TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Whether cooking for two guests or 20, preparing a Thanksgiving meal is often stressful. Thus, CBS11 found some time-saving tips to make your holiday feast as easy to put together as it is to enjoy.
The first holiday hack comes from deep in the piney woods of East Texas. In the city of Marshall, on a quiet two-lane highway, is the Bear Creek Smokehouse, which has remained in the Shoults Family for almost 80 years.
Its not at all surprising that third generation owner, Robbie Shoults, knows a thing or two about turkey and how to prepare it… but whats definitely surprising is how he does it.
“So many people, we tell them that and they look at us like you have lost your mind,” said Shoults. “And really, who could blame them? I mean, who ever heard of cooking turkey… in the dishwasher? A lot of times youre short on oven or stove top space. So, we thought, hmm, what can we do, you know, maybe a little hack to show people other ways to heat it? We came up with our fully cooked smoked turkey and put it in the dishwasher and put it on the bottom rack. Leave it in the wrapper and just run it on a regular cycle. And, you know, the hot water and the steam and everything. It just comes out beautiful.”
Now, the key words here are fully cooked. Whether its a turkey or a ham, it already has to be fully cooked and in its original vacuum-sealed wrapper.
“One recommendation I would have,” said Shoults, “is whether its a smoked turkey or smoked ham or whatever, is set it on the kitchen counter the night before. So, its already got the refrigerator chill taken off of it. And then that that morning you would just take it and place it in the dishwasher. And its going to heat it all the way through. If its a big ham, you might want to run it on two cycles. One thing about it with the dishwasher, you cant overcook it.”
And perhaps the best part? Theres no messy roasting pan to scour, clean-up is minimal. But what about the sides?
From cranberry salsa with fresh cilantro and jalapeno — to roasted sweet potatoes with chili powder and cayenne pepper.
“It doesnt have, like, all the butter and the marshmallows and all the ooey gooey stuff in there. Its a its a just a great, healthy alternative to it. And they are fantastic,” said Shoults.
The bacon and brown sugar green beans, which as Shoults joked “is like having sides, protein and desert all in one dish,” are easy to make.
But perhaps the most important tip is simply to remember what Thanksgiving is all about… and to make the most of the time spent together.
“You know, nowadays weve got so many electronics things and sometimes its so easy for parents and kids to become disconnected. And I think its so great when you can come in and get your kids involved in the kitchen (and they love activities) and actually youre going to be making memories that are going to last a lifetime.”
2. In a medium bowl, stir together cranberry mixture, green onions, jalapeno, cilantro and lime juice.
4. Serve over cream cheese with assorted crackers, or use as a side for turkey dinner.
As Thanksgiving approaches home cooks everywhere are gearing up to prepare the big centerpiece bird. roast turkey can be intimidating for many, as achieving that perfect golden brown exterior and moist, flavorful interior is tricky. If you’re looking to try an unconventional cooking method this holiday season you may be surprised to learn that many have had great success cooking turkey in the dishwasher!
It may sound crazy, but with some simple preparation and the right technique, dishwasher turkey can turn out just as delicious as oven roasted. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to this delightfully weird holiday hack.
Why Cook a Turkey in the Dishwasher?
Cooking turkey in the dishwasher emerged as an internet phenomenon several years back People realized that the hot, steamy environment of the dishwasher can actually replicate a moist roasting oven quite well. The dishwasher provides gentle, indirect heat and constant basting from the steam and water sprays
The benefits of dishwasher turkey include:
- Frees up oven space for other sides and dishes
- Even, hands-off cooking
- Self bastes with steam for a moister turkey
- Easy clean-up with no roasting pan to scrub
As long as basic food safety steps are followed, the dishwasher can produce a tasty turkey on par with the oven. Let’s look at how it’s done.
Choosing the Right Turkey
You’ll want to select a thawed turkey or turkey breast that fits nicely in your dishwasher. A small 10-12 lb bird or just a breast portion work best. Make sure your dishwasher is also clean and empty besides the turkey.
An already fully cooked turkey is ideal since it only needs to be gently reheated versus cooked through completely. This minimizes any food safety concerns.
