Why shouldn't I wash my turkey?
Discussion
Huntsman said:
That is not a euphemism...
Why does the food safety advert on the TV say that we shouldn't wash a turkey bfore cooking?
I always wash a chicken off under the tap before roasting.
Not seen that, but Mrs Maul always washes ours, helps get that little placky bag of guts and stuff out too. And the neck I think. HSE probably worried people will recreate that sketch where Mr Bean got a turkey stuck on his head. I think it was Mr Bean anyway. Can't really rememeber his face. He had a turkey stuck on his head.Why does the food safety advert on the TV say that we shouldn't wash a turkey bfore cooking?
I always wash a chicken off under the tap before roasting.
samdale said:
Huntsman said:
That is not a euphemism...
Why does the food safety advert on the TV say that we shouldn't wash a turkey bfore cooking?
I always wash a chicken off under the tap before roasting.
i think the idea is that some cretins splash raw turkey juice everywhere when they do soWhy does the food safety advert on the TV say that we shouldn't wash a turkey bfore cooking?
I always wash a chicken off under the tap before roasting.
I never wash my turkey though, if you do. I don't think you need to worry too much about it.
Food Standards Agency website has this guff:
"The Agency’s research has shown that many people wash their turkeys before cooking, with older women the most frequent turkey-washing offenders. But washing meat or poultry can cause harmful food poisoning bacteria to splash on to worktops, chopping boards, dishes and utensils, where they can linger for days."
"'Turkey washing is probably the most common blunder, and just isn’t necessary. It isn’t possible to wash off germs that cause food poisoning with water. But all germs will be killed if you thoroughly cook your turkey. By washing your raw bird, you’re actually more likely to spread the germs around the kitchen than get rid of them."
So why exactly are you washing it?
"The Agency’s research has shown that many people wash their turkeys before cooking, with older women the most frequent turkey-washing offenders. But washing meat or poultry can cause harmful food poisoning bacteria to splash on to worktops, chopping boards, dishes and utensils, where they can linger for days."
"'Turkey washing is probably the most common blunder, and just isn’t necessary. It isn’t possible to wash off germs that cause food poisoning with water. But all germs will be killed if you thoroughly cook your turkey. By washing your raw bird, you’re actually more likely to spread the germs around the kitchen than get rid of them."
So why exactly are you washing it?
RichB said:
redtwin said:
I will be washing my turkey twice, once before it goes in the brine and again after the brining process..
Not bothered if people want to wash the turkey but I just dn't get this brine soaking business... 
Why Brine?
Salt changes the structure of the muscle tissues in the meat, allowing it to swell and absorb water and flavorings. It also breaks down the proteins, resulting in a tender-seeming turkey. This means that--despite the moisture loss during roasting and the long cooking time--the end result is a juicier bird.
and who doesn't like a juicier bird?
Well my Mum and my Granny before her cooked turkey long before the Internet was invented and it always tasted beautiful, plenty of butter under the skin and streaky bacon on top. Still if it's the modern trendy thing to do then who am I to argue. I saw that Nigella Lawson (can't stand her) doing this on TV last year and thought the same. Bit of a gimmick if you ask me. When I worked in a butchers we always used to soak the pig's heads in a galvanised bucket of brine to get the water out, salt does that. If anything it would make it dry not moist, that's why you put salt on the pork skin to make crackling, still what do I know about cooking compared to the Internet generation? 
you missed my point entirely RichB. It's a pet peeve the way people will happily ask a question on a thread instead of doing a simple bit of searching for themselves. The relative merits of brining and/or not brining are for the birds AFAIC, but I'd hazard a guess that the average turkey we can buy from our local supermarket monopolist is a very different animal from those you Granny used to cook.
Fairy Nuff, although I'm always doing my research on the net, being one of the Internet generation but when it comes to Christmas dinner I hanker for the old days... 
p.s. Mine won't be a supermarket bird it's one of these free range jobbies currently running around in a field in Cookham, well it might be plucked & trussed by now because I pick it up on Wednesday but by Friday it should look something like the bird at the bottom
p.s. Mine won't be a supermarket bird it's one of these free range jobbies currently running around in a field in Cookham, well it might be plucked & trussed by now because I pick it up on Wednesday but by Friday it should look something like the bird at the bottom
Edited by RichB on Monday 21st December 17:04
Pothole said:
Food Standards Agency website has this guff:
"The Agency’s research has shown that many people wash their turkeys before cooking, with older women the most frequent turkey-washing offenders..."
So why exactly are you washing it?
Because I learned to cook by watching/being taught by older women. Luckily they also taught me how to use a tap and kitchen sink properly and how to clean up after myself. If there are people out there who don't know how to wipe down and clean countertops and utensils properly then they shouldn't be cooking at all and probably aren't the type to pay attention the anything the FSA had to say anyway."The Agency’s research has shown that many people wash their turkeys before cooking, with older women the most frequent turkey-washing offenders..."
So why exactly are you washing it?
RichB said:
redtwin said:
I will be washing my turkey twice, once before it goes in the brine and again after the brining process..
Not bothered if people want to wash the turkey but I just dn't get this brine soaking business... 
Having watched and read about the process it is just a form of marinading really, just with a weak flavouring solution for a longer period of time. I can't really see what harm it could do unless someone preferred bland, unseasoned meat?.
redtwin said:
Pothole said:
Food Standards Agency website has this guff:
"The Agency’s research has shown that many people wash their turkeys before cooking, with older women the most frequent turkey-washing offenders..."
So why exactly are you washing it?
Because I learned to cook by watching/being taught by older women. Luckily they also taught me how to use a tap and kitchen sink properly and how to clean up after myself. If there are people out there who don't know how to wipe down and clean countertops and utensils properly then they shouldn't be cooking at all and probably aren't the type to pay attention the anything the FSA had to say anyway."The Agency’s research has shown that many people wash their turkeys before cooking, with older women the most frequent turkey-washing offenders..."
So why exactly are you washing it?
And that goes for the rest of you, too!
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff