I cooked a turkey!

So, things didn't quite go as planned. The turkey was still partially frozen and I couldn't remove the neck and giblets. My wife poured some hot water into the turkey to help loosen it which wasn't enough.

We planned to spatchcock the turkey so I just started cutting through to remove the spine. This was tough as you might expect. I don't have that much physical strength, but I did get the spine removed. Then I was able to free the neck. Next was to break the breastbone to help flatten it, but I had to cut through that as well.

Well behind schedule I seasoned the turkey and put it in the oven. I had put a cookie sheet to catch some juices dripping off the legs outside the pan. I checked the temp after 90 minutes and the turkey needed more time. 30 more minutes it was done and we let it rest.

I carved as best I could, but I mostly removed the breast meat with my hands (with gloves, it was hot!). Family said it was delicious so I guess I did good!

#Cooking #Spatchcock #Turkey

Last year's more successful spatchcocked turkey. The spine is cut from the turkey and the breast is pushed downward to flatten it.

The benefit of doing this is since the turkey is flatter, it cooks more evenly and much more quickly, usually about 60% of the average cooking time for a standard turkey.

#Spatchcock
#TurkeyTalk

Turkey time!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYBLpvK1/

#thanksgiving #spatchcock #RecTeq #recteqlifestyle #smoker #PelletSmoker #backyardBBQ

So the countdown to Turkey Day has begun in earnest. I have dusted. I have vacuumed. I have a giant whiteboard with menu, plan, but not timing yet. I have the things I forgot being delivered. (Mostly toys to distract Uncle Don's beast who tries to steal whole turkeys.)

I still have to figure out how to cook all the things in a single oven...and I may have overestimated my ability to get it all done.

There will be spatchcocking! Why? Because I love saying the word #spatchcock Try it! It's fun! Plus making your turkey look like an inappropriate frog is a tradition more people should try. (It cooks in half the time, and the dark meat is always done at the same time as the white, and the skin is crispy...it's delightful.)

Rod's Rummaged Recordings: Mosquito - Atlantis - Unexpanded Commodore VIC20 - I said #Spatchcock! :D

https://youtu.be/eThz7mZPeFA

I don't know why we don't do this more often: I love a spatchcock chicken. The butcher at our local Publix will prepare it at no extra charge. Tender, juicy, flavorful - and easy to turn into a sheet-pan meal that cooks in an hour. Plus it's another excuse to use the roasting laurel, one of my favorite kitchen gadgets that provides air circulation during cooking.

#cooking #spatchcock #ChickenDinner #chicken #KitchenGadgets #RoastingLaurel #HomeCooking #Food #MyKitchenTable

Chicken Under a Brick with Loaded Mashed Potatoes and a Homemade Biscuit

Grocery store did not have a smaller whole bird that this SmartChicken brand 4# Young Chicken. First time cooking with a brick. This is also my first #spatchcock attempt. Lessons were learned. 😉