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That? Why, that's a turkey fryer.
(Credit: Bed Bath & Beyond)It's almost that time of year again. With Halloween right around the corner, thoughts across the country will soon turn to the most important food holiday of the year: Thanksgiving. Before the apple pie, before the mashed potatoes, before all the traditional appetizers, side dishes and desserts, comes the turkey. As a centerpiece of the meal, turkey preparation takes center stage for good reason, and it all starts with how you decide to cook the turkey.
Every year, Black Friday not only features news stories about mall attendance, but also unfortunate stories of fires caused by deep frying turkey. If you are choosing fried turkey this year, leave the shoddy preparation in the past and get yourself a dedicated appliance. As far as unitaskers go, the Masterbuilt Butterball Professional Series Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer probably isn't too bad of a choice. (And to be fair, a cooking basket and drain clip are included to fry other foods.)
The kitchen appliance is small enough for countertop use, but is large enough to accommodate a 14-pound turkey. Complete with breakaway power cord and automatic safety shutdown, the indoor fryer makes it easy to cook delicious turkey for your big meal. Other features include a filtered lid with viewing window for when you just have to (safely) sneak a peek.
Pies, and more pies, please.
(Credit: Williams-Sonoma)Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so it's time to talk turkey, or in this case, pie. While you aren't going to want to skip straight to dessert on the biggest food holiday of the year, it doesn't hurt to do a little planning. After the turkey and mashed potatoes have settled, there are still the apple and pumpkin pies to enjoy. When it's time to choose between apple and pumpkin pie, there can really only be one response: yes.
The Apple and Pumpkin Pocket Pie Molds from Williams-Sonoma are nifty little all-in-one portable pocket pie makers. Use the edge of the cutter to press either the pumpkin or the apple shape into pastry dough, and then fill the resulting shape with help from the mold. When filled, the pie can be either deep-fried or baked in the oven.
While no one would suggest replacing the traditional apple and pumpkin pie with these, surely there's a little room left on the table for a new dessert. With the appropriate filling, the pocket pies would make a nice accompaniment to the traditional pies. It may be hard to find room for both apple and pumpkin pie after a full Thanksgiving meal, but I'm willing to try.
Thankful for leftovers.
(Credit: Amazon via Rubbermaid)I'm already looking forward to my favorite part of Thanksgiving: leftovers. The days immediately following Turkey Day are filled with delicious morsels of every imaginable color, shape, size, texture and most importantly, taste. We will ponder sandwich combinations that aren't seen any other time of year. A mashed potato, turkey, and cranberry sandwich topped with a glazed carrot drizzle? Sure, why not? One can only eat so many plates with nicely compartmentalized leftovers. Sometimes the party just has to come together. (Note to self: This year find something to mix in with that all-too-familiar green bean casserole).
As much as Americans enjoy trying new combinations in the days following Thanksgiving, there needs to be a way to store it all. Even in times of nonexcessive cooking I save everything. It just goes against my sensibilities as a food appreciator to throw anything away. Thus, my fridge is always packed with a wide assortment of containers. As a fan of leftovers, I have an appreciation for the oft-overlooked simplicity of the storage container.
The Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids 44-pc. Food Storage Set is an easy way to accommodate all your leftover needs. Even if you are having a 22 course meal, all your delicious combos-in-waiting will be covered. The containers are clear, so you can easily imagine possibilities without having to open everything up. So, ponder the possibilities and let us know if anything works particularly well.
Meanwhile, I'm already thinking about mixing those candied yams with that leftover pumpkin pie.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
No, it doesn't fire turkeys.
(Credit: Sante)It's that time of year again: turkey time. All across the land decisions are being made as to how to cook the main course for the Thanksgiving feast this year. While ham or duck may occasionally grace the table, for most the question is how to prepare the turkey.
Recommended cooking times vary greatly, usually hovering around some safe bet of 15-18 minutes per pound at 325-350 degrees. Chances are that if you follow the guidelines, you'll end up with a dry bird. Dark meat and white meat need different cooking times, so when one is done (white) the other (dark) still needs cooking. If you choose to stuff your bird, you're asking for even more trouble, as it slows down cooking time, increasing the chances of an overcooked turkey.
Your options are not just limited to the standard roast, however. Deep-fried turkey is an enticing option, but requires a bit of planning (especially in the safety department). Those looking for a new experience without much fuss may want to try the Turkey Cannon. Yes, that's right, the Turkey Cannon.
