Are you in charge of making the turkey this year for Thanksgiving? I recently asked readers to share their best tips, tricks or turkey recipes with me. There were several great responses, so I’m hoping some of these ideas can help you have a stress-free holiday this year. Here are the top 10 reader tips for the perfect turkey!
For more Thanksgiving ideas, see our Thanksgiving roundup.
10 Reader Tips for the Perfect Turkey
- Be sure to buy enough! A general rule of thumb is at least 1-1.5 lb. of turkey per person. This may seem like a lot but a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that are not eaten, plus it’s always nice to have plenty of leftovers!
- Give yourself enough time for it to defrost and make sure that you take stuff out of the inside of the turkey. The last few years we have used an electric roaster to cook our turkey. It cooks in less time, comes out juicy and leaves the oven available for other dishes. Oven space is precious!
- Brining your turkey is the easiest way to make the best turkey of your life. It’s so easy and will change your turkey game forever!
- Turkey oven bag helps it stay moist. Also, whenever we cook one we find a marinade at the grocery store to inject it with.
- Put butter all over inside the skin. Cover it in something while it cooks. It helps keep it juicy instead of ending up dry. Also, don’t cut into it right away when you take it out. Let it rest a bit!
- Make sure that your oven is working properly. Happened to a cousin one year. We ended up slicing the meat and frying it. But the best piece of advice I can give is to remember it is a dead bird. Do NOT let a dead bird intimidate you.
- Use an oven bag, it’s the best thing ever and keeps the meat from drying out. I rub butter all over the turkey then stuff a couple of bars of butter inside. Super moist meat!! Easiest way to cook a turkey. Here is the link to recipe to try.
- Smoke it if you have a smoker.
- Alton Brand’s recipe on Food Network. It has never failed me and makes the best and most moist Turkey. There are great videos on how to do each step. I have used his brine for an unbrined Turkey and used a pre-brined and don’t notice a huge difference there, but the cooking method is the best.
- Inject with butter and bake in a baking bag. I like Tony Chachere’s Creole Style Butter Marinade.
Let me know if you have anything to add!
Saving money can’t get any easier than using Circle coupons in Target’s mobile app! These offers come off instantly at the register and most are good on up to 4 items.
And now most Circle offers now apply automatically when you check out – no need to search the app to select potential offers (except for Manufacturer coupons or alcohol rebates.)
Check out all of the new Circle Offers we have found so far this week, it’s a pretty long list with some sweet high value offers.
Note: look at the individual deals in the Circle app to get more details on which items are included in the offers.
If you’ve never used Target Circle and want to know more watch a short on all the ways to save with Circle.
Circle Special and GiftCard Deals:
Free Bullseye adult slippers, for Target Circle 360 members, limited quantities Target Circle eCoupon
Free Target $20 GiftCard WY spend $100+ on baby diapers & wipes, select Target Circle eCoupon
Free Target $10 GiftCard WYB (3) homecare items, select Target Circle eCoupon
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Free Target $5 GiftCard WYB (3) Procter & Gamble items, select Target Circle eCoupon
Free Target $5 GiftCard WYB (2) digestive health items, select Target Circle eCoupon
Free Target $10 GiftCard WYB (2) Proof adult care items, select Target Circle eCoupon
Free Target $5 GiftCard WYB (2) Always & Discreet adult care items, select Target Circle eCoupon
Free Target $5 GiftCard WYB (2) Olay body washes, select Target Circle eCoupon
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Free Target $5 GiftCard WYB (3) Blackwood for Men Active Man daily shampoos Target Circle eCoupon
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Head to the Disney Store to get 20% off sale items thru tonight only! Grab accessories, decor, toys and more!
Use code MAGIC at checkout to get the offer.
