How Long Does It Take To Cook A Turkey For Thanksgiving This Year?

You can certainly prepare a whole turkey if you want to go all out. You can also substitute a turkey breast if you'd like to save time and money.

How much turkey do you need this Thanksgiving?

Do not — under any circumstances — forget this step. Your turkey will likely be purchased frozen unless you purchase a precooked bird from a grocery store. This means that you must prepare ahead of time because it may take your turkey one to six days to completely thaw.

What's the best way to thaw a turkey?

Naturally, cooking time varies depending on how much turkey you're cooking. You must rely on a meat thermometer in order to ensure that your turkey is cooked to the correct temperature (165–170 F).

How long does it take to cook a turkey?

It will obviously take less time if you use a higher heat setting, but you run the risk of burning the turkey's skin; this is also true of the "start high, then lower the heat" method. Maintaining the oven's temperature at the same level throughout is easier and more dependable.

How long to cook a turkey

Dry brining and wet brining are the two most widely used brining techniques. Wet brining involves soaking the turkey in salt water, while dry brining involves rubbing coarse salt on the bird. The turkey must be completely thawed before using either method.

Should you brine your turkey?

You'll need some fresh herbs, spices, and aromatics to season your turkey. We've provided a seasoning recipe below that is perfect for both beginners and experts, but you can always tweak it to suit your preferences as necessary.

How to season a turkey

Here's our recommendation for roasting your bird on Thanksgiving (or any other holiday): 1. Thaw your turkey completely the day before you intend to roast it, then empty the cavity of its contents.

What's the best way to roast a Thanksgiving turkey?

Save the giblets (heart, liver, and gizzard) to make gravy or stuffing rather than throwing them away. Keep your neck free!

What's the best way to roast a Thanksgiving turkey?

Liberally salt the turkey, making sure to get under the skin of the breast as well.

What's the best way to roast a Thanksgiving turkey?

Set the oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat it to 350 degrees F the following day. Take the turkey out of the refrigerator and get it ready for roasting by following the next few instructions while this takes about 20 minutes.

What's the best way to roast a Thanksgiving turkey?

Take the turkey out of the oven when the inner thigh meat thermometer reads 170 degrees F and the juices run clear. Before carving, let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes.

What's the best way to roast a Thanksgiving turkey?

Make sure to set aside the roasting pan, as well as the vegetables from the bird's cavity and the neck, if you intend to make your own turkey gravy.

What's the best way to roast a Thanksgiving turkey?

The turkey can be difficult to flip, but this method is easier and still delicious. The turkey can simply be roasted in one upright position for the duration of cooking.

Or, try this easier method

To keep the breast tender and from drying out, I advise basting it every 30 to 40 minutes. If the skin begins to brown before the meat is done, you can tent the pan with aluminum foil; just remove the foil for the last few minutes of cooking to get a nice, crispy skin on the turkey.

Or, try this easier method

Despite your best efforts and the assistance of this guide, things can occasionally go wrong. The good news is that when it comes to cooking, most mistakes can be corrected.

How to fix overcooked, dry turkey

Mix equal parts gravy and flavorful stock, then pour the mixture over a dry turkey to moisten it. Following that, you can wrap the meat in foil and re-bake it for 10 to 15 minutes at 200 degrees F. Additionally, you could always cover the meat in gravy or cranberry sauce.

How to fix overcooked, dry turkey

There are a few ways to fix the undercooked meat if your seemingly golden-brown turkey actually has raw meat inside. Don't simply re-bake it in the oven.

How to fix undercooked, raw turkey

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