Turkey Plucking Tips

[BigMamaBird]

Hi folks,

 

A very kind friend raised some turkeys for us all summer and we're planning on having one for Christmas.  However, I grew up with self-basing, commercially raised turkeys that you unwrap, debag and throw in the oven.  I've never brined a bird let a lone plucked and cleaned one.  She took off the majority of the feathers but warned there was still some work to be done. 

 

Is it simply as easy as thawing it out and pulling them out with my fingers or should I be prepared for some extra work here?

 

And as for brining, I've been looking at Alton Brown's suggestions and will probably follow what he has to say but would love to hear your advice as well.  

[amy g.]

I personally would not freeze a turkey without fully plucking it, but it should be fine anyway.

 

Bleach your sink and put your thawed turkey in the sink. Use a sharp knife, tweezers and maybe even pliers to go over the bird again and again. Check under the wings for stray feathers and in any crevices.

 

Then go over the skin quickly with a torch to remove the pin feathers.

 

Then brine and cook.

 

Good luck!