Pre carve Christmas Turkey

[starflyte1]

Does anyone cook the turkey in the morning and carve it before the guests arrive and then reheat it just before dinner?

As a single, I attended holiday dinners where the hostess would buy a turkey from Publix, have them cook and carve it, then place in pans to reheat in the oven. The turkey was very good. They do not offer that service at Christmas, only Thanksgiving.

I plan on making the gravy ahead of time, using turkey wings and making make ahead mashed potatoes, so if I could just heat the turkey it would certainly take away the last minute rush.

[redwitch]

Just don't tell anyone (use a clean, damp dish cloth to keep the turkey moist if reheating in microwave).

[OBXNana]

I cook mine in PA, carve, freeze and take it to the Outer Banks. I put a cooking cooling rack in a casserole dish, put the turkey on top of the cooling rack, and fill the dish with water so it doesn't touch the turkey. It goes into an oven with other things and comes out moist every time. If I remember I put a little poultry seasoning and sage in the water for the turkey steam bath.

[CFrance]

I cook mine in PA, carve, freeze and take it to the Outer Banks. I put a cooking cooling rack in a casserole dish, put the turkey on top of the cooling rack, and fill the dish with water so it doesn't touch the turkey. It goes into an oven with other things and comes out moist every time. If I remember I put a little poultry seasoning and sage in the water for the turkey steam bath.

OBX, that sounds so easy. What temp and for how long?

[OBXNana]

It's easy and always works. If the other things are in the oven at 350, I put the turkey in for about 20 minutes. If other people are bringing things and all I have in the oven is the turkey, I set it to 200 for about 45 minutes. The spices really get into the meat without injecting and causing the bird to dry out. I can then relax and enjoy the day not having to worry about the turkey.

[Stdole]

I was at Fresh Food Market today and they said they have a large order
for cooked Turkeys tomorrow and next... might check with them now or in the future?

[senior citizen]

..........

[Peachie]

I have cooked the turkey the day before Thanksgiving for the last 20 years. Hubby carves the turkey after we remove it from the oven and I place the meat in deep casserole bowls which have covers. I usually have 2 large bowls of turkey when the carving is finished.

I then take some of the roasting juices, (about 1/4 to 1/3 c. per casserole bowl), and sprinkle it over the sliced meat and then wrap the bowls tightly with plastic wrap, lid the bowl and put in the frig overnight. I chill the rest of the juices from roasting the turkey and defat these juices and gravy is made at that time.

Next morning, I replace the plastic wrap with a sheet of aluminum foil folded tightly around the edges: put the lid on the casserole bowl and reheat the sliced turkey, in the oven at a very low temp. I have also placed it in a Nesco roaster for rewarming with excellent results.

The turkey disappears quickly when served and is great for people, like myself, who are not fond of ham.

[CFrance]

But the question was about turkey.

I like OBX's instructions. I will try that next year. Ham is too salty, and then there's no turkey sandwiches on white with green olives for my dear husband, who lives for the leftovers.

[starflyte1]

Thanks to all! I cooked the turkey the day before Christmas, cut off the wings and legs and thighs, put in fridge overnight, then carved the next day and reheated it for dinner. All worked out well, but I do think it will be ham next year.

Happy New Year to you!

[jblum315]

Does anyone cook the turkey in the morning and carve it before the guests arrive and then reheat it just before dinner?

As a single, I attended holiday dinners where the hostess would buy a turkey from Publix, have them cook and carve it, then place in pans to reheat in the oven. The turkey was very good. They do not offer that service at Christmas, only Thanksgiving.

I plan on making the gravy ahead of time, using turkey wings and making make ahead mashed potatoes, so if I could just heat the turkey it would certainly take away the last minute rush.

The funniest turkey story I ever heard (and this was a true story) was about a woman who had to cook 2 turkeys because she had a lot of people coming. OK, she said, I'll cook one the day before and the other one Thanksgiving morning. So she cooked the turkey but then found that she didn't have room in the fridge for the cooked turkey as well as the uncooked one. A brilliant idea came to her. I'll wrap up the cooked turkey and put it in the outdoor grill that has a cover. Temp outdoors was about 40. So she did. Only to find next day when she opened the grill, there was nothing left but a few bones. Raccoons had a very happy Thanksgiving!