7 Key Tips To Roast a Turkey Perfectly
Festival season has officially begun and we have entered the time when the conversation revolves around who is to host the Thanksgiving dinner this time. Most people assume toasting a turkey to be a tedious and difficult task and leave it to the more experienced cooks of the family, but with these methods, you can also master the process of making a turkey.
Ingredients
1 Turkey [1 pound per person, unless you want leftovers]
Unsalted Butter [room temperature or melted]
Kosher Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Kitchen twine
Instant - read meat thermometer
Defrost Your Turkey [If It’s Frozen]
Ideally you should let your turkey defrost over the course of a few days before Thanksgiving. If you have not been able to do so, the golden rule is about 24 hours of thawing for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey.
If you have forgotten to do so, use the water thawing method. Just place your frozen turkey, with its packaging, in a bucket and cover with cold tap water, weighing it down with a can or something to ensure that it’s fully submerged. 30 minutes per pound of turkey should do the trick, but do not forget to replace the water every 30 minutes.
Bring Your Turkey To Room Temperature
Let the turkey come down to room temperature before patting it dry with paper towels. Patting it with towels will absorb excess moisture and will ensure that the skin gets extra crispy and golden brown.
Truss Your Turkey
Take a few inches of kitchen twine, wrap it around the body of the bird, and tie the legs together to ensure even cooking. The twine is cut after the turkey is cooked fully.
Season Your Turkey In The Sink
Place the turkey on a cutting board and place it in a very clean and empty sink so that your roasting pan does not collect excess salt at the bottom. Now, massage the bird with melted butter and then go heavy with your salting hand. Always salt the inside of the turkey first and then cover the entire surface, ending this process by grinding some fresh black pepper over it.
Roast The Turkey
Keep the temperature moderate from start to finish. Roast it at 350*F without covering the bird in aluminum foil. Just use a deep aluminum or stainless-steel pan lined with a roasting rack. You can also use a deep sheet tray or baking dish lined with a wire baking rack, so the heat is distributed evenly and keeps the turkey juicy.
How Long To Cook A Turkey
Account for about 13 to 15 minutes per pound which means a 12-pound turkey will take about 2.5 to 3 hours to cook properly. However, the pro tip will be that you follow the internal temperature. The golden rule is 165*F in the innermost part of the thigh and the thickest part of the breast. Do not forget to pull the turkey out of the oven once it has reached 160*F as it continues to cook as it rests.
Let The Turkey Rest
It is very important to let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving but if you let it sit for 1 hour, it would be best. The juices will have redistributed and you will get the tenderest and moistest turkey of your life.