The two-piece contraption is a take on the classic beer can chicken, but is designed instead to accommodate the larger size of a turkey. Simply pour in your favorite delicious liquid, such as wine, beer or even juice, and slide the turkey over the cylinder. As the turkey cooks, the liquid will boil and flavor the turkey from the inside. As an added bonus, the turkey should cook more quickly, giving you more time to partake in that other Thanksgiving tradition: filling up on appetizers before dinner.
Before we hit the gift-giving holidays, we have to get through Thanksgiving and all that turkey. Just how are you preparing your meal this year? Hammacher Schlemmer recommends that you use Char-Broil's The Big Easy Oil-Less Infrared Turkey Fryer.
The name is fairly descriptive--this is a turkey cooker that uses infrared technology in place of oil. So you get a healthier dinner without risking life and limb at the deep-fryer--but, it's not really a fryer, and some of the reviews at Amazon point out that if you're really looking for the taste of deep fried chicken, this roaster won't deliver.
On the other hand, it does cook up a succulent turkey in about half the time a traditional oven would take. There's no preheating time, and you can keep the heat out of the kitchen by setting up the roaster outside. The included meat thermometer lets you ensure that your meat is fully cooked to the proper temperature, and you will get a juicy bird to bring to the table.
The Big Easy runs on propane, so you'll need to pick up a tank and a spare---you'd hate to be caught turkey-less on the big day, right?
I know you're still figuring out the details of your Thanksgiving meal, but it's actually already time to start thinking about the holidays. By which I mean holiday gifts. As in, start scouring the Internet and scoping out the stores, because every person on your list needs a thoughtful, perfect, chosen-just-for-you gift.
The good folks at Hammacher Schlemmer have some ideas, and we'll look at a few of them over the next several days. First up is the Chef's Remote Thermometer Monitor, a wireless meat thermometer and timer that lets you keep tabs on the cooking from up to 100 feet away. So, pop that turkey in the oven and head into the living room with your drink--the handheld receiver will tell you when the bird is ready.
The transmitter is also weather-resistant, so go ahead and set up the grill, and then come back inside to socialize. No need to bundle up and spend 40 minutes huddled over your grill in the cold--the receiver actually gives you audible alerts when your food reaches your chosen level of doneness.
Programming and storing your custom setting for cooking is so easy even your sous-chef can do it. The device costs $50 and runs on four AAA batteries.
Today we close out our three-part series on Thanksgiving cooking (read about gadgets for cooking the turkey here and gadgets to help with side dishes here) with--what else?--sweets. An informal poll of eaters around our office revealed that pumpkin pie is far and away the preferred closer for a Thanksgiving meal, though apple and pecan pies also have a respectable following. And while I considered dishing up tools for such alternative desserts as crème brulee and fondue, it seems prudent to stick with tradition; some folks I talked to view even pumpkin cheesecake with suspicion. So I focused on tools that will make your pie baking and serving a little easier this season.
(Credit:
Hug the Cook)
I'll admit to being rather casual about measuring ingredients, and I'd normally scoff at a single-purpose tool like the Baker's Butter Slicer. But baking under pressure for a holiday changes the game--I want to get the quantities exactly right. This stainless steel tool frees you from approximating based on the (often misaligned) butter wrapper and cleanly cuts the precise amount of butter you need for your crust.
(Credit:
King Arthur Flour)
Not everyone has the skill to roll out a perfectly round, rightly sized, evenly thick pie crust that doesn't stick to counter or rolling pin. This plastic Pie Crust Bag makes rolling the dough ridiculously simple: just zip your lightly floured dough into the bag and roll. When it's the right size, unzip the bag and turn your crust into the pan. As others have suggested, this could be a handy way to let your kids practice their rolling pin skills.
(Credit:
Williams-Sonoma)
If your recipe calls for blind-baking an unfilled pie crust, you'll need to weigh it down to prevent shrinking or bubbling during baking. You can use large quantities of uncooked rice or beans as an impromptu weight, but if you bake more than one pie a year it'd be worth it to purchase these washable, reusable ceramic marbles. The weights provide heft to hold your crust in place and, because they're ceramic, help distribute heat throughout the crust.
