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Let's Talk Turkey

batmagadanleadoff Oct 21 2020 04:39 PM

So I bought a turkey almost a year ago for Thanksgiving, but then left it in the freezer and never got to cooking it because of a change of plans. Then I forgot about the turkey. And now I suddenly remembered it. It's still there. I can see it. Can I thaw it? And cook it and eat it? Is it safe? What would youse do?

MFS62 Oct 21 2020 04:52 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

As long as you never lost power and it got (partially) thawed, it should be good. Follow the instructions on the package or label for thawing time. But if you have any turkey cooking questions, Butterball usually has an 800 number to call with questions like this. Don't know if it is year round or closer to the holiday. Give them a call and see. (If your turkey isn't a Butterball you might not want to mention it, but I don't recall it matters.) Later

Edgy MD Oct 21 2020 04:56 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

Supposedly, Swanson invented the TV dinner because they had a refrigerated freight car full of turkeys going back and forth across America for months. Management kept booking return trips for it, because the car had to keep moving for the refrigeration to work, so they put out an all-staff memo asking folks what they could do with the turkeys. TVs were a luxury item at the time, so it wasn't seen as de classe to eat dinner on the sofa so you wouldn't miss your favorite program, Colgate Theater, or whatev.

kcmets Oct 21 2020 05:23 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

You must have a big freezer to forget about a turkey in it. I would probably chuck it but I'm an admitted wuss about these things. Does it have a suggested use by date or something?

batmagadanleadoff Oct 21 2020 05:37 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

=kcmets post_id=48861 time=1603322614 user_id=53] You must have a big freezer to forget about a turkey in it. I would probably chuck it but I'm an admitted wuss about these things. Does it have a suggested use by date or something?

I didn't look for a date. I'll take a look soon. I do have a huge freezer and there's always a lot of stuff in there, so the turkey's on the bottom of one of the compartments and covered with stuff on top. At the time I bought this refrigerator, it was about the biggest size refrigerator you could buy that wasn't a commercial refrigerator.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 21 2020 05:50 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

I'm almost sure it'd be fine. Just thaw it and smell it, you'll know

metsmarathon Oct 21 2020 05:57 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

yeah, as long as it never partially thawed, it should be fine. worst thing that'd happen to it otherwise is maybe some freezer burn.

Fman99 Oct 21 2020 07:31 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

I'm 47 and this will be the first year I've ever cooked a full bird. My dad and brother used to do it, and more recently we'd go to my wife's uncle's house every year and I'd just have to bring a dish to share. I do a lot of cooking so I'm not terribly concerned. This is mostly a question of whether I can still get my nap in or not that day.

metsmarathon Oct 21 2020 08:54 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

Turkey takes a long time to cook. You should be good. Maybe get the sides done the day before though if that's your plan.

nymr83 Oct 21 2020 08:56 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

=Fman99 post_id=48867 time=1603330285 user_id=86] I'm 47 and this will be the first year I've ever cooked a full bird. My dad and brother used to do it, and more recently we'd go to my wife's uncle's house every year and I'd just have to bring a dish to share. I do a lot of cooking so I'm not terribly concerned. This is mostly a question of whether I can still get my nap in or not that day.

Thanksgiving has a scheduled nap this year at 4:30 PM when the Washington Football Team play the Prescott-less Dallas Cowboys.



At least the Jets are permanently banned from Thanksgiving after the butt fumble.

Frayed Knot Oct 21 2020 09:02 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

I think the year-frozen turkey will probably still be good. I'd put the death and/or violent illness odds at well under 30%

MFS62 Oct 22 2020 06:39 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

=Fman99 post_id=48867 time=1603330285 user_id=86] I'm 47 and this will be the first year I've ever cooked a full bird. My dad and brother used to do it, and more recently we'd go to my wife's uncle's house every year and I'd just have to bring a dish to share. I do a lot of cooking so I'm not terribly concerned. This is mostly a question of whether I can still get my nap in or not that day.

I've cooked a turkey on Thanksgiving day for over 40 years. Other than barbecuing, it is the only day my wife lets me cook a meal.

