Corey Fricke is the owner and chef at The Patio Cafe in downtown Medicine Hat and she says there are some do's and don't's to Cooking the perfect turkey ( Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

A local chef’s guide to cooking the perfect holiday turkey

Dec 21, 2020 | 4:27 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- With Christmas around the corner, many will be attempting to cook up the perfect holiday turkey, some for the very first time, and a local chef says there are some do’s and dont’s to preparing a delicious holiday feast.

Corey Fricke has owned and operated The Patio Cafe for nearly 12 years in Medicine Hat, and she has been in the food business since 1972.

She recommends that newbies take their time when preparing the turkey and says it is wise to peel vegetables, set the table and make the stuffing the day before to ensure you have enough time.

If your turkey is frozen she recommends letting it thaw safely in the fridge for about four days before the dinner.

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As for how to prevent your turkey from becoming dry, there is a secret for that too.

“ We put the butter under the skin, and then we smooth it with butter, and then we season it, put a slice of saran wrap on top, then I put the foil, and we put about an inch and a half to two inches of water in the bottom of the pan, and because we cook it in a commercial oven, we can do our turkeys in three hours pretty much depending on the size and we find that if you leave it sealed and then temp it to make sure it is 180 degrees and, she is usually so moist we usually have no difficulty with our turkey’s, Fricke said.

The temperature you should cook a turkey at varies depending on if you have a gas or convection oven, according to Fricke but the average temperature is around 325 degrees.

Poultry seasoning, sage rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper are good seasonings to use, according to Fricke, but she says moderation is key.

If cooking a turkey seems to hard, The Patio Cafe is offering take-out turkey dinners that include turkey, salad, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy, a Dee’s baked good bun, and a tin of Christmas deserts.

The cost is $20.00 and delivery is available to people who are shut in due to COVID-19.

Orders must be in by December 22.