Let’s Talk Turkey
Let’s discuss the popular bird of this month: Turkey. (Although June is actually designated as National Turkey Lovers Month. Should we move it to November?) Wild turkeys were plentiful in New England in colonial days so that’s why our turkey dinners on Thanksgiving came about.
There are two species of wild turkey. Ours in North America and the Ocellated Turkey in Central American. Male turkeys can weigh up to 25 lb. while females are about half that weight. While not appearing to be fast, wild turkeys are surprisingly agile and can fly up to 60 miles per hour. Turkeys have excellent eyesight, seeing three times more clearly than 20/20 vision. They can also see in color and have a 270-degree field of vision, and they possess a keen sense of hearing. Another interesting fact to share over Thanksgiving dinner: You can tell a turkey’s sex by its droppings. Male scat is shaped like the letter J, while a female’s droppings are more spiral-shaped. The bigger the poop, the older the bird.
Most thanksgiving turkeys today are farm-raised. Turkey eggs have an incubation period of 28 days. A baby turkey is called a poult, a male turkey is a tom and female is a hen. The most common breed of bird we eat is the Broad Breasted White turkey. Turkeys raised in the U.S. are fed a diet of corn and soybean, vitamins and minerals with no added hormones or steroids, according to USDA regulations. A whole turkey has 25 grams of protein and is rich is B3, B6 and B12 vitamins. What about tryptophan? Yes, turkey has tryptophan, 250 to 310 mg. per 3 oz. serving, a little less than chicken. So don’t blame the poor turkey for your food coma after eating Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe it’s just from overindulging.
When it comes to cooking turkey, the opinions range from brining, grilling, frying, roasting and more. Roasting is the classic method of cooking it in the oven for several hours. There are dozens of recipes online for various stuffings or fillings and seasonings. Deep frying has become popular over the last several decades. It’s a faster cooking method that seals in juices and results in a tender turkey. A 15 lb. turkey can be deep fried in about 45 minutes! Air frying is an option for a smaller bird or breast and is lighter than deep frying. Spatchcocking removes the neck and backbone, so the turkey lies flat and cooks evenly. Then it can be roasted, grilled or even smoked. Many cooks brine their turkey 12-24 hours before cooking to increase moisture and flavor. Grilling a turkey outdoors is fun and results in a different taste than roasting or frying.
Some people love turkey and its fixings and the tradition of having it on Thanksgiving. Some turkey lovers enjoy it several times a year. Others find it dry and would rather have chicken. My father-in-law disliked turkey so every Thanksgiving he requested I make him a meatloaf with extra onions, which I did. Amid the Civil War, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, following our first president’s proclamation. Lincoln called for a day of thanksgiving and praise to God and included a request for prayers for the nation’s healing and restoration to peace. The proclamation also noted the year’s blessings, including fruitful fields, healthful skies, and a growing population. But you can eat whatever you want: Turkey, tofu, meatloaf. But please take a few moments to give thanks for our blessings.