Turkey: breast side up or down?

Unknown · November 2004

First year cooking the turkey on the bge and my first post. What a day! Anyway, can anyone tell me if the breast should be up or down in the v rack?

mollyshark · November 2004

SashaV,[p]Up, up and away. Cooking it down is going to dry them out fast and you don't want that.[p]mShark

Unknown · November 2004

SashaV,
I always do mine down. The juices from the top drop into the cavity and then into the breast. Very moist. I do mine over a platesetter and drip pan @ 350.

Boccie · November 2004

SashaV,[p]I remember last year there was a big discussion on this. Some folks swear by the breast down, others breast up.[p]If you do it breast down be sure to have a good heat barrier under your pan as not to overcook the breast and dry it out.[p]We just stick to breast up, baste periodically. Always turns out fine.[p]Boccie

yaB · November 2004

SashaV,
I was just reading in a cookbook that James Beard's method was to start with the turkey breast down, then ¼ of the way through the planned cooking time, turn the bird onto one side, then at the half-way point turn the bird onto its other side, then ¾ of the way through turn it breast up and finish the cook off that way. [p]Sounds reasonable, although I read this too late to put it into practice for today. Maybe next turkey. And I'm thinking that for digital thermometer users and/or Guru users, wire management could get to be a problem... [p]Bob

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Turkey: breast side up or down?

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