(Credit:
Sur La Table)
Also known as pie vents, these narrow ceramic funnels prevent fruit pies from bubbling over by allowing steam to escape. Place the little bird in the center of your pie and distribute filling around it. Then cut a slit in the top crust and place it over the bird, letting the top crust rest on its shoulders. The little guy comes out when you cut the first slice of pie.
(Credit:
Pampered Chef)
My mom had one of these when I was growing up and I was always a little scared of its resemblance to a torture device. But it is hands-down the fastest way to prep apples for pie. You impale the apples on the sharp end, then turn the crank to push out the core and spiral the apple past the peeling/slicing arm. It might be a little too hard core (ouch!) for a single pie, but if you're tasked with baking multiple pies this season, it'd be a worthwhile investment. Works on pears and potatoes, too.
(Credit:
Harriet Carter)
No one wants the last bite of pie to be rock-hard and charred. This reusable aluminum shield covers the rim and protects it from burning or drying out. Sure, you could do the same thing with carefully applied aluminum foil, but on the big day every shortcut helps.
(Credit:
iSi)
Get the thick flavor of preservative-free whipped cream without dirtying yet another bowl. An instant cream whipper contains a multiple-use gas cartridge that puffs up heavy cream at the touch of a button. Top that pumpkin or pecan pie with a dollop of real whipped cream, or just let the kids shoot it directly into their mouths. Also good on hot chocolate all season long.
(Credit:
Modern Spirits)
It never hurts to have a backup plan. Modern Spirits' Pumpkin Pie Artisan Vodka is made with real pumpkin puree and spices and is based on a family recipe for pumpkin pie. The makers suggest pairing the sipping vodka with desserts, but we think it'd make a fun, festive finisher--on its own or in cocktails--for minimalists and drink lovers.
Today, we forge ever forward in an attempt to bring you the kitchen gadgets that will make your Thanksgiving preparations go as smoothly as possible. You can read our previous entry on cooking the turkey here. And Friday we'll satisfy your sweet tooth with a feature on gadgets used to make desserts. Today, we focus on the all-important side dishes.
(Credit:
Sur La Table)
Multitier oven rack
A chronic problem with Thanksgiving meals is managing oven space, namely, finding space in the oven for all the side dishes and dips that need baking while your 25-pound turkey hogs all that prime real estate. This multitier rack makes it possible to bake several dishes at once, making it easier to manage the timing of the entire meal.
Awesome.
(Credit:
Williams-Sonoma)
Digital timer
This digital timer, which we discovered just the other day, is practically made for cooking the Thanksgiving meal. It can be used to time up to three dishes, each with its own distinct alarm. The clocks can count up or down, which is helpful for keeping track of the different types of dishes that will be cooking (or cooling) at the same time.
(Credit:
Bed Bath & Beyond)
Stuffing cage
There's no doubt about it. Stuffing is one of the most important side dishes on the Thanksgiving Day table. This stuffing cage won't make it taste any better, but it'll make it way easier to collect from the turkey cavity when it's done. And isn't that what gadgets are for? Just be sure your turkey is big enough to accommodate it. This one's 9 inches by 4 3/4 inches.
(Credit:
Amazon.com)
Immersion blender
Immersion blenders have a lot of potential uses. They can be used to emulsify a salad dressing or puree soups without dirtying a blender or food processor. These days, a lot of immersion blenders come with attachments that mean the blender can double as a mini food processor or hand mixer. With the whisk attachment, you can whip eggs or whipping cream. With the chopper, you can chop nuts or fresh herbs. It might not replace a food processor or stand mixer in the long-term, but with all the moving parts that go into creating a big meal, a good immersion blender is like an understudy that knows all its lines. It'll do a competent job--and take up less counter space than those big and showy celebrity appliances.
(Credit:
Amazon.com)
Potato ricer
If you really, really, really, really don't want lumps in your mashed potatoes, a potato ricer is for you. Personally, I have always found that cooking the potatoes thoroughly and whipping them in the stand mixer does the trick. But I've been known to leave the skins on mashed potatoes on occasion (the horror!), so who am I to judge?
(Credit:
Oneida)
Mandoline
In general, mandolines get mixed reviews from people on message boards--some people swear by them, and others let them gather dust for months at a time. If you're ever going to pull one out, Thanksgiving might be the time. Mandolines make it possible to quickly and easily get perfect, uniform slices, so this year's scallop potatoes can really shine. It's also good for turning a regular salad into something a little more special; various attachments and settings make for pretty salad toppings. Likewise, there are plenty of vegetable peelers out there that will dress up fruits and vegetables for this special occasion.
