Cooking the bird the day BEFORE T-giving

**IntlMom** · 11-20-2008, 11:03 PM

Has anyone ever done this? My family is visiting from out of town, and we are having a large family (9 kids!) come to the house for our Thanksgiving meal . My mom and I are considering cooking the bird the day ahead and rewarming slices and the peices for the meal the big day. This would free up the kitchen for everything else..............anyone ever done this? How did it turn in out?Thanks!

**Wendy99** · 11-20-2008, 11:11 PM

what about cooking it up and then keeping it warm in a crockpot or something the day of? maybe add a little liquid to the bottom of the crockpot (just a tiny amount) to keep some moisture in? never tried this, just a thought ..

**nvmommyx6** · 11-20-2008, 11:13 PM

I have a turkey roaster and I do the turkey the morning of in the laundry room!!!!!! It get it done, makes sure it is fresh and keeps it out of my way....Just a thought, the GE turkey roasters are on sale at walmart for $20. right now!!

**Domestic Gal** · 11-20-2008, 11:40 PM

I have done it many times.
I just cook it up. Debone it and put it in the crockpot with some broth.
Lots less work on turkey day!!

**madhen** · 11-20-2008, 11:44 PM

I had never thought of that, but it sounds like a great idea!

**PrairieRose** · 11-21-2008, 09:57 AM

My bird is already cooked, carved, has a can of chicken broth in a ziplock bag with it and it's frozen. I'll thaw it out the day before, throw it in a big crockpot the morning of. I've done this lots of times and always get lots of compliments on how juicy and tender and delicious my turkey is. (my dressing is already made too....it's frozen alongside the turkey

...will reheat the morning of as well.....sshhhhhh noone knows

)

**nuisance26** · 11-21-2008, 10:01 AM

~I've done it too. Works great! You may find that you miss the smell of the turkey cooking all morning on T day though.~

**Darlene** · 11-21-2008, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by PrairieRose

My bird is already cooked, carved, has a can of chicken broth in a ziplock bag with it and it's frozen. I'll thaw it out the day before, throw it in a big crockpot the morning of. I've done this lots of times and always get lots of compliments on how juicy and tender and delicious my turkey is. (my dressing is already made too....it's frozen alongside the turkey

...will reheat the morning of as well.....sshhhhhh noone knows

)

I knew.

**Patty A** · 11-21-2008, 10:49 AM

Thanks so much, as I have been thinking about this very thing for days.
I have a ton of people coming and will be doing two turkeys to make sure there is plenty, and I just couldn't figure out a way without doing it ahead.
Now I know I can do it without it hurting anything.
THANK YOU!!!

**pip** · 11-21-2008, 11:48 AM

Sounds like a really good idea!

**PrairieRose** · 11-23-2008, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Darlene

I knew.

Yeah, yeah I know you knew Darlene, you know all my secrets

. (I'll send my monthly hush money payment next week.....

)

**3tomboys** · 11-23-2008, 10:11 PM

I just cooked my Turkey today. I have deboned it and have seperated into bags. We will not be having company it will just be dh, myself and the dd's. I have done this before and it has worked out well. It is nice to have most the day available to spend with the family.

**onencgirl** · 11-24-2008, 11:20 AM

I'm fixing a Turkey breast. Can I do this in a crockpot or is it better in the oven?

**lovestoread** · 11-24-2008, 12:06 PM

I have done the cook before , then put it into the crockpot with some of the broth and it works very well.....although , as one poster put it, you do kinda miss the smell of it cooking on Thanksgiving morning....hope it works well for you......