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    Home » Meat » Turkey

    How to Roast a Juicy Turkey

    Published: Nov 14, 2020 · Modified: Aug 19, 2022 by Ashley Havecker

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    Jump to:
    • Turkey Recipe Cheat-Sheet
    • How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Turkey
    • How Long to Thaw a Turkey
    • Roasting a Turkey

    Whether you’re roasting a whole turkey for the first time, or just need your yearly refresher, this guide will help you through the steps to a perfect turkey: Crispy skin, tender meat, and so delicious you’ll wonder why you waited a year to eat it again. This is the easiest, simplest way to roast a turkey.

    This method will work with any turkey: Big or small, brined or not, free-range or otherwise. Cooking times will vary, but the basic technique will be the same. For reference, the turkey in the photos was an 18-pound turkey from Wal-mart.

    How to Roast a Tasty and Juicy Turkey

    Turkey Recipe Cheat-Sheet

    • How big of a turkey do I need? The rule of thumb is to buy 1 to 1 ½ pounds of turkey for each guest.
    • How long to cook the turkey? 12 minutes of cooking time for each pound of turkey if roasting empty and 15 minutes per pound if stuffed.
    • What temperature to cook the turkey? Preheat the oven to 350°F then put the turkey into the oven.
    • What temperature should the turkey be when done? The turkey is done when it registers a minimum of 165° in the thickest part of the thigh.
    • How long to rest the turkey? Rest the turkey for at least 15-30 minutes before carving.

    How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Turkey

    Be sure to let your turkey completely thaw before cooking. The best way is to loosen the wrapping and place the turkey on a baking sheet (Do not remove the wrapping, just cut off the net bag it is in), then thaw in the refrigerator.

    How Long to Thaw a Turkey

    A frozen turkey needs 24 hours thawing time for every five pounds of turkey. So for my 18lb turkey, it thawed for 3 days and approximately 72hrs. For quicker thawing, place the turkey in a cold water bath (it is not safe to thaw a turkey with warm water) and change the water every 30 minutes until it’s thawed — about a half-hour per pound.

    Roast a Turkey

    Roasting a Turkey

    Whether you’re roasting a whole turkey for the first time, or just need your yearly refresher, this guide will help you through the steps to a perfect turkey: Crispy skin, tender meat, and so delicious you’ll wonder why you waited a year to eat it again.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 3 hrs 30 mins
    Resting Time 30 mins
    Total Time 4 hrs 15 mins
    Course Main Course, Meat
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 stick Butter
    • 16-18 lb Turkey

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
    • Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan.
    • Using ¾ of the stick of butter, cut approximately ⅛inch sections.
    • Using a spoon lift the skin on the turkey and stuff some butter all around.
    • With the remaining ¼ of butter use it to rub all around the skin of the turkey.
    • Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.
    • Roast the turkey for about 3 to 3 ½ hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh.
    • Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil. Let rest for 15-30 minutes before cutting and serving
    Keyword Roasting a Turkey
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    How to Roast a Tasty and Juicy Turkey

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    About Ashley Havecker

    My name is Ashley Havecker. I'm a self-taught cook with decades of experience. It's a bonding experience when family and friends can gather together for a meal. This simple yet powerful bonding is why I’ve built Saving Mealtime to make mealtime more convenient and a precious time of day.

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