Although there are many alternative ways to cook a turkey — grilling, smoking, deep frying, etc. — the most classic way to cook the Thanksgiving bird is in the oven. Here are some tips that will help you roast your turkey:
- Invest in a roasting thermometer.
- Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey's thigh. Make sure the thermometer does not touch the turkey's bone because it will throw off your reading.
- When the thermometer reads 160°F–165°F the bird is properly cooked. Take the turkey out of the oven and let sit, untouched tented with foil, for 20–30 minutes. The turkey will continue to cook while it rests, increasing the temperature to around 180°F.
- Depending on the shape and size of your bird and its temperature when it enters the oven, the turkey should take anywhere from 1.5–5.5 hours to cook.
- Follow the recipe you are using to set the oven temperature and determine whether or not you should baste the turkey. Generally turkeys roast at about 300–325°F.
Hope this helps! If you've got another turkey tip, please share your secret with us below!
HTC
Matthew Williamson
Cyberjammies
My mouth is watering right now! I can't wait for thanksgiving, that turkey looks so good!
1Another good tip: white meat is done at about 170 and dark at 180. Unfortunately, that means either the white is dried out or the dark isn't cooked long enough. 20 minutes before throwing the bird in, put a bag full of ice on the breast and leave it there until it's time to cook it. The breast should be about 10 degrees colder than the thigh when it's time to take it out.
2Thank God I have my sister...
3Don't forget brining! Brining is the key to a really tender, juicy turkey. It fixes more moisture into the meat - and it's super-easy! I did a page that talks about it over here: http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Cook_a_Turkey
4I brined my turkey last year, and it made all the difference! It was so much tastier than any turkey I'd ever made, and so juicy I had to check three times to make sure it was really done.
yum
5Can you marinate a turkey?
6Thanks for the tips. Now, what's better: Breast up or down?
7Thank God I have my sister.
8Great tips...
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