Whatever roasting method or stuffing recipe you choose this year, there are nine essential steps to follow if you'd like to produce a flavorful, moist turkey. These easy-to-follow steps take the intimidation out of preparing the classic main dish of Thanksgiving and help you to achieve the best possible flavor and appearance. Get ready to learn some turkey tricks and to serve super juicy meat and delicious stuffing this year.
To ensure a beautiful presentation and even cooking, our guide shows you two essential tricks" tucking the wings and tying the legs. It also includes pro-secrets, such as rubbing butter under the skin for the juiciest breast meat and golden skin. Another tip is to pat the turkey dry with paper towels to remove extra moisture; this is important because it means the skin crisps rather than steams. We also include basic steps on how to properly season the bird, because salt and pepper are so important. Make sure not to skip seasoning inside the cavity, in addition to the outside of the bird. Seasoning inside and out infuses flavor into every bite.
For stuffing, you'll want to maximize the stuffing yield (because we all know everyone will ask for seconds) while also being careful not to overstuff. Our trick is stuffing the neck in addition to the cavity, and we will show you how to do just that. Most importantly, be sure to start with a totally defrosted (or fresh) bird and preheat the oven while you prep the turkey.
Once you've prepared the turkey, follow our classic Salt and Pepper Turkey recipe for roasting or use your favorite turkey recipe. And after the turkey is roasted, don't waste those delicious pan drippings—head over to our gravy guide.
Happy Thanksgiving!
