Defrost Turkey In
Your Microwave
For many of you, thawing your
Thanksgiving turkey is more trou
ble than roasting it. If you have a
microwave oven, take advantage
of its speedy defrosting capability
and save yourself a lot of time and
effort.
The whole turkey can be left in
its original wrappings for the first
half of defrosting, but it is easier to
spot areas that are defrosting too
quickly if the bird is unwrapped
from the start.
Here are a few lips to take the
guesswork out of microwave oven
defrosting of your holiday turkey:
Set the microwave for 50 per-
ACCE
NO
IMI
When you're told it's the same as 813 Dutchman, 'you're
being reminded that Big Dutchman is the leader with
the best quality poultry feeding equipment Why does
that salesman from the other company mention us, his
toughest competitor 7 It’s pretty clear Big Dutchman is
the standard We are the measure of all the others
The next time a salesman says, its as good as Big
Dutchman let that be your cue to cal I us for the real thing
Quality reliability and proven performance these
are what distinguish Big Dutchman from the imitators
Insist on the best, insist on Big Dutchman
I - I /lg\
Bit \ Dutchman*
Heard?
By Doris Thomas
Lancaster Extension
Home Economist
cent of full power. This will be the
“medium” setting on some ovens;
“simmer” or “defrost” on others.
At that power level, estimate
defrosting time at about four to six
minutes per pound. Check your
oven’s care and use manual for
specific instructions.
Place the unwrapped turkey in a
baking dish, breast side down.
Defrost for one-fourth of the total
time.
Shield any warm spots with alu
minum foil (it will not hurt your
microwave). Turn the turkey
breast side up and defrost for one
fourth of the time.
Reverse (he baking dish so that
the turkey legs point to opposite
TUT
HERSHEY EQUIPMENT
PH [COMPANY, INC.
Pasignan of Quality Systanu for Poultry, Swim and Grain Handling
end of your oven. Defrost for one
fourth of the time.
Turn the turkey breast side up
again. Defrost the remaining one
fourth time. Spread wings and legs
from the body of the bird and
loosen giblets.
Let the turkey stand in cool
water for about one-half hour or
until neck and giblets can be
removed and the interior is cool
but no longer icy.
Cook the defrosted turkey
according to your favorite recipe.
Microwave Your Turkey
Cooking your Thanksgiving
turkey in a microwave oven can
reduce cooking time but it requires
some extra effort on your part.
Your turkey will be very juicy
and tender. It will brown naturally
because of the long cooking time,
but will not have the crisp skin that
many people associate with
turkey.
On the other hand, for success
ful results you have to give the bird
a fair amount of attention and
handling and you may find con
ventional oven roasting more
suited to your needs.
The largest turkey you should
cook in the microwave is 12 to 14
SYCAMORE IND. PARK
255 PLANE TREE
DRIVE
LANCASTER, PA 17603
(717) 393-5807
Lirtdssttr Panning,' Saturtayr 'November
pounds. To be sure your turkey is
not too large for you oven, place
your turkey in the oven cavity and
turn it on all sides. You need three
inches of space between the turkey
and all walls, and should have a
minimum of two inches of space
between the top of the turkey and
the ceiling of the oven.
Estimate the cooking time at
about 12 to IS minutes per pound
at 50 percent of full power. Divide
the cooking time by four.
Place the turkey breast-side
ulown in a shallow glass or other
microwave oven-safe baking dish.
Tie the legs and wings to the
body with string. Shield protrud
ing parts with foil.
Cook for one-fourth of esti
mated time, then turn turkey on its
side and microwave another one
fourth of the time. Turn on other
side and cook one-fourth of the
time. Baste as needed. If the turkey
is browning too quickly in parts,
shield these parts with foil. Leave
foil in place when you turn the
turkey.
For the last one-fourth of cook
ing time turn the turkey brease side
up. Using a microwave oven ther-
Route 30 West
at the
Centerville Exit.
mometer, check internal tempera
ture. It should read 185 degrees F.
after one minute. Other tests for
doneness: the leg moves freely at
the joint or juices run clear yellow
when the breast meat under the
wing is pierced with a fork or
skewer.
Let turkey stand about 20
minutes under a foil tent before
carving. Remove pan drippings as
they accumulate. The drippings
absorb microwave energy and can
increase cooking time. This is
most easily done with a bulb tester.
Never use a temperature probe
when roasting a turkey. Juices can
run down the probe and cause the
oven to turn off.
The biggest problem with
microwaving a turkey is turning
the hot bird several times during
the cooking process. This is prob
ably best done with several layers
of good paper toweling rather than
pot holders to protect your hands.
Clearing Out
Grandma’s
Attic
Sooner or later the urge or need
comes to clean out the attic.
We must make decisions about
the stacks of books, the wedding
dress, framed pictures, odd pieces
of furniture, trunks, National Geo
graphies, school pictures and all
the rest Surely some of the family
would like to have some of these
treasures, but how could this be
organized so the attic is relieved of
its contents and the contents reach
enthusiastic owners? Here arc a
few suggestions:
1. Face facts. Your children and
grandchildren will probably have
selective interests and may have
limited storage space.
2. Take the attic contents
downstairs. When your children
come to visit, tell them to take all
that they want and make it known
that you will get rid of all that they
don’t take.
3. If nobody wants your wed
ding dress, send it to a college or
library that is collecting period
costumes and dresses. This can be
a loan, so family members can
speak for it later. You may also feel
better about it.
4. Keep and file information
related to your family tree... for
geneology buffs. File important
letters, pictures marked with
names and dates, and selected clip
pings from newspapers.
5. Divide up the beautiful table
cloths, embroidered doilies and
linen towels and give them to
children and grandchildren. Tell
them they must take them and can
do as they like with them. Some
may keep them and appreciate
them more as time goes on.
6. Divide up silver pieces you
want to keep in the family. There
should be no argument about these
items.
7. Put the books out for first
selection by family members.
Then look for other places where
they would be appreciated: an
underprivileged school or college,
the local library, ora book sale that
benefits a local organization.
8. Decide which pieces of furni
ture you can use and which ones
you are ready to part with. If there
is someone in particular who has
eyed a certain piece, make it a gift.
Then, let others make their selec
tions. If two or more want the same
desk or chair, you could have them
draw lots.
9. Don’t get 100 carried away
with clcaing out the attic. Keep
enough things for your own use