How to Cook a Turkey

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Step 2

Place onion, celery, and carrot in a large, shallow roasting pan.

Step 3

Place turkey, breast side up, on top of the vegetables in the roasting pan. Pat the outside and inside of the turkey dry with paper towels.

Step 4

Combine salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Season the inside of the turkey with about 1/3 of the salt mixture. Fold wing tips under the bird.

Step 5

Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat until the edges begin to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Cook and stir rosemary and sage for 1 minute.

Step 6

Place rosemary and sage inside the cavity of the turkey; reserve melted butter. Tie the legs together with twine.

Step 7

Brush outside of the turkey completely with the melted butter. Season with remaining 2/3 of the salt mixture.

Step 8

Bake turkey, uncovered, in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 3 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the turkey from the oven and allow to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.