Thanksgiving

Quiz

BuzzFeed Staff

Food

Even if you fail, you'll learn a thing or two before the big day.

Would You Totally Mess Up Cooking A Thanksgiving Turkey?

Can You Cook This Thanksgiving Turkey To Perfection?

<p>Lucky for you, we've got a handy quiz that'll prep you for the big day!</p>

According to [Butterball](http://www.butterball.com/how-tos/thaw-a-turkey), you can defrost turkey in cold water if you're pinched for time (just change the water every 30 minutes to be safe). You can also defrost it in the fridge, but it'll take about 24 hours for every four pounds of turkey. Learn everything you need to know about defrosting your bird [here](http://www.butterball.com/how-tos/thaw-a-turkey).

Although defrosting a turkey in hot water might be the fastest method, it's not safe and shouldn't be attempted.

If Thursday comes around and you forgot to thaw your turkey, what's the fastest (and safest) way to defrost it?

This way, the skin won't brown too quickly, and you won't risk undercooking the thighs. See everything you need to know about oven temperatures and roasting times [here](http://www.butterball.com/how-tos/roast-a-turkey).

According to [Butterball](http://www.butterball.com/how-tos/roast-a-turkey), you should be roasting your turkey in a relatively low oven — around 325°F.

Now that it's defrosted, what temperature should you preheat your oven to for roasting it?

One of the most common mistakes people make is that they forget to take them out. Most turkeys come with a tiny bag of them tucked into the cavity. Simply take 'em out and discard them, or use them to make giblet gravy. See how to do it [here](http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/giblet_gravy/).

The little bag of turkey odds and ends is called the giblets.

Which of these parts should you remove before putting it in the oven?

This will help the skin get nice and brown, and make it deliciously crisp. Check out even more ways to get your skin nice and crispy [here](https://www.popsugar.com/food/How-Get-Crispy-Turkey-Skin-42718180).

To promote browning of the skin, brush it with oil or butter.

And to get a browned and crispy skin, what should you brush the skin with before roasting?

Trussing is not _completely_ necessary, but it helps the turkey hold its shape and cook evenly. Learn how to do it [here](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-truss-turkey_us_564f3763e4b0879a5b0a90e4).

Tying the legs together with twine is called trussing.

What is it called if you decide to tie the legs together with twine?

This technique is believed to keep the meat moist as it cooks, but most experts agree that it's [not completely necessary](https://www.epicurious.com/holidays-events/how-to-get-crispy-turkey-skin-article). Learn about the pros and cons of basting [here](https://www.thekitchn.com/is-it-necessary-to-baste-the-thanksgiving-turkey-102290).

Brushing turkey with pan juices (or some other liquid) while it cooks is called basting.

And what is it called if you brush the skin with its own juices or some other liquid?

This is the same temperature for all poultry items, including chicken.

According to the [USDA](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/poultry-preparation/lets-talk-turkey/CT_Index), turkey should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°

What temperature should you cook your turkey to?

The breasts cook faster than the thighs, so taking the temperature in the wrong place could result in a turkey that's cooked in some spots, but undercooked in others. Learn how to properly check the temperature of your turkey [here](https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-check-the-temperature-on-a-turkey-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-102442).

When checking the temperature, insert your thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh.

And where should you be taking the temperature?

This will give the turkey enough time for all the juices to redistribute and keep it moist. Learn more about resting meats [here](https://www.thekitchn.com/food-science-resting-meat-46678).

Before cutting into a turkey, let it rest for 10–20 minutes.

As soon as the turkey comes out of the oven, you should do what?

Hopefully you learned a thing or two from this quiz. Don't stress too much and have fun with it ― even an ugly turkey can taste pretty darn good!

You're not very experienced with cooking turkeys

Now you know what you need to do ― you got this! Just remember, always take the temperature from the thigh and you'll be A-OK.

You're not quite ready for roasting a turkey

Well done, chef! You were pretty darn close to cooking it to perfection, and now your real turkey will turn out flawlessly. You got this!

You can cook a damn good turkey

Great work, chef! The turkey was moist, perfectly browned, and bursting with flavor. You're gonna do great this Thanksgiving!

You can perfectly cook a turkey

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Would You Totally Mess Up Cooking A Thanksgiving Turkey?

Let's be honest, cooking a turkey is a LOT of pressure ― nobody wants to serve an undercooked bird at Thanksgiving.

Pick the best answer for each question to see if you're ready for roasting. Good luck!

Would You Totally Mess Up Cooking A Thanksgiving Turkey?

Let's be honest, cooking a turkey is a LOT of pressure ― nobody wants to serve an undercooked bird at Thanksgiving.

Pick the best answer for each question to see if you're ready for roasting. Good luck!

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