Beginners Guide to Oven Roasted Turkey – Step-by-Step Process!

Activate Your Feast Mode – Christmas Popular Roast Turkey Recipe is Here!

For Americans it’s a tradition to have turkey on Christmas. Thanks to Henry VIII who decided to make this bird a staple for the festive season.

Now you can guess how much popular the turkey recipe is here. Thus impress your people by your cooking skills note down all the points mentioned here in this beginners guide to oven roasted turkey.

Try my Turkey Recipes For Dinner – learn the basics of how to Cook Turkey Covered Or Uncovered all without any stress or hassle.

so are you ready to bake this christmas oven roasted turkey

Beginners Guide to Oven Roasted Turkey

Anyone can cook a turkey if they follow the basic rules. Yes following that only I have decided to share the no longer secret of How To Cook A Turkey In The Oven.

Ingredients to Cook Oven Roasted Turkey

The ingredients are divided as per the process followed to bake a turkey in the oven. So follow accordingly.

#1. For Rubbing In Between the Turkey Skin and Meat

#2. For Stuffing Inside the Turkey Cavity

Process

Preheat oven to 325 degree. Take a large baking dish having deep sides and place the soften turkey in it.

Important tip – if you are using a disposable dish keep a layer of veggies including sliced potatoes and carrots to prevent the bottom of turkey from burning. Usually disposable baking pans are thinner so don’t forget this tip.

Now remove the giblets and neck found inside the cavity of turkey. You can use the giblet for turkey gravy however I don’t prefer them in my recipe.

Afterwards to have an even roasting tuck the wings of turkey behind its back and cut of any excess dry or lose skin. After that pat it dry with paper towel and keep aside.

#1. To Marinate Turkey Skin and Meat

For this take a bigger bowl and add salt, thyme, butter [at room temperature], pepper, thyme, parsley, oregano, rosemary, sage and mix them well with a wooden spatula.

Next… it’s the time for your hands to get dirty! Separate the skin from the turkey breast with the help of your hands and apply this mixture. And follow this process all down the legs and thigh but don’t use it all. Keep one third of this butter mixture for later use.

Once done rub the left butter mixture over the outside skin of the turkey.

#2. For Turkey Cavity Stuffing

Take rosemary, garlic, lemon, orange, parsley, oregano, sage, bay leaves and stuff them inside turkey. You can stuff them loose or can use a poultry twine to tie these herbs together and place them inside the turkey’s cavity.

Now place the turkey in the oven for it to get cooked. If possible place it on the lowest rack so that it gets even heat from the center.

My people love having turkey recipe cooked by me. So I generally prefer bigger size of turkey around 20 pounds to cook. Based on that it almost takes 4 hours 20 minutes to get it cooked properly.

This is on an average about 15 minutes for cooking 1 pound of turkey. I hope you are not left with anymore doubts on How Long To Roast A Turkey.

Tip to Consider – To stop your turkey from getting overcooked or getting too golden you can use an aluminum foil to cover it up and prevent exposure from direct overheat.

Once done take the turkey out from the oven and let it cool down for at least 30 minutes before serving and slicing. Now you can discard the herbs, garlic, lemon and orange that you had stuffed in the turkey cavity.

Also you can keep them aside to be used later on in the preparation of turkey gravy.

If you left with leftover of turkey pack them in an airtight container and keep them in the fried. They will still taste the same even after 5 days. In fact you can also freeze them in a freezer for almost 3 months.

Turkey means nothing if not served with turkey gravy!!

How to Make Turkey Gravy From Drippings?

#1. Take a large container and pour all the turkey drippings with the help of a strainer. Keep it in the fridge and wait for at least 15 minutes to let the fat rise at the top.

Once done scoop out the layer of fat from the drippings using a tablespoon.

#2. Now heat a pan on medium flame. Add 2 teaspoon of all purpose flour, reserved fat and whisk them nicely. Follow it for 2 minutes until it gives a nice golden color.

#3. Further add 1 cup of drippings, 1 cup of stock and mix them together. Reduce the flame and let it boil until you get a thick gravy or a consistency as you like.

Sprinkle black pepper, salt and its ready to be served.

With this you can serve your oven roasted herbs turkey on any occasion whether its thanksgiving or Friendsgiving or the Christmas Eve.

If you are planning for Christmas make room for  MANDATORY Pumpkin Pie ALSO! After all some stories are worth desserts only.

So this was my best shot on beginners guide to oven roasted turkey. Once you have followed the golden rules of how to cook a turkey you can cook Unique Turkey Recipes on your own.

Now you are ready to COOK this traditional Christmas Turkey Recipe!!  Have a happy merry…