Place the turkey breast side up on a cooking rack in a shallow roasting pan and place the pan in the center of the lowest rack of a preheated oven.
Roasting A Turkey
Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature ranging from 325°F to 350°F.
Roasting A Turkey
It is important to keep the oven door closed as much as possible while the turkey is roasting to maintain a constant temperature in the oven.
Roasting A Turkey
Basting a turkey provides a crispy, golden skin, but it does not add moisture or flavor to the interior of the turkey. Basting should be kept to a minimum so that the oven door is not opened too often.
Roasting A Turkey
Aluminum foil can be tented over the turkey near the end of the cooking time to keep the skin from becoming too brown.
Roasting A Turkey
Use a meat thermometer to determine the proper doneness, which is at least 170°F for the breast and 180°F for the thigh.
Roasting A Turkey
Allowing the turkey to rest for at least 20 minutes after taking it from the oven will let the liquids settle inside the meat, giving it more taste and tenderness and making carving much simpler.
Roasting A Turkey
– If turkey is browning too quickly, make a tent out of aluminum foil and place over the top of the bird.
– Celery layered at the base of a roasting pan adds flavor to the juices for delicious gravy.
Roasting Tips
– Roasting a turkey breast-side down for the first hour will keep the turkey moist. Turn turkey over after first hour to finish cooking.
Roasting Tips
– Rub a stick of butter over the turkey before roasting for a more moist turkey.
– Place sliced lemon, or a whole onion into the cavity of a turkey while roasting, the flavor will create a tasty juice for gravy.
Roasting Tips
Whole Turkey Cooked at 325º
Weight - 8 to 12 poundsUnstuffed - 2¾ to 3 hours
Stuffed -
3 to 3½ hours
Approximate Roasting Times
Weight - 12 to 14 poundsUnstuffed - 3 to 3¾ hours
Stuffed -
3½ to 4 hours
Approximate Roasting Times
Weight -14 to 18 poundsUnstuffed - 3¾ to 4¼ hours
Stuffed -
4 to 4¼ hours
Approximate Roasting Times
Weight -18 to 20 poundsUnstuffed - 4¼ to 4½ hours
Stuffed -
4¼ to 4¾ hours
Approximate Roasting Times
Weight -20 to 24 poundsUnstuffed - 4½ to 5 hours
Stuffed -
4¾ to 5¼ hours
Approximate Roasting Times
To ensure that the turkey meat is cooked to the right doneness, use a meat thermometer. A complete turkey can have an ovenproof thermometer inserted into it, and it can stay there while roasting.
Meat Thermometers
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