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Roast Turkey Recipe for Christmas
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If you're like most people, the turkey is your favorite part of
Christmas dinner. With step-by-step instructions, this recipe is
easy -- and will tell you how to roast a turkey for your festive
holiday meal.
Thawing Your Turkey
If you buy your turkey 1-2 days before Christmas, you can
prepare it fresh from the refrigerator. If your turkey is
frozen, you will need to thaw it out beforehand. It is not safe
to thaw a turkey on the counter at room temperature, so choose
an alternative method.
The best way to thaw out the turkey is in the refrigerator. Make
a note to remove it from the freezer to begin the process before
the Christmas holiday. It takes about 3 days for the average 16
lb. turkey to thaw in the fridge.
If you forget to put it in the refrigerator to thaw, you can
place the turkey in a sink filled with cold water. This will
take up to 8 hours for the average 16 lb. turkey. You will need
to change the water frequently to keep it at a steady
temperature.
Ingredients
1 whole turkey (16 lbs. for this example)
1 stick of butter - room temperature
Salt & pepper - Accent seasoning salt is ideal
Additional seasonings - optional
Stuffing (dressing) - optional
Instructions for Roasting Your Turkey
Place the oven rack in the lowest possible position to allow
room for the roaster. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove the
turkey neck, giblets etc from the cavity of the turkey. Rinse
your turkey in cold water, drain. Coat your roasting pan with
no-stick cooking spray.
Place your turkey in the roasting pan and fill the cavity with
stuffing if you choose to do this. Do not pack the stuffing
tightly! Rub your turkey with the softened butter stick and
sprinkle it with the seasonings of your choice (salt, pepper,
Accent, etc.) Many turkeys come with a pop-out meat thermometer
-- but they sometimes malfunction. Play it safe and insert your
own meat thermometer into the thigh.
Cover the turkey loosely with aluminum foil and place it in the
oven. While it's roasting, frequently baste the turkey with the
butter and it's own natural juices. Remove the aluminum foil
about 1 hour before the turkey is finished roasting. The average
roasting time for a 16 lb turkey is up to 5 hours, but it's not
done until your meat thermometer reads about 180 degrees.
When your turkey is done, remove the stuffing and let it stand
for about 15 minutes to ease the carving process. Transfer the
turkey to the serving platter and begin slicing.
Turkey Roasting Tips
- Keep your hands clean, washing them throughout the process
- If you're concerned about the turkey being dry, have a can of
turkey stock or broth on hand and baste the turkey with it while
it's cooking.
- Consider baking the stuffing in a separate pan. The turkey
will roast quicker and this insures the stuffing is not
contaminated.
- Use the drippings for savory turkey gravy. Put the roasting
pan right on the stovetop (usually over two burners) and make
your gravy right in the pan.
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