Do a turkey in your dutch oven this Thanksgiving...

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

I seasoned up a 16lb. turkey last night, stuffed it with bacon and let it cook in my Maca oval for 4 hours at about 325-350.
Didn't take any peeks and when I lifted the lid, it had just about collapsed onto itself... Was challenging to get it out of the dutch oven in one piece.
Also tried something, I always wanted to do... Stuck it in the dutch oven upside down. (White meat down, dark meat up)
The meat fell off the bones and was way too easy to gather up.
I ended up with a huge platter of juicey tender white & dark meat for dinners and sandwiches this week, two bowls of soup meat, one bowl of drippings to add to my soup broth I made on the kitchen stove by rendering the neck and body organs while the bird was cooking.
Thanksgiving is a good time to play with your dutch oven because turkey prices really drop for the holiday. (No pics or video of that one, but will on the next one)

[Ratkity]

OMG.. it sounds fabbo!!! Too bad you are all the way on the left coast. I'd have been inviting myself over for some of that yummy dark meat.

This is bad. I'm having morning turkey cravings.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[Mightydog]

I can make it to your house in about 10 or 12 hours, I think. See you for dinner tonight.

That sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately, we don't have a DO big enough to fit a bird like that.

[doris s.]

I was thinking about cooking thanksgiving dinner in the back yard but I don't have a DO big enough.

Doris

[Joamon]

Hey Dean! Could you please show or describe the Maca oven. I am just curious what size oven it would take to cook a 16 lb. turkey.
Thanks Keith

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Keith,
The Maca Oval I have is the 12" x 16" (Elk)... It's 9"deep and weighs 62 lbs.
It will handle a 20 lb. turkey with no problem.
Our local dutch oven group is getting together this weekend and I'm going to be do a sweet potato dish, but will also be doing two more turkeys over the holiday.
I'll shoot some video of everything and try to tie it all into one video.
I made the turkey soup last night from the turkey I cooked on Sunday and it came out the way soup should be... Fit for a bowl to be eaten!!!
I don't understand why a lot of soups out there aren't drank from a glass.
I also have Maca's 22"er and it's a beast, will handle 4-25lb. prime ribs at once.
Here's a link to their Website

[caseydog]

Man, we need to get my smokers, and your Dutch ovens together some time. Two different ways of cooking really good food.

We BBQ guys have a method of prepping birds called "spatchcocking." Basically, you de-spine the bird, cut off the leg quarters, and smoke the meat flat.

I'm thinking you could do the same thing with a DO, and not have to have a huge DO to pull it off.

It's really nothing more than making a big bird fit into a small space, with no hollow cavity to deal with.

CD

[Joamon]

Wow! 62lbs. That will separate the men from the boy's. Not for the weekend cooker. I think that might be a little out of my league. Yoy got this cast iron thing real bad. I can hide a lot of things in my garage but i'm not sure about a 62 lb oven. Altough you no I do have an old claw foot tub out there. If I could just figure out a way ... naw. Anyway Dean sure do look forward to your videos. I really have been enjoying them.
Thanks Keith

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Keith,
The oval one isn't bad to manage, it's the 22"er that's a bearcat to handle... It tops the scales at 160 lbs. empty.
I have no problem asking my kid to help me move it around either.

[Ratkity]

o.m.g.

Shipping on the 22" is $174 - over half the price!!

I wanted to see a picture of it next to something identifiable, you know, for a size comparison.

You have any picts of these monsters cooking?? I'm all for food porn, btw. hehe.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[Eunice]

I was thinking about cooking thanksgiving dinner in the back yard but I don't have a DO big enough.

Doris

I had the butcher cut my turkey in half. Works just fine. This is the best turkey. I do it in a DO or deep fried. I havent put one in the oven for several years.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

I've been eating turkey all week long... For some reason, I just don't feel like having turkey for dinner tonoght.
I have a picture of the 22 in action somewhere, will try to dig it up...

[Rock]

How about the picture of Joanne sitting in the 20 incher

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

I sure miss Bobby's uploader site... Can't find a pic showing the 22" in action, but here's TDN relaxing in the 20"...

[Kevin A]

Great photo, Deano. Good lookin trailer in the background too.....