Year-old turkeys--what to do?
My extra freezer contains three frozen turkeys and a turkey breast. The turkey breast and two of the turkeys are from last year. You know how some supermarkets give a free turkey if you purchase so many $ worth of groceries? Anyway, I meant to cook them over the last year but obviously never did, and I'm just wondering, is there anything I can do with them besides ship them off to Mythbusters for a turkey cannon?
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15 Comments:
Open one up and chack for freezerburn.Most frozen turkeys that you get at the grocery store have been frozen from last thanksgiving on into this year.
onepercent99 at 7:30PM on 11/22/08
OMB buffy - isn't that turkey cannon hilarious? I'd have named it something else. I think I want one. ;-D
PerkyMac at 8:32PM on 11/22/08
90 % chance their good. I've done the same thing and haven't gotten sick.
Ribster at 8:58PM on 11/22/08
I keep meat in the deep freeze and have kept a turkey beyond a year and we made it and are it and lived. I don't even pick up the free turkeys anymore I give the certificates to the food bank.
Cook the turkey.
JerzeeTomato at 10:00PM on 11/22/08
@Ribster, chances of getting sick from anything kept frozen is slim, the problem is freezer burn and flavor loss over time.
@Buffy, what I'd do is cook the newest one for Thanksgiving or some time soon since you know it's the best of the bunch. As for the other birds, thaw them just enough so you can cut them apart. You really don't need to thaw much, just enough so you can work with them. Check for freezer burn and get rid of any bad bits. I'm betting you won't find any, unless the birds weren't wrapped well. Save the breasts for cooking at a later date and get them back in the freezer, wrapped really well, and plan on using them. Same with the thighs, if you like dark meat. And any other parts that you might want to cook separately. I'm thinking the "drummie" part of the wing might be worth keeping if you like that part. The rest of the birds, cut into smaller chunks, drop them into a roasting pan and roast until nice and brown. Then take that, along with the drippings, and toss it all into a big pot. Add water. Add aromatics of your choice. Cook. Make stock. If you do this right away, you'll have a great stock for making your turkey gravy this year, and for adding to your stuffing, if you want to do that. If you want to, you can remove the meatier parts and pull off the meat and freeze that in portions for tacos or soup or whatever else you might use it for later.
Or you can wait until after Thanksgiving, and add the bits to your leftover turkey carcass and make even more stock. You'll have plenty for freezing and enough for soup right away, if you want it.
dbcurrie at 10:02PM on 11/22/08
I missed out on the free Velveeta, so I'm gonna be first in line for the free turkey and turkey breast - I cook them all year long! Just leave them out on the curb and I'll grab 'em. I'll grill the whole bird on the f***ing canon, and the breast underneath so it will be basted, too! Seriously, I wouldn't wait too long, but they should be fine. You can always cook them, make gravy and stock and freeze everything.for another day. You'll know for sure once you've thawed them. I call that a bounty!
PerkyMac at 10:09PM on 11/22/08
Thanks, guys. I knew I could count on you! You are all so helpful! Perky, come on over for those extra birds. As for the other device.... I've been to in-home parties where they sell that kind of thing, and no, it's not Pampered Chef!
buffy at 12:53AM on 11/23/08
ahhh, pampered chef.
dearrie at 9:55AM on 11/23/08
I'd cook the birds unless there's freezer burn. Why waste? If you don't want to eat, you could make a hell of a lot of turkey stock.
caviarandcodfish at 10:09AM on 11/23/08
@buffy ~ there are even whole stores that sell that kind of device. They're all named XXX!
I'm actually tempted to buy a Turkey Canon, since someone mentioned that they use theirs on the grill - and that it works like beer can chicken, which I do all the time. I think it might use up too much propane to do a turkey on the grill? It would work in the oven, for sure. Need to check out the $.
XXX parties, eh? I'm shocked and intrigued. haha ;)
PerkyMac at 10:48AM on 11/23/08
What is a turkey cannon?
izatryt at 11:54AM on 11/23/08
what about turkey bowling?
dearrie at 12:03PM on 11/23/08
@izatryt ~ You spelled it correctly, I misspelled. Here is the article. Be sure to click on the link to the website to get the full impact. I love it!!!
www.seriouseats.com/2008/11/turkey-cannon-cooks-turkeys-does-not-shoot-them.html
PerkyMac at 12:32PM on 11/23/08
Now that I think about it, there's more than one way to pamper a chef....
Perky, I was thinking the same thing about doing turkey on the grill. I sure would like to try one smoked, though. Like on that other thread that had that beautiful honey-brined and then smoked turkey. Mmmmmmm......
buffy at 1:16PM on 11/23/08
STOCK POT..........make soup ,secondary dishes with sauce ?casseroles
CANNONS,look at pumkin dunkin halloween weekend in delaware
EVERY design you could need is represented.
lcool at 4:06PM on 11/23/08