Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Recipes
3-hour Turkey >

3-hour Turkey

3-hour Turkey

Old 10-22-2010, 05:06 AM
  #1  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
sewTinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: currently living outside of nashville, tn
Posts: 1,134
Default

This method of cooking the turkey is from the San Francisco Fire Department in the 1960's. I've never cooked a turkey any other way, and I've Never had it fail. Moist and Sweet, easy to carve, with plenty of juice for gravy.

Knowing that your turkey will be done to perfection in Three Hours takes all the guess-work out of planning your meal. Want to eat at 4pm? put your bird in the oven at 12:30p (the extra 1/2-hour allows time for the turkey to Rest for 20 minutes before carving).

(although the instructions appear to be lengthy, the method itself is very simple. I just wanted to make it as clear as possible. :-D )
__________________________________________________ __________

15 - 22 lb turkey
Turkey truss-ers (I don't know what to call them - those sharp pointy skewers) and kitchen string; or needle & thread
Large paper grocery bag
Crisco Shortening
Lawry's Garlic Salt (or any "california style" garlic salt will do)
Stapler

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Preparing the Turkey:
About one hour before before you plan to put the bird in the oven:
o remove giblets from cavities (*if using a frozen turkey, see note below).
o rinse turkey, inside and out, under cold running water removing fatty deposits from the cavities, and any pin feathers.
o Using old bath towels, thoroughly dry turkey inside and out.
o If you stuff your bird, do so now and truss. (note: No matter what your stuffing recipe instructs, you don't need to add liquid to your dressing. Leave it dry or you might have mush. Trust me.)
o If you do not stuff your bird, place whole onions, apples, and/or other veggies in cavities, and truss.
o Generously spread crisco on entire outside of bird (skin must be dry or shortening will not stick).
o Generously sprinkle garlic salt over bird.
o okay... this part takes two people (**see my method below): Stand paper grocery bag in roasting pan and put bird into bag and, folding over the end of bag once or twice, staple shut.
o Lay bagged bird breast-side-up in pan making sure that the paper bag doesn't hang over the edges of the pan.
o Press bag closely against turkey. Using more shortening, grease outside of bag. Any spot left ungreased (especially those not touching turkey) will burn and you will lose some of your juices.
o Place turkey into preheated 500 degree oven and set timer for One Hour. It is Very Important that you do Not open the oven door for the next Three hours. Guard oven carefully against nosy guests - Duct Tape it shut if you have to. (lol)
o After One Hour, lower oven setting to 400 degrees, and re-set timer for One Hour.
o One Hour later, lower oven setting to 300 degrees, and re-set timer for One Hour.
Ding Ding Ding... Remove bird from oven; wait a bit, and then gently tear paper bag from top of turkey. Invite everyone into kitchen to ooh and ahh... take a bow.
o After 20 minutes of rest, move turkey to carving board, and do what you do.

*Frozen Turkey must be thoroughly defrosted. No ice inside, no frozen leg joints. This method will fail otherwise.

**Bring a kitchen chair to the counter and place your roasting pan on it. Stand the large grocery bag in pan. Have your helper (men are so handy) lift the turkey and slide it into the bag. It's easiest to staple the bag shut at this point. Lay bagged turkey breast-side-up into pan.

I would love to hear from you if you try this method. It makes cooking the turkey Fun!
sewTinker is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 05:14 AM
  #2  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Whitewater, WI
Posts: 24,528
Default

Thank you!!!!!!!!!
CarrieAnne is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 06:17 AM
  #3  
Super Member
 
sewmuch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: California
Posts: 1,435
Default

I am going to try this method next week, have a turkey in freezer and need to cook it....will let you know how it turns out...
sewmuch is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 05:21 PM
  #4  
Google Goddess
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Central Indiana (USA)
Posts: 30,181
Default

thanks for the recipe
craftybear is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 07:07 PM
  #5  
np3
Power Poster
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 13,214
Default

Thanks!
np3 is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 07:36 PM
  #6  
Super Member
 
OHSue's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,299
Default

I started making my turkey this way before I was married, I have been using this method for over 30 years and have never tried any other way. Comes out perfect every time, crispy, golden and juicy. We buy the cheap turkeys and they still come out moist.
OHSue is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 07:38 PM
  #7  
Super Member
 
coastienest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Northeasten PA
Posts: 1,512
Default

This totally intrigues me so I have to try it. Thanks for taking the time to write it all up
coastienest is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 07:52 PM
  #8  
Super Member
 
wanderingcreek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,495
Default

I'd love to try this method but no grocery stores around here that I know of use paper bags anymore. They have all gone to plastic. We have tried the brining method and that was the juiciest turkey I have ever had.
wanderingcreek is offline  
Old 10-23-2010, 06:41 AM
  #9  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
sewTinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: currently living outside of nashville, tn
Posts: 1,134
Default

Originally Posted by OHSue
I started making my turkey this way before I was married, I have been using this method for over 30 years and have never tried any other way. Comes out perfect every time, crispy, golden and juicy. We buy the cheap turkeys and they still come out moist.
oh my goodness! I never knew Anyone outside of my san francisco family & friends who use this method. Where did you hear about it? (I, too, have been making it this way for well over 30 years.)
sewTinker is offline  
Old 10-23-2010, 12:07 PM
  #10  
Super Member
 
oldswimmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 1,157
Default

I'm game! I am going to try this soon. I too have a turkey that needs to be cooked! I guess I could wait till Thanksgiving, its coming up really fast!
oldswimmer is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
liking quilting
Pictures
8
11-09-2014 03:58 PM
Olivia's Grammy
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
11
05-20-2010 02:56 AM
Bevanger
Main
30
02-28-2009 07:06 PM
mpeters1200
Links and Resources
14
08-07-2008 05:40 AM
sondray
Links and Resources
0
03-10-2008 04:25 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter