Don’t Make These 13 Turkey Mistakes Most People Make On Thanksgiving

10. You don’t have to baste

Traditions say you need to baste the turkey. But, every time you open the door to baste, the oven loses heat and your turkey could dry out. It just really isn’t necessary for a perfect Thanksgiving turkey.

11. Use a real meat thermometer

Sometimes turkeys come with pop-up thermometers. They are generally inaccurate, so use a real meat thermometer. Make sure you cook it to 165 degrees Fahrenheit to make sure you don’t get anyone sick. Make sure you check the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh. Check the temperature after about 2.5-3 hours of cooking and then every 15 minutes until it reaches optimal temperature.

12. Let your turkey rest for about 15 minutes before carving

Let the juices settle inside the turkey. Then it will be nice and juicy and won’t leave a mess on your cutting board.

13. Don’t carve the whole turkey if you aren’t going to eat it all on Thanksgiving day

If you are having a small dinner party, just slice part of the turkey. Store the rest uncut in an airtight container in the fridge and slice pieces off as you want to eat them. Then the turkey won’t dry out so quickly. It will be as delicious as it is fresh at Thanksgiving dinner.

Have you made any of these turkey mistakes? Have you heard of the hilarious Turkey challenge this year?

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