Christmas Vacation is a masterful Christmas film, and it has been an annual tradition for millions since its release in 1989. Its hard to say what has made this film such an enduring phenomenon. Of course, there is the humor itself, which often toes the line between outrageous slapstick and clever wordplay (not to mention some fantastic reaction shots from Chevy Chase).
Its also very relatable for many – especially those who host others at Christmas. Clark is the typical everyman, and just like everyone else, he experiences intense feelings of stress around the holidays. His drive to have the perfect family Christmas, however, makes the horrible things that happen to him land even harder.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a holiday classic, featuring the disaster-prone Griswold family trying to navigate the stresses and strains of the Christmas season. One of the most iconic scenes involves the family sitting down to Christmas dinner, only to have patriarch Clark Griswold present a turkey so overcooked and dried out that it spontaneously deflates when he cuts into it. This hilarious turkey scene has puzzled viewers for years – what exactly caused that poor bird to end up so disastrously shriveled and desiccated? Let’s take a closer look at the science behind this memorable movie moment
Setting the Stage – How the Turkey is Introduced
The turkey makes its first appearance earlier in the film when Clark’s wife Ellen and cousin Catherine are preparing Christmas dinner We see the turkey already cooked and perfectly browned, resting on the counter. Clark calls everyone in to admire it, raving “If this turkey tastes half as good as it looks, I think we’re all in for a very big treat” Everything seems fine until the fateful carving, when the deflated bird elicits cries of horror from the family.
Clearly, something has gone terribly wrong in the time between seeing the pristine turkey and it ending up a dried husk But what? Let’s consider what should have happened versus what went wrong for the Griswolds
What Should Have Happened
For an ideal turkey, cooked to juicy perfection, there are a few key factors:
-
Proper thawing – The turkey must be completely thawed before cooking. Any ice crystals left inside can ruin the texture.
-
Moderate oven temperature – Around 325°F allows the turkey to cook through gently without drying out.
-
Adequate cooking time – A typical 15 lb turkey needs about 13 minutes per pound, so around 3 hours.
-
Resting – Allowing the turkey to rest for 15-30 minutes after cooking lets juices redistribute for maximum moistness.
What Went Wrong for the Griswolds
Clearly the Griswolds deviated from turkey best practices in a few ways:
-
Too high oven temperature – Higher heat causes moisture to rapidly evaporate from the turkey meat.
-
Too long cooking time – Ellen laments they “put it in too early,” likely meaning first thing in the morning. An overextended cooking time leads to dryness.
-
No resting period – Clark immediately carves into the turkey, allowing juices to spill out instead of being reabsorbed.
Why the Outside Still Looked Perfect
The outside of the Griswold turkey appeared beautifully browned and crisp, while the inside was shriveled and desiccated. How could this be?
Turkey cooks from the outside in. The exterior finished cooking first, which is why it looked so perfect. However, without lowering the oven temperature and periodically basting, the inside continued to overcook and dry out for hours.
Meathead Goldwyn, founder of AmazingRibs.com, confirms that it would be impossible for the outer appearance to remain so pristine if the inside was overcooked. The entire turkey shrinks during cooking as moisture evaporates.
How to Avoid Disaster
While the Griswold turkey makes for quality comedy, no one wants that at their real-life holiday table. Here are some tips to avoid a disappointing dried-out bird:
-
Thaw completely in the refrigerator 1-2 days before cooking.
-
Preheat oven to 325°F and use a meat thermometer to determine doneness, not cook times. 165°F in the deepest part of the breast indicates done-ness.
-
Tent foil loosely over the turkey for part of the roasting time to prevent over-browning.
-
Baste every 30 minutes with pan drippings to add moisture and color.
-
Allow the turkey to rest for 15-30 minutes before carving to let juices redistribute.
The Takeaway
While the sad, shriveled Griswold turkey makes us laugh, it also teaches an important lesson – don’t rely on cook times, and use a meat thermometer! Clark was misguided to boast about the turkey before properly testing its doneness. Let this be a warning not to judge a bird by its browned exterior alone! With some simple precautions, you can avoid holiday dinner disaster and enjoy a properly cooked, juicy turkey.
Falling Off The Roof
Unfortunately, Clark has a heck of a time putting the lights on the roof. This is one of the funniest Christmas movies, and it shows during this extended sequence. First, Clark uncovers a giant ball of knotted lights (which he gives Rusty to work out and unspool).
Then he accidentally staples his shirt to the house and both falls off the ladder while trying to get it off. Worst of all, Clark later slips and falls off the sloped roof, completely breaking his gutter (and his neighbors window) in the process.
Forgetting To Bring A Saw
Some things make no sense about Christmas Vacation. For example, how in the heck did the family uproot an entire tree using nothing but their bare hands? Clark brings the entire family deep into the woods so they can cut their own Christmas tree.
They waste an entire Saturday on the ordeal and hike for hours in knee-deep snow (with Audrey even suffering from frozen eyeballs). And after all that, Clark makes the horrifying realization that he forgot his saw. Thankfully, the family seems to have super strength and are able to uproot the tree.