There are many ways to cook a turkey depending upon the holiday and the amount of guests. Turkey is a great meal to serve at special occasions with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce.
Cook a turkey by first placing it into a roasting pan. Roast turkey is a staple for Thanksgiving dinners. The tastiest and softest turkey to roast for holiday meals is fresh and has never been frozen.Turkey farms are the best place to buy fresh turkey. However, do not look at the live turkeys walking around. One of those turkeys might end up being your Thanksgiving dinner.
1. Clean a turkey inside and out with cold running water. Use your hand to pull out any of the guts left inside. Generally, a supermarket turkey has it’s giblets stuffed in a bag and placed inside of the cavity. The giblets can be used for making home made gravy. Do not throw them out. If they are not used to make gravy they can be added to homemade soup or roasted on the open fire.
2. Rinse the the cavity of the turkey multiple times to make sure it is clean. Turn it upside down to get rid of all the water. Get ready to season the turkey.
3. Use a dish or a soup bowl. Pour in a small amount of olive oil, kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder and any other seasonings. Stir with a wooden spoon. Set aside.
4. Place the turkey on top of a towel or paper bag. Dip your hand into the seasoning mixture and rub it firmly into the inside and outside of the turkey. A utility brush can be used as a substitute for your hands if you prefer.
5. Put the seasoned turkey onto a roasting pan. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Place the turkey on its back and fill the cavity of the turkey with stuffing. Pack it lightly so it gets air and the stuffing remains soft.
6. Tent the turkey with half a paper bag. Place the turkey into the oven and shut the oven door. Allow to roast about 2-3 hours before opening the door to check the status of the turkey. The time depends on the size of the turkey. A smaller bird takes less time to roast.
Tips:
Ask the butcher to insert a thermometer into the turkey. It will pop up automatically when the turkey is done. In its place, buy a meat thermometer and insert into the turkey yourself.
Season the turkey a few hours prior to roasting. It is best to allow the seasoning to permeate the bird.