How do I cook a turkey in an Alton Brown oven

A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

How long does it take to cook a turkey Alton Brown?

A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

What oven setting do you use to cook a turkey?

Preheat the oven to 450°F then drop the temperature to 350°F after putting the turkey into the oven. What temperature should the turkey be? The turkey is done when it registers a minimum of 165° in the thickest part of the thigh.

Do you cover a turkey when you're roasting it in the oven?

To achieve that balance, the ideal is to let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered: We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out, then removing the cover for the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp.

Do you cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

Roast in a 325° or 350° (depending on size of bird; see below) oven until thermometer registers 160°. If turkey is unstuffed, tip slightly to drain juices from body cavity into pan. Transfer turkey to a platter. Let stand in a warm place, uncovered, for 15 to 30 minutes, then carve.

What temperature do you cook turkey at?

  1. 425°F for 3½ to 3¾ hours.
  2. 400°F for 3¾ to 4 hours.
  3. 350°F for 4 to 4¼ hours.
  4. 325°F for 4¼ to 4½ hours.

What do you put inside of a turkey?

Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, quartered onion, and the garlic.

How long do you leave the foil on the turkey?

7. Removing the Turkey From the Oven – Once you remove the turkey from the oven, tent it with aluminum foil and allow it to rest for 20 to 30 minutes, so the meat can firm up and hold the juices, making it easier to carve.

Do you put water in bottom of roasting pan?

The next time you use a rack, try putting a cup or two of liquid in the bottom of the pan when you begin roasting. Add water, wine or broth to about an eighth of an inch high in the pan. You may need to replenish it during cooking. This will keep drippings from scorching.

How often should I baste my turkey?

Most recipes will tell you to baste your turkey every thirty minutes. But our rule of thumb is actually every forty minutes, and here’s why. You don’t want to open the oven too many times, or else the whole bird will take much long to cook, and that’s a huge inconvenience.

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What rack do I put the turkey on in the oven?

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place rack in the lowest position of the oven. Remove the turkey neck and giblets, rinse the turkey, and pat dry with paper towels. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan.

What side of the turkey goes up in the pan?

Trim bread to length of turkey breast (about 9 inches), then slice horizontally. Butter cut sides of bread. On a V-shaped wire rack set in a roasting pan, place slices side-by-side lengthwise, buttered-sides up. Place turkey breast-side down, so it rests on bread (not directly on rack).

How long does a turkey take to cook in the oven?

Turkey WeightServingsCooking Time10 to 12 lb6 to 82 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours12 to 14 lb8 to 102 3/4 to 3 hours15 to 18 lb10 to 123 1/4 to 4 hours

How long do I cook a turkey at 325 degrees?

  1. For one 8- to 12-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 2¾ to 3 hours.
  2. For one 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 3 to 3¾ hours.
  3. For one 14- to 18-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 3¾ to 4¼ hours.
  4. For one 18- to 20-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 4¼ to 4½ hours.

How long do you cook a turkey per pound at 325 degrees?

Assuming you are roasting your turkey in a 325°F oven, plan on 15 to 17 minutes of cooking time for each pound of an unstuffed turkey. Plan on 20 to 22 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey. 8-12 lb.

How do I keep my turkey moist?

  1. Choose a fresh turkey instead of a frozen one. …
  2. Roast two small turkeys rather than one large one. …
  3. Brine the turkey. …
  4. Rub soft butter under the skin. …
  5. Truss loosely, or not at all. …
  6. Roast the turkey upside down at first. …
  7. Don’t overcook it. …
  8. Let the turkey rest before carving.

Should you wash your turkey?

“Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it’s virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils,” USDA officials warn.

What does putting an apple in a turkey do?

Apples. Consider quartering an apple or two for stuffing your turkey. They will provide the turkey with a little extra moisture during the cooking process and a very subtle flavor that will remind you of fall.

What do you put in the bottom of a roasting pan for a turkey?

Place chopped onions, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. Pick a few herbs off the stalks and add to the vegetables. Set aside. Pat dry the turkey with paper towels.

How do you know when the turkey is ready?

You’ll need a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Insert it close to, but not touching, the thigh bone. If it reads 180 degrees F in the thigh and 170 degrees F in the breast, it’s done and ready to serve.

What part of the turkey takes the longest to cook?

Experts recommend taking the turkey’s temperature in the thickest part of the thigh, being sure to stay away from the bone, because that’s the portion of the turkey that takes the longest to cook.

How long should a turkey rest?

Turkeys between 4-6kg should be rested for 1½ hours, and ones from 6-10kg can rest for two hours. Get your turkey out of the fridge 30 minutes before you cook it. You’ll get less shrinkage when it goes into a hot oven.

Do you put liquid in bottom of roasting pan for turkey?

Place on the bottom of your roasting pan. … Add about a half-inch of liquid (water or stock) to the roasting pan. This will keep the oven moist, and the turkey juicy. This aromatic liquid can be used to baste the turkey while it cooks (there is a debate whether basting does anything, but it’s part of the tradition).

Should you put liquid in bottom of turkey pan?

We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey.” … The drippings will be less flavorful and not as concentrated as roast turkey drippings.

Do you put water in roaster for turkey?

Add water to the roasting pan to keep the turkey from drying out. Grandma always added water or chicken broth to the bottom of the roasting pan, at the start of the cooking. This keeps the bird from drying out.

How do you wrap a turkey in foil?

Place the turkey lengthwise in the middle of the foil, breast side up. Bring the foil ends up overlapping the turkey. Insert the meat thermometer through the foil into the thickest part of the thigh. Place turkey in a shallow roasting pan and bring sides of foil up around turkey.

Should you baste a turkey?

Basting is optional when roasting a turkey. To ensure a moist turkey, the key is to not overcook it. … If you choose to baste the bird, do so every 30 minutes. Be sure to check out a few other ideas on adding flavor and moisture to your holiday turkey.

Should I wash my turkey before cooking it?

Wash Hands and Surfaces; not the Turkey According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces.

Does cooking a turkey upside down make it more moist?

This is one instance where flipping the bird is right, not rude. The benefits of roasting a turkey breast-side down are twofold: The dark meat cooks faster when it’s closer to the heat source, and the juices trickle down for extra-moist breast meat. …

What happens if you don't rinse a turkey?

In short, no. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), rinsing a raw turkey in the kitchen sink can lead to the spread of bacteria on countertops, nearby food, and other surfaces, which can cause cross-contamination.

Is it better to bake on the top or bottom rack?

For rich, even browning, stick with the top rack. Once the oven is preheated, the heating element on the bottom of the oven turns off and on throughout baking to maintain an even temperature.

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