How To Cook A Turkey That Is Super Moist and Yummy!

Want to know how to cook a turkey that will turn out Super Moist and Oh So Yummy and make you the hero of the day?

Well, the secret is not so much in how to cook a turkey or even in how long to cook a turkey!

The secret to making this your best Thanksgiving turkey ever, is knowing how to prepare the turkey.

(Of course knowing how to cook a turkey and even how long to cook a turkey is also very important!)

 

But let’s start at the beginning.  Most people buy frozen turkeys a few days or weeks before Thanksgiving and need to know how to defrost a turkey safely.

(It is this writer’s humble opinion that Butterball turkeys are the juiciest!)

There are 2 ways to safely defrost a turkey:

1. Refrigerator thawing (the preferred way)
2. Cold water thawing (when you are really pressed for time to get that turkey cooked!)

Refrigerator thawing:

1. Place wrapped turkey in a brown bag (to help it thaw evenly), breast side up on a tray in your refrigerator
2. Allow at least 1 day of thawing for every 4 lbs. the turkey weighs
3. Note: a 10 lb turkey will take about 2 days and 12 hrs to thaw, while a 20 lb turkey will take 5 days to thaw

Cold water thawing:

1. Thaw wrapped turkey breast side down in enough cold water to completely cover your turkey
2. Change water every 30 minutes to keep the turkey cold
3. Allow about 30 minutes per lb. to thaw turkey
4. Note: a 10 lb turkey will take about 5 hours to thaw, while a 20 lb turkey will take about 10 hours to thaw

***A thawed turkey can be kept in a refrigerator up to 4 days before cooking it.

 

And now, for the answer to that age old yearly question…

HOW TO COOK A TURKEY THAT IS SUPER MOIST AND OH SO YUMMY

To make your Thanksgiving turkey the best, juicest ever, follow these simple steps the night before you cook that big bird.

Preparing your Thanksgiving Turkey (done the night before you cook a turkey)

On the evening before thanksgiving:

1. Clean thawed turkey and place it in a large container. (Since I usually cook a turkey that weighs about 20 lbs, I use one of the big clear plastic storage boxes that you can buy at any Walmart or Target store. You just want to make sure that whatever container you use is clean and big enough to completely submerge your turkey in.
2. In a separate container, mix one gallon of water with 3/4 cups sugar and 3/4 cups Kosher salt.  Pour this mixture over the turkey until turkey is completely covered with this water mixture. (This might take a few recipes of this mixture to completely cover turkey).
3. Keep turkey cold over night in refrigerator.

Thanksgiving Morning;

1. Rinse inside and outside of turkey and pat dry
2. If putting stuffing in turkey, stuff first
3. Then, start at the neck end of turkey and loosen the skin by sliding your CLEAN fingers underneath it, being careful not to tear it.  Slide your hand as far as you can towards the other end of the turkey, separating the skin from the meat. (This feels pretty gross, but be big and just do it!)
4. Rub about 2/3 of Herb-Butter seasoning (recipe below) over the entire breast under skin
5. Rub remaining Herb-Butter seasoning over the entire outside of turkey

 

Herb-Butter Seasoning:

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly grounded black pepper

1/2 Cup butter (no substitutes!) softened

2 to 3 Tablespoons snipped fresh thyme, tarragon, marjoram and rosemary

 

How To Cook Turkey:

Cover turkey loosely with foil

Place turkey, breast side up, in preheated 450 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Reduce temperature to 325 degrees

Continue  cooking turkey for stated cooking time or until thigh reads at 165 degrees F.

Note:  Remove foil during the last 30 minutes of roasting turkey to brown.

When done, let turkey stand 30 minutes to let the juices re-absorb in turkey before carving

 

How Long To Cook A Turkey:

How long to cook a turkey depends on the size of the turkey (da!) and whether or not it’s stuffed.

Whether or not you stuff your turkey or you cook a turkey without stuffing, always use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

 

These are Approximate Roasting Times for Stuffed Turkey in a preheated 325 Degree oven:

Turkey Weight:                                        Hours:

6 to 8 pounds                                           3 to 3 1/2 hours

8 to 12 pounds                                         3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours

12 to 16 pounds                                        4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours

16 to 20 pounds                                        5 1/2 to 6 hours

20 to 24 pounds                                       6 to 6 1/2 hours

 

To test for doneness on a stuffed turkey, stick the meat thermometer  into the center of the stuffing inside the bird.  The temperature of the stuffing must reach 165 Degrees F. for food safety.

 

Approximate Roasting times for Unstuffed Turkey in a preheated 325 Degree oven:

Turkey Weight                                           Hours:

6 to 8 pounds                                              2 1/2 to 3 hours

8 to 12 pounds                                            3 to 4 hours

12 to 16 pounds                                           4 to 5 hours

16 to 20 pounds                                          5 to 5 1/2 hours

20 to 24 pounds                                         5 1/2 to 6 hours

These are approximate times for how long to cook a turkey.  As stated before, be sure to always use a meat thermometer to get best results.  For an unstuffed turkey, stick the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh without touching the bone.  The meat thermometer must reach 165 degrees F.

And whether your turkey is stuffed or unstuffed, after the turkey has reached it’s required temperature, take it out of the oven and let it set at least 30 minutes before carving to allow the juices to re-absorb back into the turkey.

And there you have it!  You now know how to cook a turkey that will dazzle everyone with its moist yumminess!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Jane and Jules

 

 

Visit Moms Just Want To Have Fun’s profile on Pinterest