- set it up on the back porch and have my kitchen oven free for all the sides, and no heat in the house! (still hot here in November). The turkey is not that crispy or goodlooking but tender and juicy and I carve in the kitchen anyway.

I have done ours in the oil less fryer for years. They are Awesome, so juicy and tender. Not only do they turn out great but it also frees up my oven for other baking. I do the majority of the cook time with the lid off and then put the lid on towards the end to crisp the skin. You'll love it. Once you start using it you'll find all kinds of things you can cook in it. We cook amazing ribs, stuffed bacon wrapped chicken thighs, etc. I bought a bunch of them as presents for family members because I loved it so much. Now they all love theirs too.

So glad to hear you like yours so much! I too like the idea of my oven not being taken up by the turkey. I would love to try ribs in this bc hubby loves them a ton! Sounds like this will be a fun new kitchen gadget...

Can I see what this amazing device looks like? I've never heard about it before.

The model I have is the "Charbroil Big Easy"

The Big Easy® Oil-less Turkey Fryer | Char-Broil®

The customer pictures look so good!! Adding this to my Christmas wishlist.

I have never heard of these. I did a little research on them. Are the one you all use electric or do they use propane. Can you use them indoors?

Mine is propane so no - we don't use it inside the house. We either use it on the back covered patio or inside our shop, depending on the weather (wind conditions)

I got this one, for $103 (it's at $129 right now), which is electric and can cook up to an 18 pound turkey:

Amazon

The fryer looked interesting to me but, sadly, hubby was not convinced!

So, I will cook my turkey the traditional way i.e. let him do it and I watch him with some wine!

Wow that sounds great Ann Please let us know how it goes. I may try this for Xmas!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
I got mine delivered Saturday!! I have ordered all our meats from Honey Baked Ham already, but I certainly intend to do something in this machine as soon as possible!! I am thinkjing ribs or chicken thighs....that video on line shows that man telling how to do the ribs as well as chicken......I am anxious and excited to try this!!!

My DH got an electric smoker for an early Christmas present. He will do turkey breast, legs, thighs and 3 cheese mac + cheese in the smoker. Both our sons are coming in on . WEdnesday, so I will do a ham dinner then just in case our younger son has to leave early on Thursday for his work schedule in the afternoon.

Just an update...we LOVED using this cooker/fryer!! So totally convenient bc you just throw the turkey in there and forget it until later. Very moist too! But the biggest upside is that you no longer have to deal w/ having to work around a turkey taking up your oven - so great! It's a total keeper. Going to try ribs in it next for the hubs.

We ordered all our meats from Honey Baked Hams, but it will just be my son and I here for Christmas, so we will use this cooker for Christmas. I got the propane one, simply because in case of hurricanes and loss of power, we have a way to cook! I am anxious to use it, excited about the reviews so far! Hope it browns the outside of the meat!

Ann - so glad you liked your turkey. It's amazing what these jewels will cook and how good it turns out.

Judy - get busy woman, no need to wait until Christmas. lol And yes, it will brown the skin. I start mine with the lid off (keeps the skin from getting too brown while the meat cooks) and add it for the last of the cooking to really brown up that skin. It's awesome.

I bought the propane in case of Hurricanes also. During some hurricanes I only had a propane burner and my bbq pit. We definitely have to have a way to cook up all that good stuff that is thawing in the freezer when you've been without electricity for days on end.

If you'd like another good find - check out the Insta Pot electric pressure cooker (I have the DUO 7-1). I never cooked with one before now but I remember my Nannee always had something cooking in hers - many many moons ago. This electric one is the best thing I've ever added to my kitchen. Not only does it cook your meals in very little time, the flavor seems so much better. I forgot to thaw something for dinner one night, put frozen chicken thighs in the pot - cooked in 10 minutes to perfection (after it came to pressure). I've made mac & cheese like nothing I've ever tasted they were so good. It was awesome at Thanksgiving - I made a Caramel Pecan Pumpkin cheesecake in 15 mins, boiled eggs in 6 mins. that peel like you wouldn't believe until you did it yourself, so easy. I've made so many wonderful meals in this pot. I never was much for cooking, actually hated to cook - but now even my husband loves my Insta Pot. Just in case you haven't figured it out - I love my Insta Pot. :D Geez, I sound like an infomercial.

How much is the Insta Pot? I've been looking for a pressure cooker for a while. I heard that stove top versions are better, and the ones I've been eyeing have been around $100.

I think I paid about $120 for mine from Amazon but was able to get them on the black friday sale for $78. I'm not sure since I don't shop at Walmart but I think I read they have them on sale also on their website.

I don't know about the stove top pressure cooker, I would be too nervous to use one. The first time I used my electric one, it beeped when it reached pressure and I almost ran out of the kitchen. lol

You can look on facebook for the Instant Pot Community and see a lot of dishes & discussions on it's use. It really is a great appliance.

I think this is the one my son and brother are getting me for Christmas.....
Shop Power Pressure Cooker | Power Pressure Cooker XL?

I found this on my computer one morning.....I didnt put it there so it had to have been my son....they are going to get the largest one since I do an entire meal for almost an entire week.....

I have NEVER cooked with a pressure cooker....is this a good one or should I nix this before it goes any further!!!?

I would really go check one out in person and if you can find it cheaper on Amazon or whatever then buy it, but after you look at it in real life. I've been looking for a while and a LOT of them have really crappy lids. It doesn't feel substantial when you open and close. It should open smoothly and click easily.

If anyone watched America's Test Kitchen, Christopher Kimball is kinda like the not-so-eccentric Alton Brown and he said all pressure cookers nowadays are pretty safe. It's just a preference for me to want a lid that feels good, esp for paying $100+. Just don't buy an old one from a thrift shop! I've seen a bunch and I was tempted, until I heard him say that.

Ann have your tried the ribs yet? I am thinking this year I will do a roast loin of pork coupled with turkey breast and a leg....

Not yet, but when I do I will update this thread for you :)!