My Granny used to make it from scratch in the oven, and we all loved it. She shared the recipe with me and I was able to make it like hers before she passed. I don't make it for Thanksgiving, but I should. I do make one of her other dishes for Thanksgiving. It's a broccoli and cauliflower dish with a sauce and melted cheese. It's amazing.
I feel called out... Bless my grandma and my mom for giving me a chance to taste things during family dinners but having a backup because they knew I wouldn't like anything.
Ideal temperature for killing bacteria is more of a spectrum than a hard set number. 165°F is the USDA recommendation because it's idiot-proof. Guarantees that all bacteria will be instantly killed.
But if you pull the bird at 165°F, you've already overcooked the meat and dried out all the juices. Personally I take my poultry out at 150°F, let it sit and naturally rise to 155-157°, and so long as it stays at or above 155 for more than 90 seconds, it's perfectly safe to eat. The number is more like 45 seconds IIRC but I double it just to be safe. Been doing it this way for over a decade and it's never gotten anyone sick.
My ham has been in the oven for 2 hours and the core temperature is only 70... I don't think it will be ready when "dinner" starts in an hour and a half...
To be fair, this is the first time I've cooked holiday food in my own oven in my own residence... I've never cooked a ham this big before.
Agreed, which is why I bought a digital thermometer and prob my bird multiple times in different locations and depths to make absolutely sure of this.
Turkey takes hours depending on the size and weight. Chicken is a bit less.
Ducks are usually about five or six pounds and very fatty which means they cook a bit faster than most other birds. I don't normally roast them myself, I cut them into chunks and make a duck soup or stew.
..... and a critical skill for any would be Thanksgiving chef out there .... LEARN TO MAKE TASTY SAVOURY GRAVY! It doesn't matter how well you cook your turkey, chicken or duck, if you don't make a good gravy with it, it won't be fun for anyone.