what happened to the turkey in christmas vacation

What Really Happened to the Turkey in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a beloved holiday classic that has become a comedic tradition for families across America since its release in 1989. Millions eagerly await its annual TV airings so they can spend time with the disaster-prone Griswold clan led by well-meaning but hapless patriarch Clark Griswold, played flawlessly by Chevy Chase.

One of the most iconic and hilarious scenes from Christmas Vacation involves the family sitting down for Christmas dinner only to have Clark proudly present a turkey so overcooked and desiccated that it literally deflates like a balloon when he attempts to carve it. This memorable moment never fails to get big laughs but it has left viewers puzzled for years – what exactly caused this poor bird to end up so shriveled and bone-dry? Let’s examine the science behind this classic movie scene.

Setting the Stage – How the Turkey is Introduced

We first see the ill-fated turkey earlier in the film when Clark’s wife Ellen and cousin Catherine are preparing Christmas dinner. The turkey is already fully cooked and golden brown, resting calmly on the kitchen counter. When Clark calls the family in to see it, he raves “If this turkey tastes half as good as it looks, I think we’re all in for a very big treat.” At this point, the turkey appears perfectly cooked and ready to be enjoyed.

However, when Clark attempts to carve it at the dinner table, the deflated, desiccated bird elicits shrieks of horror from the family. Clearly, something has gone terribly wrong in the time between the turkey looking pristine in the kitchen and ending up a shriveled husk at the table. But what? Let’s examine what likely happened versus what should have happened.

What Should Have Happened for Perfect Turkey:

• Proper thawing – turkey must be completely thawed before cooking to prevent ice crystals from ruining the texture

• Moderate oven temperature around 325°F allows turkey to cook through gently without drying out

• Adequate cook time – 15 lb turkey needs approx. 13 min per lb, so around 3 hours total

• Resting – allowing turkey to rest 15-30 mins after cooking lets juices redistribute for maximum moistness

What Went Wrong for the Griswolds:

• Higher oven temperature causes moisture in turkey to evaporate quickly

• Ellen says they “put it in too early” – likely first thing in the morning. Too long cook time leads to dryness.

• No resting period – Clark immediately carved turkey, allowing juices to spill out instead of being reabsorbed

Why the Outside Still Looked Perfect:

Turkey cooks from the outside in. The exterior finished cooking first, giving it that beautiful golden crispy skin. However, without lowering the oven temp and basting periodically, the inside continued cooking for hours, becoming extremely overdone and dried out.

Meathead Goldwyn, founder of AmazingRibs.com, confirms it would be impossible for the outside to look so perfect if the inside was truly overcooked and desiccated. As turkey cooks, the entire bird shrinks as moisture evaporates – so the skin would have shriveled and darkened along with the meat if it was really overcooked that badly.

How to Avoid Turkey Disaster:

While the Griswold turkey makes for quality comedy, no one wants that at their real holiday table. Follow these tips for juicy, perfectly cooked turkey:

• Thaw completely in fridge 1-2 days before cooking

• Preheat oven to 325°F and use a meat thermometer to determine doneness, not cook times

• Tent foil loosely over turkey to prevent over-browning

• Baste every 30 mins with pan drippings for moisture and color

• Allow to rest 15-30 mins before carving so juices redistribute

The Takeaway:

The shrivelled Griswold turkey teaches an important lesson – don’t rely solely on cook times! Use a meat thermometer. Clark was foolish to boast before properly checking doneness. Let this be a warning – don’t judge a turkey by its crispy browned skin alone! With some simple precautions, you can avoid dinner disaster and enjoy a properly cooked, mouthwateringly moist and tender turkey.