What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Start Smart: Juicy Roast Turkey! There’s nothing worse than dry-as-dust turkey, around the holidays. Watch your guests if they keep asking you to pass the gravy. Today I’m going to give you a few tips to keep that from happening. You can thank me when it’s your turn to host the holiday meal. Number one: Truss loosely, or not at all. The secret is to allow heat to get to all sides of the legs. Cooking the turkey until the legs are done may result in overcooking the breast meat. Number two: Don’t overcook. The timetable on the package is an estimate. Always use a meat thermometer, even if the turkey comes with a pop-up version. Always. Number three: (and this one is the hardest for me) Let the turkey “rest” before carving. I’m talking 20-30 minutes. Evidently, during the roasting process, the oven heat forces all the juices to the center of the turkey. When you allow it to “rest”, after it’s done, the juices seep back into the cavities and make the turkey moist. It’s definitely worth the wait.
JUICY ROAST TURKEY
Ingredients:
10-15 pound turkey, thawed
1/2 cup butter
1 lemon, juiced and zested
1 teaspoon thyme
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°. Wash the turkey, pat dry, and transfer to a roasting pan with a roasting rack. Stuff the turkey as desired. Otherwise, salt and pepper the inside of the cavity. In a small saucepan, warm the butter over low heat. Add the lemon juice, zest, and thyme. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding the bone. Cover the roaster with the lid. Transfer pan to oven. Bake for two hours, basting the turkey every half hour. This insures even browning of the skin. Remove lid and roast turkey an additional 1 1/2 hours, continuing to baste at half hour intervals. When the meat thermometer reads 185°, remove the turkey from the oven. Transfer it to a cutting board; cover with foil. Let it rest for half an hour. This makes carving easier and produces a juicy roast turkey.
LOOKS VERY INVITING AND A GREAT POST, CHINA
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Turkey is such a healthy meat. It’s a shame we don’t eat it more often. 🍁🍂🌾
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Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
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Thanks very much. 🙏🏻
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YUM!!!!! Soon there will be a turkey in the oven. 🙂
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I looove the way the aromas fill the house! 🍁🍂🌾
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I know,right?! 🙂
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Such a good tip to not go by the pop-up thermometer; this always results in overcooked turkey! This is really pretty!
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I learned the hard way. lol. Blessings! 🍃🍎
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The roasted turkey with gravy, dressing salad, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and raisin pie was her favorite meal to cook Thanksgiving and if she wanted a holiday during the year. Leftovers lasted a week at the most with three occupants in the house.
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Leftovers are delicious, in my opinion. 🍁🍂🌾
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So stressful to roast a “perfect” turkey during the Holidays! Thanks for the tips, and you’re right, nothing worse than a dry turkey.
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Dinner needs to be intimidating. It’ll all work out. Thanks for stopping by today. 🍁🍂🌾
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