Helpful Tips

How big of a Shelton's Turkey should I buy?

We figure between 1 and 1 1/2 lbs of raw turkey per person to be served.  This allows for shrinkage when cooking (about 1/3 of the weight of the meat will be lost during cooking), the frame, and leftovers (order on the heavy side for more leftovers).  For example a turkey of about 15 pounds will feed 10 adults, with little left over.  Young kids can be factored in at about 50% of an adults serving size usually.  

What temperature should I cook my Shelton's Turkey?

All poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F.  You should measure the temperature with an instant read thermometer inserted into the thigh about 1" or so, but NOT touching the bone.  Also when you pierce the thigh, the juices should run clear, and not rosey, when it's done.

I have 1 oven, and a lot of food to cook.  How can I keep my Shelton's Turkey warm after I cook it?

Here's a great trick we use for our family.  We use an ice chest.  Ice chests are insulated containers made to keep things COLD and WARM.  You can place your fully cooked turkey into a thoroughly cleaned ice chest and it will keep perfectly warm until you're ready to carve it and serve it up.  I always place my fully cooked Shelton's Turkey in an aluminum roasting pan, then into the ice chest.  The pan will catch any juices that escape so you can use them in your gravy making.  

Should I stuff my turkey before cooking?

We don't recommend adding stuffing to the turkey before cooking.  Most people tend to undercook the bird (which is NEVER a good idea) when they stuff it, because they forget to add the weight of the stuffing in the cooking time of the bird.  It's best to cook your stuffing separate from your turkey and both will come out perfect every time.  

How can I keep my Shelton's Turkey from drying out after I cook it?

A lot of folks simply don't give their Shelton's Turkey enough time to rest after they spend all day cooking it.  They take it out of the oven and start carving away, all the while burning their fingers, getting mad at the kids, and generally sucking all the joy out of the room.  To prevent a lot of this, just let your fully cooked Shelton's Turkey rest. Here's how to do it.  Remove your fully cooked Shelton's Turkey from the oven and let it sit covered for 30 minutes.  If you can store it in a cleaned Ice Chest (see above tip), that would even be better.  When you let the turkey rest, the juices migrate back into the mean and it will remain moist and delicious.  No more cardboard turkey for you, and you will be the talk of the feast with your Shelton's Turkey Roasting Skillz!  This trick also allows you to carve your turkey without burning your fingers, and making perfect slices easily.