- Thawing a turkey is all about planning ahead and patience! The best way to thaw a turkey, without compromising the safety, is in the refrigerator. It will take roughly four to five days for a 20 lb. turkey to fully defrost.
- For crispy skin, unwrap the turkey the day before roasting and leave it uncovered in the refrigerator overnight.
- The cooking time, based on a defrosted turkey, will be 20 minutes per pound in a 350° F oven and 10 to 15 minutes per pound for a fresh turkey.
* Always wash your hands, kitchen counter and utensils before and after handling raw turkey. - A great way to customize your turkey and pack it full of flavour is to add carrots, celery, onion and garlic to the roasting pan. Fresh herbs also work nice and, of course, stuffing is a turkey must-have. Cook the dressing in a casserole dish on the side.
- Before placing your turkey in the oven, baste the outside of the turkey with vegetable or olive oil, season with salt and pepper and tightly cover the breast with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
- Place the turkey in the oven and leave it alone! Try to avoid opening the oven door because when the temperature fluctuates, the possibility of a dry bird is more likely to occur. About 45 minutes before you think the turkey is done, remove the tin foil to allow it to brown.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and use a meat thermometer to determine the temperature. It should be 82° C or 180° F at the thigh when it's done. If you stuff your turkey, check the internal temperature of the stuffing should read at least 82° C or 180° F as well.
- Tent the bird with tin foil and let rest for about 25 minutes before carving. This is a good time to prepare your gravy.
- Now you are ready to carve your turkey! Use a very sharp or electric knife then once you are finished, pull up a chair to your supper table, surrounded by your family and friends. You have now completed the task of preparing the holiday turkey!
Z6_2IKA1G82M0JIE0A7HGDEP21K82
Turkey Tips
Z7_2IKA1G82M0JIE0A7HGDEP21K87
Web Content Viewer
Actions
Turkey Tips
Tips for tackling the turkey
Discover more:
More Food