how to cook a turkey?

Answer 1

First make sure it is thawed, it takes several days in the fridge.

Set the oven to 325. Bake it for 20 minutes for each pound. For instance, a 12 pound turkey will bake for 4 hours. Let it cool 15-30 minutes before carving it. It's one of the easiest things you can make!

Answer 2

Remove giblets and neck, place turkey in roasting pan, melt 1 stick of butter and drizzle over the top of the turkey, cover very tightly with foil or put turkey in an oven bag. cook in 300 degree oven. Ignore it for half of the cooking time (15-20 min per pound) Get yourself an injection baster, it works like a big syringe, suck up some of the juice from the turkey and inject it right back into the breast. Do this in 2 or 3 spots on each side. Return turkey to the oven uncovered and baste the top with a regular baster often during the last half of the cooking. Repeat the injection process one more time before it's done cooking. Using the injector is an extra step but trust me you will never cook a turkey without it again.

For a quick (and very yummy) gravy put 3 tablespoons of flour and 2 tablespoons of butter in a sauce pan. Cook on low heat stirring constantly until light brown. Add all the drippings from the turkey and let it simmer for 5-10 min. If gravy is too thin add flour dissolved in cold water a little at a time while gravy is at a boil. If gravy is too thick you can just add a little water because the flavor is so rich it won't dilute it much.

Answer 3

After thawing, get the turkey ready for cooking by following these steps:

Remove original plastic wrapper from thawed or fresh turkey.
Remove the neck and giblets from the body and neck cavities.
Rinsing the turkey is no longer recommended because of the risk of cross-contamination from rinse water being splashed around the sink, on the counter and on foods. (The recommended roasting temperature easily destroys any bacteria on the surface of the turkey.)
If stuffing the turkey, do so just before roasting.
Return legs to tucked position, if untucked.
If using an oven-safe meat thermometer, insert into the deepest part of the thigh. (If using an instant-read thermometer, it will be inserted when it is time to check for doneness.)
Brush with oil to prevent drying of the skin.
WASH HANDS, UTENSILS, SINK AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH RAW TURKEY. Sanitize the counter, sinks and any containers or trays that have been used. Use a solution of 1 teaspoon of unscented chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water, and let dry completely.

Answer 4

Weigh the turkey -, cover in foil, cook for 20 minutes a pound plus an extra 20 minutes at 200 C, uncover for the last 20 minutes of cooking time, basting every five minutes..

When cooked, leave to rest on a plate in the kitchen, covered with the tin foil, for 20-30 minutes, carve, enjoy!!

Answer 5

Temperature and cooking time depend entirely on what size turkey you have. Go to the butterball turkey website for more info.
I personally really like the fried turkey, and grilled is good too. Neither of those require hours in the kitchen basting the thing all day. :)

Answer 6

First make sure the neck & other giblets are removed.(some are in a paper packet in the neck cavity)
You may want to rub seasonings of your choice ,all over the bird.(salt,pepper,garlic powder,etc...)& then let it rest in a roomy roasting pan for an hour or so,in the frige.
Make sure you have a roasting rack in the bottom,so the juices will flow out of the turkey.
Some like to roast the turkey breast side down for an hour & then turn it back on it's back for the rest of the cooking time.
If you are stuffing the bird,wait until it is done & then stuff it & return to the oven until heated through.
Let the bird rest in the covered pan for about 45 min.before serving.Remove it to a serving platter & pour the juices from it into a sauce pan or skillet & make a delicious gravy.

Answer 7

First clean your turkey, instead of stuffing I like to put an orange or 2 in the cavity of the turkey and put it in a reynolds cooking bag follow instructions...put in oven and wait for the timer to pop out..no muss no fuss and the turkey will be tender

Answer 8

Go to www.foodnetwork.com and click on Good Eats. Alton Brown has a turkey recipe that's to die for! (just the way he cooks it.. I've never had a turkey as juicy and delicious until I discovered his recipe!).

Answer 9

Thaw the Turkey........Clean the inside out.

Put Oil on skin and put in brown paper bag....cook overnight on 215

And it will be tender in the afternoon

Answer 10

Put it in the oven !! cover it with foil and make sure you remember to turn the oven on.