Talking Turkey: Everything You Need to Know About the Thanksgiving Bird
At first, preparing a turkey seems so simple: You just put it in the oven and cook it for several hours. But as soon as you dig more deeply, the questions begin: Should you pre-order a heritage bird or just pick up something from the supermarket freezer? Will you be basting or brining? And what exactly are you supposed to do with that bag of who-knows-what inside the cavity? Every year, it seems like there's more information out there, threatening to overwhelm both seasoned cooks and first-timers alike.
To make sense of it all, we've created this one-stop primer. We walk you through each step of the process, summing up any conflicting advice and giving our recommendations. Whether you want a low-maintenance, mistake-proof recipe or an elaborate plan for the ultimate bird, our complete guide will answer your questions and help you find the method that works best for you. The search for the perfect turkey ends here.
Putting the turkey in the pan and tying it
Oven temperature and time chart
Turkey Ten Ways
Simple Roast Turkey with Rich Turkey Gravy
Roasts in under four hours; no basting
Tom Colicchio's Herb-Butter Turkey
Rubbed with herb butter
Classic Roast Turkey with Herbed Stuffing and Old-Fashioned Gravy
Roasts low and slow
Spice-Rubbed Turkey with Cognac Gravy
Rubbed with coriander, cumin, cinnamon, and paprika
Herb-Roasted Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy
Brined; roasts low and slow
Butter-Injected Turkey
Blasted with high heat for crisp, golden-brown skin; no basting
Mole-Roasted Turkey with Masa Stuffing and Chile Gravy
Marinated in mole
Porcini Mushroom Turkey with Mushroom Gravy
Rubbed with mushroom butter; no basting
Pancetta-Sage Turkey with Pancetta-Sage Gravy
Rubbed with pancetta-sage butter; no basting
Brined and Barbecued Turkey
Brined and barbecued
Frequent Epicurious contributor and New York Times columnist Melissa Clark has written 18 cookbooks, including Chef Interrupted: Delicious Chefs' Recipes That You Can Actually Make at Home. To learn more about Clark , go to melissaclark.net.
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