And it is usually a big one (well over 20 pounds) so there are leftovers (including the fixin's) to give the kids to take home.

Just make sure you thaw it (we do the bottom of the refrigerator for several days thingie) before you cook it and use a meat thermometer. Those pop-up timers that come with some brands of birds sometimes don't work well.

You should be fine.

Later

Benjamin Grimm Oct 22 2020 07:33 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

=MFS62 post_id=48888 time=1603370341 user_id=60] I've cooked a turkey on Thanksgiving day for over 40 years.

I imagine that after being in the oven for 40 years, the turkey would be pretty inedible.

whippoorwill Oct 22 2020 07:54 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

At least you'd know it wasn't underdone That's always scary with poultry

Benjamin Grimm Oct 22 2020 07:55 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

You're right! Maybe he should give it another five or six years just to be on the safe side.

Lefty Specialist Oct 22 2020 08:42 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

I've done a two-year-old turkey out of the deep freezer without any problems. And I'll be doing a year-old 'Spend $400 at Shoprite' turkey this year.

MFS62 Oct 22 2020 08:47 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

Benjamin Grimm wrote: You're right! Maybe he should give it another five or six years just to be on the safe side. I wouldn't even serve that to you. Later

MFS62 Oct 24 2020 01:36 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

Batmags, if you're looking for some ways you might prepare that bird, here are 29 suggestions from Bon Apetit Magazine (via Yahoo): https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/29-thanksgiving-turkey-recipes-194900700.html Later

batmagadanleadoff Nov 30 2020 07:45 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=48856 time=1603319963 user_id=68] So I bought a turkey almost a year ago for Thanksgiving, but then left it in the freezer and never got to cooking it because of a change of plans. Then I forgot about the turkey. And now I suddenly remembered it. It's still there. I can see it. Can I thaw it? And cook it and eat it? Is it safe? What would youse do?

Had that year old turkey this Thanksgiving. It was as good as new and as good as ever. No funky smell, no slime. No nothing bad.

Edgy MD Nov 30 2020 08:43 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

I think it was wise and prudent that you waited until the following Monday to do your victory dance.

Fman99 Nov 30 2020 09:38 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

My first attempt at a turkey came out great also. I posted a picture of it to the IG here. Now, carving it, well, that's where I made a mockery of things. But it ate well.

kcmets Nov 30 2020 01:38 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

I'm sure everyone here will attest you're not the first person to butcher a carving job on their first rodeo. There's a couple of good 2 minute youtube videos that will make anyone an expert for Nov 2021...

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 30 2020 02:06 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

The tricky butchering part for me is separating the wing without tearing the breast halfway thru, which is what I did with our bird's left arm this year. Got the right one off okay. We still have the "free" one that I'm going to smoke all day tomorrow. work-at-home benefit!

Fman99 Nov 30 2020 08:54 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

I watched those 2 minute videos but maybe not carefully enough. I didn't need the wings on the table as it was just the four of us. But I had the damndest time separating the thighs from the body. I rassled that sumbitch.

metsmarathon Dec 01 2020 09:54 AM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

seek and destroy the ligaments holding the joints together, and the whole bird falls apart. just like running.

Johnny Lunchbucket Dec 01 2020 12:28 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

Smoking our bird now but outside temp has dropped like 15-20 degrees since this morning and grill temp already cooling was pinned at 275 now 260. Not good if we wanna eat this tonite

LWFS Dec 01 2020 03:12 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

=metsmarathon post_id=51536 time=1606841641 user_id=83] seek and destroy the ligaments holding the joints together, and the whole bird falls apart. just like running.

Pro tip: do what he said

Edgy MD Dec 01 2020 06:51 PM Re: Let's Talk Turkey

I've been on a Harvey Korman kick of late. Don't ask. But it turns out the first film he ever made was a 1959 industrial short about how to carve meat. it kind of feels like a boring pilot to a show that didn't get picked up, but long about 17:00, they get around to cutting up the big bird. I'm not a meat guy, but don't say I never did anything for you. [YOUTUBE]cOExSiDykHc[/YOUTUBE]