We butchered our turkeys and sold all the small ones (30 pounders) We are left with two 50 pound turkeys. They fit in the oven but how long to cook them? Anyone ever let their turkeys get too big, and have the quandry of cooking them? thanks in advance, Cara
Posts by moomaine
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Thanks for the replies! The turkey is currently defrosting in the bathtub 
We did a 40 pounder a few years ago, and it registered on the meat themometer at 170 degrees, but the breast just wasn't done. We were thinking of putting it in the night before at a high temp. for 1/2 hour and lowering it down to 250 or so for the night. My grandfather was a turkey farmer and he cooked his turkeys at 450 for a 1/2 hour then lowered the temp to 325 and covered the bird with brown paper and basted it with liquid periodically. But.. I don't think he ever cooked a bird this big. He is probably rolling in his grave that we let these guys get this big. Well actually they were so friendly and entertaining that we just couldn't part with them until they looked like they couldn't move around anymore. Next year we are going to raise a heritage breed that doesn't get so big. These were broad breasted bronze turkeys and were free range with hardly any grain at all, they even started to lay eggs. I guess next year I will have to not get so attached to them. :waa: Thanks again for the replies
We did a 40 pounder a few years ago, and it registered on the meat themometer at 170 degrees, but the breast just wasn't done. We were thinking of putting it in the night before at a high temp. for 1/2 hour and lowering it down to 250 or so for the night. My grandfather was a turkey farmer and he cooked his turkeys at 450 for a 1/2 hour then lowered the temp to 325 and covered the bird with brown paper and basted it with liquid periodically. But.. I don't think he ever cooked a bird this big. He is probably rolling in his grave that we let these guys get this big. Well actually they were so friendly and entertaining that we just couldn't part with them until they looked like they couldn't move around anymore. Next year we are going to raise a heritage breed that doesn't get so big. These were broad breasted bronze turkeys and were free range with hardly any grain at all, they even started to lay eggs. I guess next year I will have to not get so attached to them. :waa: Thanks again for the replies1 - 2 of 36 Posts
