The turkey came out flavorful and delicious. I’ve made turkey many years, but wanted to try this recipe this year. A big thanks!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad it was a success for you!
Carol
Made a turkey just this way last night. ( We like turkey and will be going away for the holiday.) It came out great. I really like using those oven bags!
Jessica Fisher
Glad you liked it!
Sandi
Cook it breast side down for some really moist and juicy white meat. If you want the breast skin to be browned, simply flip the bird over for the final half hour. It makes a world of difference.
Meagan
This is the first year I have ever roasted a turkey- both for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I was very surprised at how easy and delicious it was! I brined my turkeys overnight in a solution of water, sugar, salt, soy sauce, and herbs. When it was time to cook, I rinsed and dried the bird, stuffed a quartered onion, a halved head of garlic and bay leaves inside the cavity and rubbed the outside of the bird with butter. Because the bird had been brined, I didn’t have to baste it so I got to hang out with my family while the bird roasted in the oven. Only problem is there weren’t many leftovers so next time I will buy a bigger turkey! I really think brining is the key to a delicious bird. It’s super easy to do, but you just have to find room in your fridge to do it.
Janel
Thanks for the tips. Technically, I did make a turkey once…but that was at least 7 years ago. I think that was the year that you moved to Kansas. I sent Aimee the link so we will both know what we are doing!
Becki
This is my third time to cook a turkey in almost 20 years of marriage. We moved away from all our family due to my husband’s job and once the kids entered school it was too hard to fly back for the holiday. So I started making the entire dinner myself a few years ago (the first year we went with ham!).
Last year I made our turkey in a roaster oven and it was great. It freed up my oven for all the other dishes and it seemed easier to work with as it was all “counter level” rather than bending down to put the heavy bird in the oven.
Thanks for your post as I still consider myself a “newbie” on turkey. I will be checking out several of your links!
AllieZirkle
Paper towels!!! This is the one time I surely stock paper towels. Once you rinse the turkey, you’ll need to pat it dry. And when you clean up the sick and surrounding surfaces? You’ll want paper towels on hand for this too! Oh, and once you’ve pulled out the turkey to rest and you’re ready to carve the beauty, you’ll want paper towels ready to wipe hands on. There is nothing worse than wiping greasy, turkey hands on a gorgeous apron, and smelling like meat for another hour (unless the Mr. like that scent? 🙂 ).
Allie
Jessica
Great point! I do get pretty messy! We also carve the bird on a cutting board set inside a rimmed baking sheet. That catches the drips.
Ann
My best tip is to have a large crockpot ready when you are cleaning up from Thanksgiving. Cut up the carcass to fit in the crockpot and put in carrots/onions/celery/seasoning that you prepared ahead of time, add water to cover and then close up the crockpot and cook on low overnight. This way, when you wake up in the morning, have had your cup of coffee and feel less overwhelmed, your stock is ready!! No need to babysit a pot on the stove!! Just strain it, pick out the useable meat and either freeze the stock and turkey meat or else serve turkey soup for lunch or dinner that night!
LOL – Just looked at the video you had on making stock and you have the same idea!! 🙂 I find it just makes Thanksgiving dinner clean-up that much easier!
Paula
The turkey came out flavorful and delicious. I’ve made turkey many years, but wanted to try this recipe this year. A big thanks!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad it was a success for you!
Carol
Made a turkey just this way last night. ( We like turkey and will be going away for the holiday.) It came out great. I really like using those oven bags!
Jessica Fisher
Glad you liked it!
Sandi
Cook it breast side down for some really moist and juicy white meat. If you want the breast skin to be browned, simply flip the bird over for the final half hour. It makes a world of difference.
Meagan
This is the first year I have ever roasted a turkey- both for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I was very surprised at how easy and delicious it was! I brined my turkeys overnight in a solution of water, sugar, salt, soy sauce, and herbs. When it was time to cook, I rinsed and dried the bird, stuffed a quartered onion, a halved head of garlic and bay leaves inside the cavity and rubbed the outside of the bird with butter. Because the bird had been brined, I didn’t have to baste it so I got to hang out with my family while the bird roasted in the oven. Only problem is there weren’t many leftovers so next time I will buy a bigger turkey! I really think brining is the key to a delicious bird. It’s super easy to do, but you just have to find room in your fridge to do it.
Janel
Thanks for the tips. Technically, I did make a turkey once…but that was at least 7 years ago. I think that was the year that you moved to Kansas. I sent Aimee the link so we will both know what we are doing!
Becki
This is my third time to cook a turkey in almost 20 years of marriage. We moved away from all our family due to my husband’s job and once the kids entered school it was too hard to fly back for the holiday. So I started making the entire dinner myself a few years ago (the first year we went with ham!).
Last year I made our turkey in a roaster oven and it was great. It freed up my oven for all the other dishes and it seemed easier to work with as it was all “counter level” rather than bending down to put the heavy bird in the oven.
Thanks for your post as I still consider myself a “newbie” on turkey. I will be checking out several of your links!
AllieZirkle
Paper towels!!! This is the one time I surely stock paper towels. Once you rinse the turkey, you’ll need to pat it dry. And when you clean up the sick and surrounding surfaces? You’ll want paper towels on hand for this too! Oh, and once you’ve pulled out the turkey to rest and you’re ready to carve the beauty, you’ll want paper towels ready to wipe hands on. There is nothing worse than wiping greasy, turkey hands on a gorgeous apron, and smelling like meat for another hour (unless the Mr. like that scent? 🙂 ).
Allie
Jessica
Great point! I do get pretty messy! We also carve the bird on a cutting board set inside a rimmed baking sheet. That catches the drips.
Ann
My best tip is to have a large crockpot ready when you are cleaning up from Thanksgiving. Cut up the carcass to fit in the crockpot and put in carrots/onions/celery/seasoning that you prepared ahead of time, add water to cover and then close up the crockpot and cook on low overnight. This way, when you wake up in the morning, have had your cup of coffee and feel less overwhelmed, your stock is ready!! No need to babysit a pot on the stove!! Just strain it, pick out the useable meat and either freeze the stock and turkey meat or else serve turkey soup for lunch or dinner that night!
LOL – Just looked at the video you had on making stock and you have the same idea!! 🙂 I find it just makes Thanksgiving dinner clean-up that much easier!
Jessica
Great minds. 🙂