(Credit:
Cuisipro)
Now that Thanksgiving's just around the corner, it's a good time to take stock of the equipment in your kitchen to make sure you have everything you need to pull off the big feast. We've put together a three-part series of gadgets that can help with every stage of the meal. Today we'll focus on cooking the bird, with side dishes on Thursday, and desserts on Friday.
Dual baster/injector
The bulb baster is a tried-and-true turkey tool used to keep the skin of the turkey moist and flavorful. Recently though, there's been a trend toward injecting turkeys with combinations of juice, water, herbs, and spices to boost the flavor of the meat. Cuisipro now has a device that marries the old with the new. This dual baster/injector has two interchangeable heads: one with an injecting needle and one with a shower-like baster.
(Credit:
Maverick Industries)
Digital thermometer
Since every oven is different and turkeys at Thanksgiving tend to be big, a meat thermometer is essential for making sure the bird is cooked all the way through. A digital thermometer takes the guesswork out of determining doneness, so you don't have to overcook your turkey to make sure it's safe to eat.
This Maverick Redi-Chek remote thermometer allows you to simply select the type of meat you're cooking and how well you want it cooked. It monitors the temperature of the meat as it cooks, then sets off an alarm when it has reached the proper temperature. Lots of digital thermometers do this, but the Redi-Chek's best feature is that it comes with a remote pager that operates within a 100-foot range, meaning cooks don't have to miss out on the Cowboys-Jets game while they monitor what's happening in the oven.
(Credit:
Wrapables.com)
Silicone trussing
If you're starting to think there's a silicone alternative to just about everything in the kitchen...well, I think I have to agree.
Wrapables.com has a silicone "looplace," which can be used to close the turkey cavity. It's dishwasher safe and comes with a mesh bag for storage and for running through the washer. The company's food loops can be used to truss the turkey (and to keep wrapped or stuffed meat and fish nice and tidy during cooking).
(Credit:
Amazon.com)
Turkey lifters
Lifting a finished turkey from its roasting pan can be tricky business. For large gatherings, a turkey can weigh upwards of 20 lbs. and is usually perched atop a pan of blazing hot grease. Moving a hot turkey from the roasting pan to a cutting board or serving platter should always be a two-person job. But turkey lifters can help give you about as good a grip on the bird as you'll get, the key being getting support underneath the bulk of the weight.
These Norpro lifters are available at Amazon.com, but their fork design is pretty standard, and similar utensils can be found from other suppliers. Bed Bath & Beyond has another style that's designed to help cooks airlift the bird out of the pan.
(Credit:
Black & Decker)
Electric knife
Even the most skilled carver won't be able to serve good-looking, evenly sliced turkey without a sharp knife. So make sure you have a quality carving knife ahead of time so you don't end up hacking your perfectly cooked Thanksgiving turkey into a mangled mess.
Purists might prefer a manual carving set, but electric carving knives will make quick work of any big roast and they can help carving newbies or people who don't have a lot of hand strength turn out nice, even slices. This Black & Decker EK800 Slice Right gets America's Test Kitchen's nod as the best one available today.
Fat separator
When making gravy from scratch, the fat needs to be separated from the lean drippings. The easiest way to do that is to let it cool down so the fat starts to solidify on top and can be spooned off easily. But that, of course, takes time that might not be available at that stage in the game.
(Credit:
Sur La Table)
This OXO fat separator allows you to separate out the fat while the drippings are still hot, so you can get crackin' on the gravy right away.
Fire extinguisher
It's always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher on hand and easily accessible from the kitchen, but it's especially important during the chaos of Thanksgiving cooking and particularly for those deep frying their turkeys.
The HomeHero is not just a stylish fire extinguisher. It can also be integrated into a networked fire safety system that uses dual smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. When one alarm goes off, all alarms in the house go off. And when a fire extinguisher is in use, the whole house is automatically alerted that there is a fire. What's more, rather than simply setting off a beeping alarm at an ungodly decibel level, a voice recording calmly instructs residents on what immediate steps to take. The HomeHero fire extinguisher was named one of 2007's IDEA design award winners. When it becomes available, it will be sold exclusively at Home Depot for $25 a piece, according to the Daily Olive.
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