Want to ensure a tasty juicy turkey this holiday season? This Thanksgiving or Christmas, consider making your bird in the crockpot! It’s easy and will save you a ton of time.
Dry Rub
Don’t forget to season your turkey inside and out. Use your favorite seasonings and don’t forget salt and pepper. Traditional poultry seasonings like sage, thyme and marjoram are the easiest way to go, however a popular trend for turkey has been Cajon seasonings. Rub on a layer of olive oil and follow with the dry rub. Season the turkey 24 hours in advance.
Veggies
Chop the vegetables up into large chunks. If you make them too small, they will disappear and you will not be able to serve them as a side dish. Lightly toss the vegetables in olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. Place a layer of vegetables in the pot and pour in the turkey or vegetable stock. The stock is mostly to produce a small amount of steam so a lot is not necessary. Add more or less depending on the size of the pot.
NOTE: These vegetables are a guideline. Feel free to experiment with any other vegetables you like, like fennel root and bell peppers instead of Carrots and Celery.
Turkey
If you have a big enough Crock pot or a small enough turkey, feel free to do a whole turkey. If your turkey will fit, you may choose to stuff it with your favorite stuffing prior to this step. Otherwise, use a bone-in turkey breast. Place turkey in Crock pot. Fill around the sides of the turkey with any extra vegetables you have.
Cook
Start it in the morning, on high, early if it’s a big bird. It should be done by dinner. Check the temperature periodically with a meat thermometer. It’s done when it reaches 180 degrees. If it gets done early, turn the pot on low and leave it covered until it is time to serve.
Baste
No basting is necessary. As long as you don’t open the pot very often, the turkey should come out very moist. However, if you want it nice and crisp on top, baste it once or twice with whole cream or egg whites.
Serve
Carefully remove the turkey from the pot and carve as desired. For a nice display, serve it half carved on a bed of hearty greens. Place the cooked vegetables the platter around the turkey.
About the Author
Anthony Delgado from eHow.com
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