If this is your first year at cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving you may be a bit nervous. I remember my first Thanksgiving dinner (way back when). I had just moved out and was excited to cook for my parents. Well it didn't go as I had hoped but everyone left full – so I guess all in all it was a success. When I first attempted this festive meal internet access was not a common thing in households. I only wished it had been available. Of course I could have asked mom but I wanted to do it on my own. Now that almost every household has internet connections (and usually at high speeds), I am hoping that some newbie Thanksgiving cook will find this useful.
How to Cook a Plain and Simple Turkey
These are just the basic steps for a turkey with stuffing. Your mom's recipe may be slightly different adding her special spices and passed down recipe.
What you Need
1 (18 pound) whole turkey
5 Cups of your favorite stuffing
1/2 Cup unsalted butter, softened
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 1/2 qt. turkey stock
How to Cook It
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Move the rack to the lowest position to ensure your turkey will fit nicely inside.
2. Clean the turkey by removing the neck and giblets and rinsing the turkey with cold water. Remember there are two openings on the turkey so be sure to get all the good stuff out from both ends.
3. Pat the turkey dry with paper towel inside and outside. Now stuff the turkey with your favorite dressing. If you have a recipe handed down, then make that stuffing. If you want to do this all on your own, try a boxed stuffing. Some of these have some great flavor.
4. Rub the turkey skin with the soft butter making sure to cover the whole outside of the turkey.
Sprinkle on the salt and pepper to taste. Try using a turkey rub for added flavor. This helps make the skin nice and crunchy as well.
5. Place a roasting rack into a large roasting pan. Pour 2 C of the turkey stock into the bottom of the roasting pan. Place the turkey breast side up on the rack in the pan. Be sure to tuck in the legs with the provided metal holders. This keeps the stuffing inside and meat moist.
6. Make a tent out of aluminum foil to completely cover the turkey but not over the roasting pan. The foil should be loose and not tight around the turkey.
7. Place the turkey in the oven and allow roasting for 2 1/2 hours. Check the cooking times for the turkey you bought as the size of the turkey will change the cooking time.
8. Baste the turkey every 30 minutes with the stock in the roasting pan. If the stock should evaporate add 2 C to the roasting pan and continue adding as necessary 1 to 2 C at a time.
9. After 2 1/2 hours remove the aluminum foil and continue roasting for another 1 1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer reaches 180 degrees when inserted into the thigh. This is when the skin begins to brown and give it that delicious color. Watch it carefully to ensure it doesn't get too brown. If so, place the foil back on for awhile.
10. Be sure to continue basting every 30 minutes during the last 1 1/2 hour of roasting.
11. Remove the turkey from the oven and place on a large platter for at least 30 minutes before carving. Don't attempt to carve it too quickly as it will be too hot and the meat will not cut as nicely.
There you have it, easy steps to make your first roast turkey. Of course there is a lot more to a Thanksgiving meal besides just the turkey. You will want some veggies, mashed potatoes, bread, cranberry sauce – basically the works.
The timing is key to the sides. Remember your turkey has to sit for 30 minutes, so if a side only takes 30 minutes to make, don't start it until you take the turkey out of the oven. If the side takes longer, just estimate when the turkey will be done and then start preparing the side according to the estimate.
Don't worry if all the sides are not timed exactly right. Unless you cater your dinner I have never seen anyone get every side timed exactly right. The key is to be close so that the sides don't get cold or that they won't be ready until well after the turkey has cooled. If you are a few minutes off that's okay as it will take everyone time to fix up their plate.
So happy holidays and hope your turkey is the hit of the Thanksgiving dinner.
