Just put the f$ckin turkey in the oven

[Laura PourMeADrink]

[Major Nikon]

1. The modern commercial turkey has been bred to maximize breast meat

Flavor is not a consideration. If you want a flavorful turkey, figure out how to get a wild one or shell out some big bucks and get a true heritage ranged turkey. Other than that, yes, just put the fucking turkey in the oven and roast it to 165F internal temperature, then drown it in gravy or cranberry sauce.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. In a way, we've made a circle.

It used to be you drowned your meat in spices to hide the rot. Now you do it to hide the lack of any discernible flavour.

[Major Nikon]

3. Meat companies give the people what they want

And what people want is the most tender cuts at the lowest prices. The result is flavorless grain fed livestock bred to maximize the most flavorless cuts. True ranged poultry or grass fed beef makes a big difference. Heritage breeds are a step up from that.

[Warpy]

4. Most people think the real thing tastes funny or "off."

The same goes with free range chickens, they're appalled that they can't cut the meat with the side of a fork and that it has real flavor of its own, not just that conferred by the spices they slathered onto it. Anything they have to work to chew is labeled tough.

A lot of folks can't afford the real thing, so yeah, put the fucking turkey into the oven and be done with it, there is no way to make it the perfect bird. Concentrate on the sides since that's what most people want, anyway. The turkey itself is a prop for gravy and cranberry sauce and a vessel for dressing and at its best cold and in sandwiches.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

6. Agree...I shelled out for a turkey one year that they guaranteed

had a marvelous life - playing and running in the sun, sipping margaritas by the pool. I felt better but guess we were all used to turkey + chemicals. haha

[enough]

5. Such good advice deserves a f$ckin link.

http://www.tantemarie.com/

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. thanks ! When I have time - want to look at all

her other recipes too.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. yes, as a tradition, we watched this today prior to roasting the bird

Like we've been doing for the past few years!

Some great lines in that vid clip.