Prepare the Turkey
Before placing your turkey in the dishwasher, you’ll want to prep it with a simple spice rub. This adds flavor and ensures the breast meat stays moist:
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, minced garlic, shallots, salt, pepper and any other desired herbs and spices.
- Rub the mixture all over the turkey, getting it underneath the skin of the breast as well.
- Tightly wrap the seasoned bird in plastic wrap to seal in moisture.
You can even place it in a large Tupperware container if it fits. This keeps the rub intact and prevents mess in the dishwasher.
Run the Dishwashing Cycles
To cook the turkey:
- Place seasoned, wrapped turkey directly on the bottom rack of the dishwasher. For stability, you can set it right on the heating element.
- Run a normal wash cycle with heated dry setting on. No detergent is needed.
- The turkey should take about 1 full cycle per 2 lbs of meat. For a 12 lb bird, run 6 total cycles with heated dry.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check internal temp, which should reach 165°F.
- Let rest 10 minutes before carefully removing plastic and carving.
The key is plenty of cycles to gently and evenly bring the turkey up to a safe internal temperature. The moist heat prevents it from drying out.
Tips for the Best Results
Follow these tips for turkey success:
- Leave the turkey wrapped while running cycles. Only open to temp check.
- Use a thermometer to ensure doneness – dishwasher temps can vary.
- Add a waterproof probe thermometer so you can monitor temp without opening.
- For extra moisture, add 1 cup broth to dishwasher before starting.
- Skip heated dry if turkey skin is getting too brown.
- Let turkey rest at least 10 minutes before removing wrap and carving.
With some trial and error, you can master cooking turkey in the dishwasher. The key is keeping it wrapped to steam and using enough cycles based on weight.
Gravy and Side Dishes
Part of the appeal of dishwasher turkey is that there’s no roasting pan full of drippings to make gravy from. However, you can still prepare delicious gravy on the stovetop using the turkey juices:
- Carefully remove turkey and unwrap over a bowl to catch any juices.
- Pour juices into saucepan and whisk in 2 tbsp flour per 1 cup liquid.
- Cook over medium heat until thickened.
- Add chicken or turkey broth as needed for more gravy.
As for sides, choose dishes that can be made 1-2 days in advance:
- Green bean casserole
- Sweet potato or regular mashed potatoes
- Stuffing or dressing
- Cranberry sauce
- Roasted vegetables
- Fresh salad
- Dinner rolls
This allows you to focus just on reheating sides while the turkey cooks hands-free.
Dishwasher Turkey Tips and Troubleshooting
Cooking turkey in the dishwasher doesn’t always go perfectly. Here are some common issues and how to fix them:
Turkey not fully cooked
- Check internal temp early and add more cycles if needed
- Use a thermometer probe to monitor temp
- Only cook a fully thawed turkey
Turkey skin is not browning
- Remove plastic wrap and run additional cycle on heated dry only
- Broil in oven for 5-10 minutes to crisp skin
Turkey is already cooked but center is cold
- Make sure turkey is not ice cold from fridge when starting
- Allow extra cycles for even heating
Dishwasher smells like turkey afterward
- Run empty cycle with vinegar to remove odors
- Clean filter and interior thoroughly after cooking turkey
Turkey skin is dried out
- Keep tightly wrapped in plastic for all cycles
- Add broth to dishwasher to increase moisture
Turkey is not submerged in water
- This is normal and desired. Moisture from steam bastes turkey
Conclusion
While unconventional, cooking turkey in the dishwasher can deliver a juicy, tender holiday bird with minimal effort. With some trial runs, you can master this quirky technique and free up your oven for all the tasty sides. Stay adventurous in the kitchen this Thanksgiving and wow your guests with dishwasher turkey!
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Karen Borta is a veteran journalist who joined CBS 11 News in 1995. Prior to that, she was an anchor and reporter at CBS affiliate WTVT-TV in Tampa, KRBK-TV in Sacramento and KCEN-TV in Waco.
Chef David Burke On How To Cook Your Turkey In A Dishwasher
FAQ
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