Deal Ideas:
Stitch Cuddleez Plush – Large – $28 (reg. $40)
-extra 20% off with code MAGIC
makes it $22.40
Mickey Mouse Icon Sleeping Beauty Castle Holiday Glass Sketchbook Ornament – Disneyland – $20 (reg. $35)
-extra 20% off with code MAGIC
makes it $16
Spider-Man Lounge Pants for Adults – $20.99 (reg. $30)
-extra 20% off with code MAGIC
makes it $16.79
This offer ends tonight, 11/18. Shipping is FREE on orders of $75+ with code SHIPMAGIC.
See more online shopping deals!
Shop for girls’ clothing at Justice while they are offering 50% off everything during their Early Access Black Friday sale.
Get great deals on best sellers and new arrivals, plus get free shipping on orders of $50+ when you log into your Club Justice VIP account (free to join).
No code necessary. Prices are marked.
Deal Ideas:
Tie-Dye Rib Hem Hoodie – $10 (reg. $20)
Get the Joggers to go with it – also $10!
Casual High-Rise Full-Length Leggings – $5 (reg. $10)
Pull-On Jean Leggings – $12 (reg. $24)
This offer is good for a limited time only.
See more clothing deals!
Use a printable coupon and an Ibotta rebate with a sale at Publix to get Dimetapp for FREE! This is a good item to make sure you have stocked in your medicine cabinet before you need it, especially when you can pick it up for a Money Maker!
Publix Dimetapp Deal (ends when offers expire):
- Dimetapp Childrens Cold & Cough, $5.29
-$3.50 off Dimetapp Product printable
-$2 off Dimetapp Children’s, any, limit 3, Ibotta mobile app
(makes it FREE!)
See the full Publix Ad for more great deals.
Early Black Friday deals have dropped at Lume! Score up to 40% off Lume bundles and enjoy a special B2G1 Lume deo offer too!
The new Lume Hits Bundle allows you to choose a deodorant & spray, then get a body wash for free! The best value, however, is the Starter Pack Bundle. You get a deo stick and deo spray or tube, plus a free mini and free wipes! It also ships free!!
Check out these deals a couple more below!
Starter Pack Bundle – $34.98 (reg. $51.22)
New Lume Hits Bundle – $35.98
stick, spray + free wash!
Try ‘Em All Bundle – $54.97 (reg. $74. 95)
stick, tube, spray + free deo!
Early Black Friday Starter Pack – 34.98 (reg. $59.21)
stick, spray + free mini & wipes + free $5 mystery item!
These offers are good thru 11/27. Shipping is free on orders of $25+.
See more online shopping deals!
Through Tuesday, get a FREE 8×10 photo print at Walgreens Photo with this coupon code! Choose free same-day in-store pickup where available.
Use code JOLLY8X10 to get this deal. These prints are regularly $4.49, so don’t miss this fun and easy freebie!
You don’t have to pick up the photo right away. Just make sure to place the order. Choose free store pickup and grab it later in the week when you’re running errands.
This deal is good through Tuesday, 11/19.
See more Photo Deals.
Get an easy savings on Garnier Fructis or Whole Foods Shampoo & Conditioner at Walgreens all week with this easy coupon deal! Use an eCoupon to pick up two haircare products for only $1 each.
Walgreens Garnier Haircare Deal (ends 11/23):
- $3 RR wyb (2) Garnier Fructis or Whole Blends Hair Care, 2 for $8
Buy:
(2) Garnier Fructis or Whole Blends Haircare, 2 for $8
Total Due: $8
Use:
-$3/2 Garnier Fructis & Whole Blends Haircare, Walgreens eCoupon
Get Back: $3 Register Reward
Makes it $1 each
Check out more great Walgreens deals.
This is a reminder to get this great deal!! Right now get fantastic deals on select Target games and toys through Ebay’s Bullseye Deals!
Items range from used to new. Items are selling out and being added frequently, so check back to see what’s new!
And the best part? Shipping is free!
Deal Ideas
FAO Schwarz Toy Cosmetic Cash Register $12.99 (reg. $34.99)
