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Truth or Myth: fresh free range turkey cooks quicker

Gadget
Gadget Posts: 3
edited November 2011 in EggHead Forum
So we have a 22 lbs free range turkey from a local farm that was running around a couple days ago. The farmer claimed a fresh turkey such as hers cooks 25% faster then a standard store bought frozen bird.

Truth or myth??

Comments

  • Might be true. You can be sure the standard ones have a higher water content. Probably less fat in a free range as well.

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • Squeezy
    Squeezy Posts: 1,102
    I wouldn't bet the farm on it, but I'm curious as to what results you get ... keep us posted!
    Never eat anything passed through a window unless you're a seagull ... BGE Lg.
  • Well, using the figure I found on this forum we estimated 5.5-7 hrs of cooking time at 325*. Well it was done (and maybe 20 min over) and exactly 4hrs. We figured 10 min per pound for next year's bird.
  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
    Good to know this. Thanks for the report.

    Did the bird have less fat? I worked with a guy who said wild turkeys were rather difficult to cook, having almost no fat.
  • stike
    stike Posts: 15,597
    don't discount the fact that when most customers are told this, it's their first time cooking a free range bird.  if they are used to watching the little pop up timer, or they followed the minutes-per-pound method, they probably overcooked their turkeys.  now, buying a free range bird, they are likely to be using a thermometer to determine when it is done, pulling it off at a much lower temp than before.  giving them the impression it is done 'quicker'.  it's just less likely to be overcooked.

    i know my BGE turkeys all seemed to be 15 min a pound vs the 2o i was used to.  but i was also doing them unstuffed, and taking them to only 150-155 in the breast.

    those pop up timers 'pop' at 180 or so.
    ed egli avea del cul fatto trombetta -Dante
  • or so being the operative words

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • BakerMan
    BakerMan Posts: 159
    This was our first year with a fresh, free range organic turkey.  Our 16 pound turkey reached 170 in the breast in two hours @ 350 degrees cooked in the oven. 
    BakerMan - Purcellville, VA "When its smokin' its cookin', when its black its done"
  • I agree with your findings.  I fried a free range bird (my first) the other day, and it finished much sooner than a normal, thawed, frozen bird.  Probably 33 to 50% faster.