How to Prepare a Bell & Evans Turkey

One of our favorite ways to cook a natural turkey.
1. Preheat the oven to 425­.
2. Rinse the turkey inside and out, then pat dry, stuff and truss.
3. Use entire cheesecloth folding it serveral times so it covers bird.
4. Melt 1 lb. butter for 15 lbs. or more turkey in a small saucepan and add 1/2 tsp. each of dried sage, thyme, marjoram and crushed rosemary. Place the cheesecloth in the pan and completely saturate (or brush skin with herbed olive oil and baste every 15 minutes).
5. Cover bird in soaked cheesecloth and place the turkey breast side up on the rack in a shallow roasting pan.
6. Place pan in the oven and reduce the temperature to 325­. After an hour, baste the turkey every 15 minutes to keep the cheesecloth moist. Remove cheesecloth for the last 30 minutes of cooking time, for a crisp skin.
7. Allow the turkey to sit for at least 20 minutes before carving. Not only will the meat slice much easier, but the time will permit the juices to be absorbed evenly. Recipe courtesy of Bread and Circus Kitchens

What to do if you decide to freeze your turkey.
If you decided to freeze your turkey, do not thaw at room temperature. Place in the refrigerator in the original bag on a try, or cover with cold water, changing the water frequently.

Pre-roasting oven temperature check.
Test your oven temperature. We find that many ovens are off as much as 100­. Place a hanging "oven thermometer" in the oven and set the oven to 325­. Once the oven indicated pre-heating is complete, check the thermometer.

If the temperature on the thermometer does not read approximately 325­, we suggest you have your oven re-calibrated.

Checking oven temperatures is equally important for gas and electric ovens, especially if it's a self-cleaning oven. It doesn't matter how new your oven is, it should be checked for the correct calibration.

Pop Up Timer
Our "Pop Up" timers are programmed to activate when the turkey reaches the proper internal temperature of 178­. These cooking devices are extremely accurate and can be relied upon. However, it is has not activated with 1/2 hour of the scheduled roasting time, remove the turkey and check for doneness.

Things to consider before calculating roasting times.
Turkey should be placed in the oven at refrigerator temperature. The colder the turkey is when placed in oven, the longer it will take to roast.

The type of pan used determines roasting time. The deeper the pan, the longer the roasting time. If there are other dishes in the oven, the heat will distribute differently and the turkey may cook slower.

Opening the oven while the turkey is roasting creates a loss of approximately 15 minutes for each time the oven door is opened. Heat escapes and the oven must reheat to continue the cooking process.

Preheated your oven for a least 1/2 hour prior to placing the turkey in the oven.

Do not stuff the turkey until you are ready to place the turkey in the oven. Stuff loosely and be sure all meat products in the stuffing are thoroughly cooked before placing in the turkey. All 1/2 hour extra roasting time.

What makes a Bell and Evans Turkey so different?
Bell and Evans Turkeys are bred, raised and processed on the same farm in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Bell and Evans Turkeys are raised in modern, spotless, open sided pole barns 300 t. long by 60 ft. wide. They're free to roam, with plenty of fresh air and pure well water. Each house produces only one flock per year to avoid disease and the need for drugs.

Bell and Evans Turkeys are all natural.

Bell and Evans Turkeys are bread to grow slower, produce an extremely broad breast (up to 20% more breast meat), the is leaner than other breeds, with a moist, tender and flavorful taste.

Bell and Evans Turkeys have 55% less fat and 25% less calories than other raw turkey as determined by the USDA. Because they have 55% less fat, our turkeys are confirmed to be "Lite" by the USDA.

Bell and Evans Turkeys are processed in a modern, sanitary, USDA inspected plant and packed in clear plastic bags so you can see what you're getting.

Bell and Evans Turkeys are fresh - never frozen.

Bell and Evans Turkeys come with their own specially-designed "Pop-up" Time cand cooking instructions to ensure you have a perfectly prepared holiday meal every time. No antibiotics administered.