It's Time to Plan that Turkey

Before brining your turkey, check to make sure that it hasn't already been brined. Many turkeys these days are injected with a brine solution to add moisture. This includes kosher turkeys as well. Look for a turkey that is just a turkey with no other ingredients. These are frequently labeled as "natural". If you try to brine a bird with injected solutions, pre-brined, or packaged in a salty solution, you will end up with a turkey too salty to eat.

There are many great ways to cook a turkey, but my favorite is smoking. The number one thing you are going to need is time. Smoking is a slower cooking process than roasting so make sure to read through the whole process before starting and do the math to get the timing right. Since this might be the only time you prepare a turkey, it is a good idea to have everything mapped out well in advance, but don't worry, the results will be worth it.

Rotisserie turkey is the perfect way to cook that holiday meal. Self-basted, moist, and tender this is one of the best ways to cook a turkey, but before starting you have to determine whether the rotisserie kit for the grill can hold the turkey. Most rotisserie kits are designed to hold up to 15 pounds so a larger turkey will bend the rod and it won't turn properly. Check with the grill's manufacturer before considering this method.

An oven will cook a turkey. A grill will roast it with flavor and character. Once you've taken your turkey out of the oven and put it on your grill, you won't go back to the oven. Whether put on a cooking grate or spun on a ​rotisserie, the grill will add a wonderful, ​smoky flavor and turn the skin into a deliciously crispy covering for moist and tender meat.

As the popularity of Cajun Deep Fried Turkey has continued to grown, a whole industry has sprung up to support it. The problem is that most people face a big problem trying to do this on their stove. Namely, it makes a terrible mess and it's dangerous to do in an enclosed space. The answer is to take it outdoors. But be warned, this can be an expensive operation, but well worth it. For those of you who don't know what a deep fried turkey is like, let me give you the basics of the process.