Thanksgiving Turkey in the Slow Cooker?
I was hoping to make this year's Thanksgiving turkey in the slow cooker because I've heard it's fantastic. Any recipe suggestions? Do I need to brown it first? What kind of liquid should I include? Most of the recipes that I find online tell me to add a can or jar of store-bought gravy which is against my nature. :)
Thanks for any help!
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10 Comments:
I've never heard of cooking a turkey in a slow cooker. First, how would it fit inside, unless you have a hugh slow cooker. Second, how would it brown and get that nice crispy skin?
dmcavanagh at 2:14PM on 10/18/09
I've cooked turkey parts in a slow cooker, but it's not what I consider the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. Not that it's bad, just that it's not what people expect.
There are electric roasters that would fit a whole turkey, though. I don't have one, but maybe that's what you're thinking of?
dbcurrie at 2:25PM on 10/18/09
Oven roasted Thanksgiving turkey is sacrosanct in my house. Fried turkey? Do that some other time. Slow cooker? I can't imagine how you would fit it in there unless you - gasp in horror - cut it into pieces. And then like @dmcavanagh said, it wouldn't brown. It would just be stewed turkey.
tapioca at 2:35PM on 10/18/09
Even in an electric roaster, the turkey doesn't get as brown and crispy as it should because the heat is only on the bottom and sides, not the top.
deetroitMI at 2:59PM on 10/18/09
I have made whole turkey breasts in a slow cooker. They turn out just fine. Not fantastic, but good. I prefer turkey roasted, grill-smoked or poached.
For Thanksgiving- roasted, grill-smoked or deep fried. In our house slow cooker is fine for everyday turkey, but not holiday turkey.
CJ McD at 3:18PM on 10/18/09
And whole turkey in a slow cooker sounds like a temperature nightmare! It would take soooo long to get to a safe temp....I am not super fussy about stuff, but I would say food poisoning is one sure way NOT to get asked to cook the holiday meal next year!
Cary at 3:51PM on 10/18/09
Just the thought makes me queasy.
RegrettableFoodie at 6:24PM on 10/18/09
I often cook turkey breasts in the crockpot and recently I cooked a small whole turkey. The recipe is so simple. Salt and pepper to taste and 1 stick of butter. I cook it on high. It is fall of the bun done in about 3 hours. To get a moister turkey I inject salt water into the turkey. You can also inject cream. You do not get crispy skin but that is not the reason I like turkey. You do get a moist excellent flavor with no hassle.
cats galore at 9:30AM on 10/19/09
I've done the whole bone-in breast in a large oval crock-pot several times. Just season to your taste and add some chicken stock to the pot. The skin isn't crispy, but the meat turns out nice and juicy. Just make sure to check the temp. with a good digital thermometer and make sure you don't overcook. My large pot seems to cook fast so even on low it only takes about 4 hours. There should be plenty of juices left to make some gravy when your done. I usually do something else in the oven, brisket, rib roast, tenderloins, etc, and do the turkey breast for those die hards who must have turkey on Thanksgiving. I could certainly live without on Thanksgiving, but at least you get some leftover turkey for sandwiches.
smokey07 at 11:07AM on 10/19/09
Molly Stevens has a recipe for braising a whole chicken in a dutch oven with pears and rosemary (?) in her All About Braising cookbook. It requires some stovetop browning and I'm sure could be adapted for a small turkey or a good sized turkey breast to be done in a slow cooker.
Otabenga at 3:53PM on 10/19/09