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How an Engineer Can Use ChatGPT to Prepare a Thanksgiving Meal
Forget time-honored cookbooks and YouTube videos. Querying ChatGPT provides a detailed game plan to prep a Thanksgiving meal, including the turkey.
4 Min Read
ChatGPT provides a step-by-step guide to preparing the Thanksgiving meal, including the turkey.bhofack2/ iStock / Getty Images Plus
With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, many folks are tasked with preparing a complete Thanksgiving Day meal. While people like engineers likely face far more difficult tasks in their daily work getting navigating perplexing code or getting hardware to work properly, prepping a Thanksgiving Day meal, particularly for the first time, presents some logistical and execution challenges.
Since AI programs such as ChatGPT are increasingly queried for all types of questions, DesignNews logically asked the question, geared toward our readership, “What is an engineer's best way to prepare a complete Thanksgiving meal.”
ChatGPT came up with a step-by-step, measured response stating:
An engineer’s approach to preparing a complete Thanksgiving meal is all about optimization, planning, and efficiency. Here's a step-by-step guide:
1. Define the Scope
Menu Planning: Choose dishes (turkey, sides, desserts) and list all ingredients.
Constraints: Consider dietary needs, equipment limitations, and timing.
Goals: Maximize flavor, minimize stress, and ensure everything is served hot.
2. Break Down the Tasks
Create a work breakdown structure (WBS):
3. Create a Gantt Chart or Timeline
Turkey (longest task): Start early (3–4 hours for roasting, 30 min resting).
Parallel Cooking: While the turkey is roasting:
Use a critical path analysis to ensure tasks with the longest dependencies are prioritized.
4. Optimize Resources
Oven: Allocate time slots for roasting, baking, and reheating.
Stovetop: Boil potatoes, steam vegetables, and simmer gravy.
Microwave/Slow Cooker: Warm rolls or keep sides hot.
5. Use Tools and Hacks
Spreadsheet or App: Track timings and ingredients.
Kitchen Gadgets:
Multitask: Assign family members specific jobs.
6. Prepare in Advance
T-2 Days: Make pies, cranberry sauce, and chop veggies.
T-1 Day: Brine turkey, make stuffing, prepare doughs or breads.
7. Execute and Monitor
Stick to your timeline but adjust based on real-time conditions (e.g., oven lag).
Use timers, alarms, and checklists to stay on track.
Conduct a “quality assurance” check (taste test) for key dishes before serving.
8. Post-Mortem and Celebrate
Serve the meal and enjoy!
After dinner, evaluate what worked and what didn’t for next year.
With this methodical approach, an engineer can tackle Thanksgiving dinner like a well-oiled production line.
ChatGPT’s response, while it may appear obvious for an experienced cook, properly lays out a sequence for performing the various steps in Thanksgiving meal preparation to avoid the holiday chaos that can get exacerbated during an extremely busy time in many households.
How to Prepare the Turkey
The most challenging part of preparing the Thanksgiving meal is, of course, preparing and roasting the turkey. As a follow-up, we asked ChatGPT, “What is the best thanksgiving turkey recipe for an engineer?”
ChatGPT responded, “An engineer’s optimal recipe for a Thanksgiving turkey focuses on achieving precise control of temperature, flavor infusion, and texture. Here’s a step-by-step, highly systematic recipe for the perfect turkey.” The answer then provided step-by-step instructions as follows:
Engineering-Optimized Thanksgiving Turkey
Key Features:
Juicy interior (brining and careful temperature monitoring)
Crispy skin (drying and butter application)
Even cooking (spatchcocking or strategic temperature management)
Equipment
Meat thermometer: Essential for precision (digital probe recommended).
Large food-safe container: For brining.
Kitchen shears: For spatchcocking (optional).
Roasting pan with rack: Promotes airflow for even cooking.
Aluminum foil: Prevents over-browning.
Timer or scheduling app: To stay on track.
Ingredients
For the Brine (Optional, but highly recommended)
1 gallon water
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
Aromatics: garlic cloves, black peppercorns, bay leaves, fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage)
Optional: 1 cup apple cider or orange juice for subtle sweetness
For the Turkey
12–14 lb turkey, fresh or fully thawed
Olive oil or melted butter (for skin)
Seasoning mix: salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and sage
Aromatics for cavity: onion, lemon, garlic, herbs
Preparation
T-24 Hours: Brining (Optional)
Dissolve salt and sugar in water. Add aromatics.
Submerge turkey in the brine, ensuring it’s fully covered (use a plate as a weight). Refrigerate for 12–24 hours.
ChatGPT suggests brining the turkey to retain moisture and flavor. (The Washington Post / Contributor/Via Getty Images)
T-12 Hours: Air-Drying
Remove turkey from the brine, rinse, and pat completely dry.
Place on a rack in the fridge uncovered to air-dry. This enhances skin crispiness.
Cooking Day (Main Event)
Step 1: Spatchcocking (Optional but Optimal)
Why: Spatchcocking flattens the turkey, allowing for even cooking of both the breast and thighs.
How: Use kitchen shears to remove the backbone, flip the turkey, and press firmly to flatten.
Step 2: Preheat Oven
Temperature: 375°F for even roasting (400°F for a faster cook with a crispy finish).
Step 3: Season and Prep
Rub turkey with olive oil or melted butter for browning.
Apply seasoning mix liberally to the skin, under the skin, and inside the cavity.
Place aromatics (onion, lemon, garlic, herbs) in the cavity or beneath the bird if spatchcocked.
Step 4: Roast
Initial Phase:
Place turkey on a rack, breast-side up (or flat if spatchcocked).
Thermometer Placement: Insert probe into the thickest part of the breast and thigh (avoid bone).
Cook Time:
Breast: Target 160°F (carryover heat will raise it to 165°F).
Cook Time:
Breast: Target 160°F (carryover heat will raise it to 165°F).
Step 5: Adjustments
Browning too quickly: Tent with foil.
Uneven cooking: Rotate the pan halfway through.
Step 6: Rest
Remove turkey from the oven and tent loosely with foil.
Rest for 30 minutes (critical for juicy meat).
Serving and Optimization
Carve turkey systematically (separate legs, wings, then carve breast).
Collect pan drippings for gravy.
Record time, temperatures, and feedback for future iterations!
Why It Works for Engineers
Brine: Infuses flavor and retains moisture.
Spatchcocking: Reduces cooking time and ensures even cooking.
Thermometer Monitoring: Precision prevents overcooking.
Air-Drying: Ensures crispy skin.
This method balances taste, time, and process control, resulting in a turkey engineered for perfection.
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