Turkey Tips

How Much Turkey do I Need?

Aim for 1 lb per person, plus 1 additonal lb to offset the weight of the turkey’s bones. ex. for 10 guests, you’d want an 11 lb turkey. Increase to 1 1/2 lbs per person if you want lots of leftovers.

Thawing Your Turkey

Our Diestel turkeys arrive deeply chilled, and while they aren’t frozen, they do need time to thaw before they can be cooked.
The safest and best way to thaw your turkey is to place it on a roasting rack over a pan in the refrigerator, so that air can circulate around it. You’ll need roughly 1 day of thawing time for every 5 lbs. If you need to speed up the process, place your turkey in a plastic bag and submerge it in cold water to thaw it. Make sure to change the water every 30 minutes, and do not use warm or hot water. For this method, you’ll need about 30 minutes of thaw time for every pound.

Brining Your Turkey

If you have the time, brining is an excellent way to add flavor and keep your turkey moist. There are 2 ways to brine a turkey: dry brining and wet brining.
To dry brine your turkey: make a mixture of salt and herbs/spices, rub it all over the turkey, and let it relax in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
To wet brine your turkey: submerge it in a solution of salt, water, and herbs and spices for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator. If you’re interested in wet brining your turkey, we sell brining mixes.

Turkey Cook Time

For unstuffed turkeys, you’ll need about 13 minutes per pound in a 350 degree oven. For stuffed turkeys, you’ll need closer to 15 minutes per pound. The internal temperature of your turkey should be 165 degrees when it is done cooking.