Christmas is all about the food and the turkey is the star of the show. But so many people complain that they don’t like turkey because it’s dry. The thing is, it’s only dry if you cook it badly and if you are fed up with bland turkey every Christmas, but you still like the tradition, you need to change up the way that you prepare it. These are some of the best tips for cooking the perfect turkey this Christmas. 

Don’t Cook A Whole Bird 

Turkeys are huge and even though most people cook a full bird on Christmas, it rarely gets eaten. By the third day of leftovers, everybody is fed up with it. Cooking a full bird also makes it much harder to get the perfect cooking time, so why not just cook a breast instead? You can find some great instructions on how to cook a turkey breast at TheMediterraneanDish.com and an average sized breast will feed around six people. With a smaller cut, it’s a lot easier to get the cooking time right as it is more predictable than cooking a whole bird. So, you’ll get a nicer cut of turkey and you won’t have loads of leftovers that probably end up in the bin. 

Cover With Butter 

If you want delicious, rich tasting meat that still has its moisture, always cover the turkey with butter. You can make a delicious herb butter with fresh herbs and some citrus zest, which can then be rubbed underneath the skin and on the top. The butter underneath the skin will penetrate the meat and add more flavor. The butter on the outside of the skin will help it to crisp up so you end up with amazing golden brown skin on the outside and tender meat on the inside. 

Rest It Properly 

The biggest mistake that people make when cooking turkey, and most other meats, is that they don’t rest it for long enough. After the meat has finished cooking, you need to rest it so the juices can soak back into the meat. If you don’t rest it for long enough, the juices will all pour out as soon as you cut into it and you will be left with a dry turkey. It needs to be rested for at least 45 minutes but, ideally, a few hours. Visit thekitchn.com for a great guide on keeping your turkey warm while it rests. 

Start Your Prep Early 

Cooking Christmas dinner always takes longer than you think and if you start rushing things, you will end up making mistakes. Starting your prep early is one of the best ways to take the stress out of cooking and make sure that you get everything right. You can chop all of the vegetables and do other basic prep the night before, so you are not rushing around on Christmas morning. 

If you keep these tips in mind, you can cook the perfect Christmas turkey and you won’t get any complaints about it being dry.