topic Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD in Recipes

BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

Flatbush — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 07:25:59 GMT

I purchased a small, 8 lb turkey. Defrosted and cooked as per their instructions. After an hour, I covered it up with foil because it looked as if the skin was getting overly brown.

When I finally took it out out the oven and waited a while before carving, it was cooked in the breast area and raw on the dark parts. Th skin was dried out and hard.

I used a thermometer to test the temperature, for the breast and it was on the mark but was unable to find the thigh area because the bird was so small.

I have been making Butterball turkeys for decades, and never a problem. I am thinking that perhaps the small size of the turkey impacted it.

Stove temperature was correct. I tested that too.

Anyone else here baked a small turkey and had problems?

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

hopi — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:44:09 GMT

I have been purchasing Butterball's frozen breast over the last few years. The last couple of years they have been tough, stringy and the taste blah. Never delicious. Did not buy any turkey this year at all.

Some mentioned last week that their brand of choice was Norbest.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

ID2 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 11:13:51 GMT

OP cook your turkey in a turkey roaster!!! You will notice a HUGE difference. I always buy fresh turkeys but this year we had our family Thanksgiving a week early and none of the fresh turkeys were available. I succumbed to buying a Butterball. I wasn't a happy camper but .... I made mine in my turkey roaster and it was so fabulous!! My family just raved about it! My oven baked turkeys are always so dry. I think that was your problem, not the turkey but how you cooked it. Invest in a roaster,

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

meallen616 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 11:28:33 GMT

@Flatbush,

Try the butterball hotline, just to see what they have to say!

1-800-288-8372, hope this helps! If not try a norbest next time,

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 11:54:52 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
OP cook your turkey in a turkey roaster!!! You will notice a HUGE difference. I always buy fresh turkeys but this year we had our family Thanksgiving a week early and none of the fresh turkeys were available. I succumbed to buying a Butterball. I wasn't a happy camper but .... I made mine in my turkey roaster and it was so fabulous!! My family just raved about it! My oven baked turkeys are always so dry. I think that was your problem, not the turkey but how you cooked it. Invest in a roaster,

@ID2

A turkey roaster? Are you referring to a large pan with a lid?

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

ValuSkr — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 12:16:55 GMT

I'm surprised Butterball let you down. Next time, just get a breast vs. a whole turkey.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

Meowingkitty — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 12:28:52 GMT

I've never had a Butterball that I've liked. They are to moist and wet. No taste either. I like Norbest. If I can't get a Norbest then I will not buy a Butterball ever again.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

candys mine — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 12:40:43 GMT

@Flatbush I'm sorry your turkey gave you trouble. That throws your whole timetable off for the day.

Got to admit though If I'd decided on a bird that size I'd have gone with a ckicken.

There is that phenomena where even though the beat looks dark and bloddy it isn't really blood but some sore of chemical reaction going on.

Hope you find the answer to the mystery.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

KingstonsMom — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 12:59:03 GMT

I cooked 2 Butterball turkey breasts (around 6 lbs. each) this year, used their instructions and they came out moist and delicious!

But I realize that's different than a small whole bird.

So sorry yours was problematic, that's so frustrating when you have a big meal to prepare!

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

KatieB — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 13:08:54 GMT

I've never seen an entire turkey that small (8 lbs). Are you sure it was a turkey? The smallest I've seen has been 10 lbs. I normally purchase an 8 lb Butterball turkey breast and they turn out fine.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

Roscoe the Rascal — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 13:11:26 GMT

My daughter used the roaster oven to cook hers. Honeysuckle brand and best she has ever done. We did a breast as well in our oven and same brand and it was also very good.

We cover ours during the cooking process with foil and add chicken base and some butter as well. Few spices as well.

Too bad it did not come out well. I do not have any experience with a Butterball that I can remember. I'm sure we have done that brand in the past at some time. Just don't recall..

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

millieshops — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 14:14:49 GMT

Only other reason I can think of for such a bad experience might be that the small bird was not handled well as it was transported from factory to warehouse to store counter. If it had thawed even a bit it's my understanding that the resulting ice crystals can lead to tough, stringy poultry.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

ScrapHappy — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 14:57:11 GMT

This is not the first I heard with Butterball. But I can say I have had some of the same problems with just cooking a turkey breast over the years....especially when I first got married and started out cooking for a family. What I've done over the years:

I always defrost turkey longer in the fridge than what the instructions say.

I was the turkey very well with cool water, pat dry and leave out for 10 minutes or so

I always cook on at least 350 degrees, not th 325 they instruct me to

I cook with foil on for as long as possible and use the last of the cooking time to brown the bird

Always use a roasting pan with a wire rack in it

Cook turkey at least 15 minutes longer than instructions

The turkeys I cook are usually 8 pounds or under. Before I started doing what I mentioned, I'd always have raw parts. I think that by defrosting the turkey longer, the deeper insides of the turkey were able to defrost.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

colliegirls — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:45:46 GMT

I had Butterball turkeys for ages but the last two were so bad that I now buy my store brand, which are moist and delicious.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

haddon9 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:01:09 GMT

It's been years since I've made a brand like Butterball. I always get my turkeys fresh now when I can from the local farmer's market.

However I always use a roaster with a tight fitting lid. In the past I had one that my mother used in the oven. In the last few years I've been using a counter top roaster....the tight lid keeps the turkey from drying out. I also add a bit of water & wine at the bottom of the pan for extra moisture.

This year it was only three of us so I made a turkey breast and it was delicious!

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

Flatbush — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:05:21 GMT

@KatieB wrote:
I've never seen an entire turkey that small (8 lbs). Are you sure it was a turkey? The smallest I've seen has been 10 lbs. I normally purchase an 8 lb Butterball turkey breast and they turn out fine.

@KatieB

The reason I bought it was we were only going to be 4 people at dinner. I had never seen an 8 lb turkey. It was only a little bigger than a large chicken. I would try other brands, but dh insists on a Butterball. Oh well, there were plenty of other dishes so no one went hungry.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

Flatbush — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:11:10 GMT

@ValuSkr wrote:
I'm surprised Butterball let you down. Next time, just get a breast vs. a whole turkey.

@ValuSkr

I would have bought only a breast, but some people prefer the dark meat.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

Sooner — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:08:07 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
I've never had a Butterball that I've liked. They are to moist and wet. No taste either. I like Norbest. If I can't get a Norbest then I will not buy a Butterball ever again.

@Meowingkitty I don't think they have been really good for some time and we tried 2 or 3 of those little ones and they were not good at all.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

bmorechick — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:38:46 GMT

Interesting thread here because I too usually buy and cook two 8 pound Butterball breasts and they were always good. This year...not so much. Totally lacked flavor, despite me slathering it with herbs and spices. I have had Honeysuckle White breasts which were very good, but went with Butterball again this year. We all honestly prefer chicken roasters over turkey, so next year I will do all the fixins (what they really want anyway) and have my son in law spit roast three chicken roasters on his pellet grill. Not sure why the Butterballs were not up to par.

Re: BUTTERBALL TURKEY, NOT GOOD

eadu4 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:39:47 GMT

@Flatbush Yeaahh I have to agree with you. This year I got a 5lb Butterball, never again. It was just my husband and me so I didn't want a huge one. I used my rotissarie like I usually do and I have never had a bad turkey yet...until this year. My first year with a "Butterball". Never again. YUCK. We ate the stuffing (I did that separately) and cranberry sauce for leftovers-turkey got tossed. It was dry, stringy. I used a thermometer so I know I didnt over cook it. Nope, worst turkey ever. Oh well, saved us some calories the next day.