Turkey Tips
Thank you for buying your Turkey from us at Village Larder,
Merry Christmas to you, from all of us here.
ABOUT THE FARMER
The Thomas family have been rearing turkeys at Holmansbridge Farm, Barcombe, East Sussex for the past three generations. Their turkeys are reared in heated enclosures and when they are old enough, they move them either to open-sided pole barns with deep straw beds or into one of the farm’s fields. This has been the families preferred method for over 80 years.
The turkeys grow slowly and naturally and are fed on a balanced cereal diet rich in oats that contains no growth promoting additives. Their processing methods are also traditional. The birds are hand plucked and then hung to develop a richer, fuller flavour.
COOKING ADVICE
Our method should help you produce a truly tasty turkey with especially succulent breast meat. Remember that the white (breast) meat of the turkey cooks quicker than the dark (leg) meat and wings, so it is best to cook your turkey breast side down to start with. This should keep the juices in the breast and prevent it from becoming too dry. Another tip for even cooking is to loosen the trussing.
HOW TO COOK YOUR TURKEY
If you wish to stuff your turkey, prepare your favourite stuffing recipe and fill the neck cavity only. You may like to put a large Bramley apple or peeled onion into the body cavity.
Sprinkle the bird with salt and pepper and rub the skin with goose/duck fat. then place it breast side down (covered with foil if you prefer) in a roasting tin. The oven should be preheated to 230°C/450°F/Gas mark 8 and the bird cooked at this temperature for 30 to 60 minutes depending on size, before reducing the heat to 190°C/375°F/Gas mark 5.
About 30 minutes before the end of cooking (see table below for suggested total times), open the foil if used and turn the bird onto its back to brown the breast. Do try to avoid over-cooking. Test with a fork on the inside of the thigh, ensuring that clear juice comes out of the thigh when you pierce. After removing the turkey from the oven and before carving, allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes.
Suggested Cooking Times (remember ovens vary greatly)
For lower weights, allow 30 minutes/kilo without foil or 40 minutes/kilo with foil.
CARVING
You will find the following sequence makes for easy carving.
1 Hold the leg by the end knuckle, cut close to the body and twist off. Carve this dark leg meat.
2 Similarly remove the wing and cut in half.
3 Slice the breast meat from one side.
4 Repeat for the other side.
Merry Christmas to you all and once again thank you for supporting us all at The Larder
You will find the following sequence makes for easy carving.
1 Hold the leg by the end knuckle, cut close to the body and twist off. Carve this dark leg meat.
2 Similarly remove the wing and cut in half.
3 Slice the breast meat from one side.
4 Repeat for the other side.
Merry Christmas to you all and once again thank you for supporting us all at The Larder