How to Roast the Perfect Turkey

Step 1

Remove the turkey from the packaging and remove the neck and giblets from the cavity.

Step 2

You can use these to make turkey stock if desired...I usually throw them away.

Step 3

Pat dry with paper towels.

Step 4

Place the turkey on a tray and cover with paper towels and aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator overnight.

Step 5

Remove the turkey from the refrigerator and uncover.

Step 6

Place the turkey, breast side up in the roasting pan on top of a rack.

Step 7

If you are roasting the turkey with stuffing, add your prepared stuffing now to the cavity of the turkey. If you are not stuffing the turkey, make sure you salt and pepper the cavity.

Step 8

You can also add onions, apples, celery, carrots and parsnips to the cavity of the bird. These will all add flavor to the turkey. Make sure you stuff loosely.

Step 9

Turn the wings back or under the bird. Using kitchen twine, truss the legs of the turkey together

Step 10

Cover the turkey with the softened butter, the more the better. This is Thanksgiving and calories don’t count.

Step 11

Sprinkle the turkey with salt and pepper and then poultry seasoning. If you prefer different seasonings, please use your favorite.

Step 12

Roast the turkey at 400 degrees for the first 20 minutes. Then lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 hours.

Step 13

If you notice that the turkey is getting too brown while it is cooking, cover loosely with aluminum foil.

Step 14

Don’t forget to baste your turkey! I like to baste every 20 minutes or so using chicken stock.

Step 15

The turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey’s thigh reads 170 degrees.

Step 16

If you stuffed the turkey with dressing, the dressing should reach 165 degrees for it to be safe to consume.

Step 17

Once the turkey is finished cooking, remove it from the oven. Take the turkey out of the roasting pan and place on a cutting board. Cover the turkey with aluminum foil.

Step 18

Let the turkey rest for 30 to 60 minutes before carving.

Step 19

Instructions on how to make lump-free gravy are in my post for Pot Roast. It's the SAME recipe, only you'll be using the turkey drippings for turkey gravy instead of the beef broth from the pot roast.

Step 20

Step-by-step photo instructions are included in that post as well.