This is enough for a 20 pound fresh turkey. You can decrease the quantity for a smaller bird.
This is enough for a 20 pound fresh turkey. You can decrease the quantity for a smaller bird.
The secret to roasting the perfect Thanksgiving turkey is planning: First, youll want to know how much turkey per person is needed to feed the family! Second, you have to get the bird in the turkey brine the day before the big feast. Third, you have to make yourself get up early enough on Thanksgiving morning to get the bird in the oven for a noontime feast. Ive had many a year when Ive pushed the snooze button a few too many times and weve had to eat an hour or two late. Im a cautionary tale. Dont let this happen to you!
There are two things you can do to keep your turkey juicy. First, know how long to cook a turkey so you do not overcook it! Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong, my friends. Wrong. But guess what can help? A meat thermometer. Get one. Even if you only use it once a year for this exact purpose, its worth it. Second, seasoning the turkey this way does wonders for its flavor and moisture.
Get the butter mixture in all the crevices! Tickle it a little! Then insert a meat thermometer into the thigh of the turkey, raise the oven temperature to 350°F and put the turkey back into the oven, uncovered, basting it with the juices/butter in the bottom of the pan every 30 minutes.
Roast the turkey until the temperature registers 165°F. For a 20 pound turkey, this should take an additional 1 ½ to 2 hours. Keep basting it every 30 minutes during this stage so that the skin will turn a deep golden brown. (This turkey needed another 20 minutes or so to get totally done.)
After the turkey has roasted for the first stage, remove the foil and smear the butter mixture all over the skin of the turkey. Note that because the turkey has been covered, it will still be very pale. That’s totally normal! It’s getting ready to get gorgeous here in a bit.
Ree Drummond’s Simple Roast Turkey | The Pioneer Woman | Food Network
FAQ
How does Trisha Yearwood cook a turkey overnight?
How does Ina Garten cook her turkey?
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil while cooking?