Weekend Project: Plan ahead for the Thanksgiving holiday

Nov 18, 2009 10:31 AM

With Thanksgiving just over a week away, this weekend my wife and I will put the finishing touches on plans for our holiday gathering. We'll check on the wines in the wine cellar and clean the stemware, add the extra leaves to the dining-room table, get the house in order for the big day, and take care of a few other odds and ends.

When it comes to the holiday meal itself, I'm a pretty traditional guy, but this year I'm going to change things up a bit. Since one of my kids has become a "fishetarian"—that is, she eschews beef, chicken, and turkey but eats fish—I'll make a poached-salmon dish to accompany the turkey instead of a rib roast. And I'm considering grilling the bird outdoors instead of roasting it in the oven. Even though I have double ovens, I'd like to free up some cooking space for the array of side dishes I'll prepare.

Turns out I'm not alone when it comes to not oven-roasting the bird. According to a recent poll by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, more than 70 percent of respondents said they won't use the oven to cook their turkey: 18 percent plan to grill, 25 percent expect to smoke, and 28 percent intend to deep-fry. (Americans are expected to cook 46 million turkeys this year.)

These alternative cooking methods appeal for a number of reasons, says a National Turkey Federation survey. Fifty-four percent of respondents are looking to try something new; 54 percent think grilling, smoking, or frying produces a more-tender or juicier turkey; 53 percent want to free up oven space; and 52 percent envision easier cleanup. This last one sounds like another compelling reason to grill the turkey.

Here's hoping your Thanksgiving is a joyous occasion. The advice here might help with the planning and take some of the stress out of your day:

• If you need a new grill to cook your turkey, check out our free buyer's guide to gas grills.

• If you want to smoke your bird, take a look at the Traeger Lil' Tex BBQ070 pellet-fueled cooker.

• If you're considering deep-frying a turkey, don't miss "A Safer Way to Fry a Turkey" and watch the accompanying video for important safety advice. You can also "deep-fry" your turkey without oil.

• If you need some basic wine advice for the holiday, read about the right wines to serve.

• And if your knives have seen better days, read our ratings-based report on kitchen knives.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook