Why Louisiana is Cooking Thanksgiving Turkey in a Pillowcase

When it comes to cooking Thanksgiving turkey in Louisiana, we've all got our tried and true methods.

From injecting the turkey with Tony's and butter, to smoking or frying the turkey, to spatchcock turkey, to the cooking the bird in a more traditional way, we all have our different ways of doing it.

Although not a new method, the pillowcase turkey method has seemed to have really taken off this Thanksgiving across Louisiana and the rest of the Country.

OK, so what the heck is pillowcase turkey?

Pillowcase Turkey

Cooking a turkey in a pillowcase is an unconventional and somewhat old-fashioned method that some people use to prepare a moist and flavorful turkey.

These days we have things like cheese cloth and plastic turkey bags to help cook the turkey more evenly, but decades ago people got innovative and began using pillowcases to cook their turkey in to achieve the same results.

You know how it goes, at some point everything old is new again, and that seems to be the trend this Thanksgiving.

This method typically involves using an untreated, 100% cotton pillowcase.

The pillowcase acts like a cooking bag, trapping moisture and helping the turkey cook evenly.

The most common way to cook pillowcase turkey we've seen is to completely cover the pillowcase in butter, broth, and wine once the turkey is wrapped and ready to cook.

Will The Pillowcase Catch On Fire If I Cook A Turkey In It?

There is always a chance the pillowcase could catch on fire in the oven, so this is why you cover the pillowcase in butter, wine, broth, etc.

Make sure the pillowcase is and stays completely soaked while cooking. If you need to keep dousing the pillowcase while cooking, do it.

It's a bit more complicated of a turkey recipe, but there are people who swear pillowcase turkey is the best turkey you'll eat in your life.

From bhg.com -

"We were blown away by how moist, juicy, and flavorful this turkey recipe was. To be honest, it was the best turkey I've ever tasted (and I thought nothing could top my father-in-law's deep-fried turkey).

Our Test Kitchen director Lynn Blanchard called it 'worth the effort.'

Culinary Specialist Emily Nienhaus says 'it tastes and feels like it's been sous vide in butter.' All of our recipe tasters gave the finished turkey 5 stars."

Pillowcase Turkey Recipe

Use a 100% cotton, untreated, and unbleached pillowcase. Avoid fabrics with dyes, chemicals, or polyester blends, as these can release harmful substances when heated.

Soak the pillowcase in water, wring it out, and then immerse it in melted butter or seasoned oil. This keeps the fabric moist and prevents it from burning in the oven.

Season the turkey as desired with herbs, spices, etc.

Most pillowcase turkey recipes call for wrapping the turkey in bacon before covering with the pillowcase to cook.

Place the turkey inside the buttered/seasoned pillowcase and make sure it's completely covered.

Place the wrapped turkey on a roasting rack inside a pan. Cook at a moderate temperature (e.g., 325°F/163°C) according to the weight of the turkey.

Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the breast and 180°F (82°C) in the thigh.