How to Cook a Turkey
Learn how to cook a turkey with this simple recipe that's still the best. The biggest myth in American cookery is that a juicy, perfectly cooked turkey is difficult for the novice cook to achieve. Even if this is your first time, don't play scared; this will work! There is nothing to fear but the fear of dry turkey itself. Be sure to buy a meat thermometer before Thanksgiving; it will be the essential tool in the kitchen that day.
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion coarsely chopped
- 1 stalk celery coarsely chopped
- 1 medium carrot coarsely chopped
- 12 pound whole turkey neck and giblets reserved
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- ½ bunch fresh sage chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Place onion, celery, and carrot in a large, shallow roasting pan.
- Place turkey, breast-side up, on top of vegetables in the roasting pan. Pat outside and inside of turkey dry with paper towels.
- Combine salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Season inside of turkey with about 1/3 of the salt mixture. Fold wing tips under bird.
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until edges turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add rosemary and sage; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Place rosemary and sage inside cavity of turkey; reserve melted butter. Tie turkey legs together with twine.
- Brush melted butter over turkey. Season with the remaining salt mixture.
- Bake turkey, uncovered, in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and juices run clear, about 3 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).
- Remove turkey from the oven and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.