I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was skeptical when I received an email from a good contact of mine offering up a Jennie-O Oven Ready Whole Turkey. I immediately turned to the internet to find out how this freezer to oven to table turkey worked. Turns out that the turkey is packed in a special oven-safe bag that Jennie-O calls their Fool-Proof cooking bag.
Basically, you cut some vents in the bag and just put the frozen turkey in a pan in the oven for about three and a half to four hours for an 11-13 lb turkey. Fast, right?
So, I agreed to try it.
The GOOD: In the past, I have spent days — literally days — prepping glazes and rubs and defrosting turkeys. Not so with this turkey. I set the timer for the low end of the suggested time and went about my business. When I checked on the turkey, shortly before the timer was set to go off, the pop-up timer indicated that the turkey was ready. As for the taste, the turkey was moist and perfectly cooked, as promised. The traditional roast turkey flavor was spot-on. And the included gravy was easy to prepare and complimentary to the turkey.
The BAD: I wish the pop-out timer was a little more conspicuous. I had a hard time finding it (and actually didn’t find it until it had already popped). Although the turkey is in a clear bag, it can be tough to see which way is up when it’s frozen.
MONEY MATTERS: The Jennie-O Oven Ready Whole Turkey retails for about $2 per pound. It’s available at major retailers and supermarkets. It also can be ordered online at www.jennieo.com.
The MOM VERDICT
Sarah says: Last year, I gave birth just days before Thanksgiving. My daughter and I were released from the hospital on Thanksgiving day. I wish I could have had this turkey that day. The Jennie-O Oven Ready Whole Turkey is really easy and simple to make. And it tasted very good. However, if you make this, be sure to check on it regularly. Although mine was perfectly flavorful and moist, I suspect that I overcooked it slightly since the timer was already popped by the time I checked on it. As a result, it wasn’t the picture perfect turkey coming out of the oven. But, if I was time-pressed or needed an easy solution to turkey making, this is the route to go.
