Preparing & Cooking A Free Range Willie Bird Turkey
Willie Bird turkeys are raised in Northern California on all natural diet and are free to roam. These broad-breasted turkeys are nationally known for their superior quality, tenderness, and taste.
We recommend that you purchase a simple instant read cooking thermometer (Most large stores carry this item). This will give you the most accurate read for the best cooking temperature for the bird. Do not leave the thermometer in the turkey. Or, prick the thigh with a form or skewer; the juices should run clear, not pink.
Preheat oven to 375f. Remove giblets from under neck skin and the neck from the cavity the previous day and use as a broth for your stuffing and gravy. If cooking without stuffing, season cavity and outside of the bird with salt and pepper or poultry rub, fill with a peeled, quartered onion, cut up celery, and then place the bird in a large roasting pan with one cup of water or more depending on the size of the turkey. If stuffed, fill cavity and under neck skin with your favorite stuffing. Then truss the turkey by tying the legs together and place in pan and continue. Brush outside of the bird with melted butter or cooking oil and place in oven. Reduce temperature to 325f after 45 minutes and continue cooking, basting 2-3 times throughout the cooking process. Cover bird with a tin foil tent for the last hour.
Ten to fifteen minutes per pound is the recommended roasting time (if stuffed, add 30 minutes). The temperature check can be done in the deepest part of the breast. Remove from oven and place on a warm platter, then allow 15 minutes to finish cooking with tin foil cover still on, then serve.
-TURKEY WEIGHT APPROXIMATE ROASTING TIME
- 10-12LB. 2 to 2 1/2 HOURS
- 12-14LB. 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 HOURS
- 14-16LB. 3 1/4 HOURS to 3 1/5 HOURS
- 16-18LB. 3 1/5 HOURS to 3 3/4 HOURS
- 18-20LB. 3 3/4 HOURS to 4 HOURS
- 20-22LB. 4 HOURS to 4 1/5 HOURS
- 22-24LB. 4 1/5 HOURS to 5 HOURS
- 24-30LB. 5 HOURS to 5 3/4 HOURS
Preparing Willie Birds Smoked Turkey
Our smoked turkeys are fully cooked and smoked to an internal temperature of 165F. This means that your Willie Bird smoked turkey is ready to eat hot or cold as desired.
Once the turkey is removed from its vacuum-sealed bag the shelf life is 7-10 days in the refrigerator.
Serving Suggestions
Cold: Slice and serve for main course, cut-up for a delicious smoked turkey salad, slice for hors d’oeuvres, etc. Also use in pasta, split pea soup, baked beans, and any other dish that uses ham as an ingredient.
Hot: To serve the whole smoked turkey hot, place in a sealed roaster pan or wrapped in foil and heated at a medium temperature (approx. 325F) for the following times or approximately 10-15 minutes per pound.
Small (9-12 lbs) – 2 Hours
Medium (13-16 lbs) – 2.5 Hours
Large (17-22 lbs) – 3 Hours
Note: The whole smoked turkey cannot be stuffed before reheating. Please cook turkey stuffing separately, either on top of the stove or in the oven. Save the bones or carcass for soup or beans in place of ham hocks.
Smoked Boneless Turkey Breast Or Whole Smoked Chickens
Heat the same as whole smoked turkey, 10-15 minutes per pound in a 325F oven, in a covered roaster. For a 3-5 pound boneless turkey breast, heat approximately 1-1.5 hours.
Also, either smoked turkey product can be sliced and heated in a microwave oven, or try an open BBQ for a simple delicious flavor.
Meat Loaf
3 eggs
½ cup milk
1 ½ cups bread crumbs
2 pound ground meat ( beef, turkey, etc)
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
In large bowl beat eggs and milk; add bread crumbs mix well. Mix in ground meat and soup mix. Pat into a 5×9 inch loaf pan. Spread with topping evenly over meat mixture. Bake uncovered, 325 oven for 1 to 1 ¼ hours. Let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
Topping In a small bowl, mix ¼ to ½ cup catsup and ¼ up mustard.
Turkey Lasagna
Turkey Scallopini
