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• • • • •
Time
2h40

"May your stuffing be tasty. May your turkey plump. May your potatoes and gravy. Have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious. And your pies take the prize. And may your Thanksgiving dinner. Stay off your thighs!" -Anonymous
Turkey Tip #1: How to get that gorgeous golden color? Follow Alton Brown's instructions on baking at 500F for 30 mins and then 2 hours at 350F.

Turkey Tip #2: Use a turkey triangle. AKA a piece of foil folded into the shape of a triangle to cover up the breast of the turkey during roasting.

Turkey Tip #3: Keep the oven close. No matter how badly you want to check if it's burnt or golden DO NOT open that oven until the 2 hour mark. And keep an eye out for poachers.

Turkey Tip #4: After taking the bird out from the oven, cover with foil and allow to rest for at least 15 minutes.

Posted by Jane K. from Austin, Texas, United States • Published See Jane K.'s 8 projects »
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  • How to cook a turkey. Roasted Turkey - Step 1
    Step 1

    Ingredients
    1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey

    For the brine
    1 cup kosher salt
    1/2 cup light brown sugar
    1 gallon vegetable stock
    1 tablespoon black peppercorns
    1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
    1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
    1 gallon heavily iced water

    2 to 3 days before roasting:

    Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.
    Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.

    Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.
    Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine.
    Place the bird on roasting rack inside a half sheet pan and pat dry with paper towels.

  • How to cook a turkey. Roasted Turkey - Step 2
    Step 2

    For the aromatics
    1 red apple, sliced
    1/2 onion, sliced
    1 cinnamon stick
    1 cup water
    4 sprigs rosemary
    6 leaves sage
    Canola oil

    Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey's cavity along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin liberally with canola oil.
    Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

  • How to cook a turkey. Roasted Turkey - Step 3
    Step 3

    Ina Garten's Herb Roast Rub.

    1 tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves)
    2 tsp dry mustard
    1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary leaves
    1 tbsp chopped fresh sage leaves
    1 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
    2 tsp kosher salt
    1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
    2 tbsp good olive oil

    2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
    1 cup dry white wine

    In a bowl, combine the garlic, mustard, herbs, salt, pepper, olive oil, & lemon juice to make a paste.
    Loosen the skin from the meat gently with your fingers & smear half of the paste directly on the meat.
    Spread the remaining paste evenly on the skin. Pour the wine into the bottom of the roasting pan.

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