7 Thanksgiving hacks that will make your turkey juicier, evenly cooked, and tastier than ever

Steven JohnNov 22, 2020, 15:05 IST

Planning in advance and using the right ingredients will ensure your turkey is cooked to perfection.skynesher/Getty Images

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and it's not too late to learn some expert tips for cooking the perfect turkey.
Using a meat thermometer and glazing the turkey with sweet wine can ensure your main course stays juicy and moist.
We've rounded up the most helpful cooking hacks for preparing your Thanksgiving turkey.

Preparing a Thanksgiving meal is no easy feat.

Balancing the timeline of when to start chopping, baking, and putting everything in the oven can be overwhelming. But if there is one thing you need to get right, it is the turkey.

Cooking a great turkey is one of the greatest challenges an amateur cook faces, so with Thanksgiving coming up fast, we turned to experts for some helpful Thanksgiving hacks. Follow these turkey cooking tips and tricks to ensure your pièce de résistance doesn't go afoul.

You need to plan well ahead for proper thawing, which might take an entire five days for a 20-pound turkey.

Have a plan of when you need to move your bird from the freezer to the fridge. US Department of Agriculture

A good meat thermometer is a must-have, and you should use it during the roasting process, not just to check the bird when you think it's done.

A meat thermometer will be your tool for success. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Use ice packs to keep turkey breasts cooler at the start of the roast and juicer throughout the cooking.

Applying ice packs to the turkey breasts is a lesser-known trick. iStock / Getty Images Plus

You probably don't need as big a turkey as you think. One pound per person should be plenty.

When in doubt, choose a smaller turkey. Africa Studio/Shutterstock

If you are smoking a turkey, then cook the stuffing outside the bird and use apples and aromatics to fill the cavity.

The cavity is a great opportunity to give your turkey a flavor boost. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

You can use sweet wines as an easy glaze that will keep a turkey moist, add flavor, and reduce how often you have to open the oven.

Sweet wine makes for a great one-time glaze. GEORGES GOBET/AFP via Getty Images

Don't let your leftovers and extra ingredients go to waste — there are thousands of recipes that use them.

Once you've made a juicy turkey, you can enjoy it all week in different recipes. JodiJacobson/Getty Images

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