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Roasted Turkey Anyone?

How to Roast a Turkey

The secret to this perfect roast turkey is in the cooking method.
5 from 18 votes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

Turkey Dry Rub

  • 2 Tablespoons Kosher salt
  • 1 Tablespoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme chopped

Turkey Basting Recipe

  • 1 stick melted butter
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves minced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Mix dry rub ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Combine melted butter, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl.
  • Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack inside a roasting pan. Fill the bottom of the pan with about 1 cup of water to keep the drippings from burning the pan. Brush butter mixture over the entire turkey and inside the cavity of the turkey. Liberally massage turkey rub all over turkey. Reserve some of the butter mixture for basting during the cooking process.
  • Roast turkey for 45 minutes or until skin is golden brown. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to roast turkey, basting with butter mixture every 30 minutes. After the second hour, begin checking the temperature of the turkey every 15 minutes to keep from overcooking.
  • Remove turkey when an instant-read thermometer reaches 160 degree when thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the breast. Allow the turkey to rest on a cutting board for at least 30 minutes to one hour for carry-over cooking and to allow the juices to redistribute.

Notes

SHORTCUT to Roasting a Turkey - Instead of brining the turkey, add all dry rub and basting ingredients together and rub the turkey inside and out. Place in the refrigerator uncovered for 24 to 48 hours. Remove from oven and place in 425 degree oven for 45 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and continue to cook for another 30 minutes. With an internal thermometer, periodically check the temperature in the thickest part of the breast. When the temperature reaches 160 degrees, remove the turkey to a cutting board and allow to rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

 
 
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