Using cheesecloth when roasting turkey is a time-tested technique to help ensure a juicy and flavorful holiday bird. Properly preparing and using cheesecloth can promote even cooking, crisp browned skin, and tender, succulent meat infused with herbs and spices With some tips and technique, you can master this method for your next special occasion turkey
Why Use Cheesecloth?
Cheesecloth is a lightweight, porous material that allows moisture and air flow while also retaining basting liquids close to the turkey skin. Here are some of the benefits:
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Moisture retention – The cheesecloth creates a humid environment that steams the turkey gently as it roasts, keeping it tender and juicy.
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Flavor infusion – Herb-infused butter or broth soaked into the cheesecloth transfers flavors directly to the meat.
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Protection – The cheesecloth shields the delicate skin from direct oven heat, preventing it from over-browning.
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Promotes even cooking – The cheesecloth disperses heat gently and evenly over the turkey.
Preparing the Cheesecloth
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Use a fine cheesecloth with a tight weave for good coverage. Look for cheesecloth in the baking aisle around the holidays.
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Cut the cheesecloth into a square large enough to wrap around your turkey. Unfold so it has 4 layers.
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Soak it in melted, herbed butter, broth, or a mix of oil and wine. Let it saturate completely.
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Herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, or garlic add great flavor. Get creative with spice rubs or curry pastes too.
Trussing and Roasting
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Pat the turkey dry, rub it with oil or butter, and season it well.
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Loosely fill the cavities with aromatics like lemon, onion, herbs.
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Truss the legs and tuck the wings to hold its shape.
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Place breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan.
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Drape the soaked cheesecloth over the breast, wrapping it around the sides.
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Roast at 450°F for 30 minutes to brown the skin.
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Reduce heat to 325°F and continue roasting, basting often.
Removing the Cheesecloth
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After about 2 hours, carefully remove the cheesecloth.
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This allows the skin to crisp and brown evenly.
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Baste the turkey with pan juices to add color and flavor.
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Continue roasting approximately 15-20 minutes per pound until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F.
Resting, Carving and Gravy
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Allow the turkey to rest at least 20-30 minutes before carving.
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Use the flavorful cheesecloth drippings and pan juices to make a delicious gravy.
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Carve the turkey and serve it with gravy and your favorite holiday side dishes.
Handy Tips
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Use a meat thermometer for perfect doneness – pop-up timers are unreliable.
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Tent the cheesecloth loosely if it starts to burn or brown too quickly.
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Add broth or wine to the pan if drippings evaporate.
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Let roasted meat rest before slicing to retain juices.
Get Creative with Flavors
The cheesecloth technique opens up possibilities for imparting herbs, spices, citrus, smoky flavors, and more to your holiday turkey. Consider rubbing spices under the skin or adding aromatics to the cavity before roasting. Create your own signature flavor profiles to make each turkey unique.
With some practice using cheesecloth, you can master this method for deliciously moist and flavorful turkeys. Focus on keeping the turkey evenly cooked and juicy, while allowing the skin to crisp up beautifully. Infuse herbs, spices or smoke into the cheesecloth for more flavor. Let this time-tested technique help you create memorable holiday feasts.
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A great way to prevent the turkey breast from getting too dark and drying out is to use a soaked cheesecloth for the first half of the cook. If you choose to use woods with your turkey, the skin will darken but the cheesecloth will help protect it and give the skin a beautiful golden brown color.
In order to use a cheesecloth, you need to soak it in a liquid, we have a great recipe below for butter and wine sauce. You can also add extra flavor to your turkey by basting it with the extra butter and wine sauce.
Follow the steps below for making this sauce:
Put 1/2 a stick of unsalted butter and 1cup of white wine in a saucepan over medium-low heat until the butter has melted.
Soak the cheesecloth in the wine and butter.
Once it’s cool enough to handle, lift the cheesecloth out of the liquid and gently squeeze any excess liquid out of the cloth. Drape the cloth evenly over the breast of the turkey.
Place the turkey on the grill and following the turkey tips for your grill. Follow our charcoal turkey step-by-step instructions here, our gas turkey tips here and our smoker guide here.
Halfway through the grilling time, carefully remove the cheesecloth from the turkey and use the remaining butter/wine mixture to baste the turkey.
Before you carve into that beautiful bird, share your #BestTurkeyEver photos with us!
Looking for more turkey inspiration? Be sure to check out more tips here.
Keep Your Turkey Moist and Juicy Using Cheesecloth | Mad Genius Tips | Food & Wine
FAQ
How many layers of cheesecloth to use on turkey?
Cut a 20-inch piece of cheesecloth and fold twice, creating 4 layers. Submerge the cloth in the melted butter, making sure it is completely saturated with it. Gently squeeze the cloth, then re-form so there are 4 layers and place on top of the turkey, covering it completely.
Why would you put cheesecloth on a turkey?
Cheesecloth is both absorbent and porous, making it the ideal material to hold in moisture and keep the basting liquid in constant contact with the turkey.
Can cheese cloth go in the oven?
The cheesecloth also protects the skin and also gives the skin it’s golden brown color. It’s totally safe to put in the oven! What do you put in a turkey cavity? I don’t recommend stuffing your turkey with a traditional stuffing recipe.
How to use a cheesecloth?
Use cheesecloth to strain homemade cold brew, nut milks, infused oil, stocks and broths, and tofu. It’s also handy for bundling herbs into a bouquet garni for soups or stews or around powdered sugar as a makeshift sifter.
How do you cook a Turkey with cheesecloth?
Cut the cheesecloth into a square or rectangle. The exact dimensions don’t matter since you’ll be folding it around the turkey. Soak the cheesecloth in melted butter, wine, chicken or turkey broth. Make sure it’s completely saturated. The more liquid the better.
Can you use cheesecloth on Turkey?
When soaked in melted butter, wine, broth or other flavorful liquids, the cheesecloth also helps bastes the turkey continuously as it cooks. The end result is a beautiful golden brown turkey with ultra-tender and juicy meat. Why Use Cheesecloth on Turkey? There are a few key benefits to using cheesecloth on turkey:
What is cheesecloth Turkey?
Cheesecloth turkey is an old-school, retro recipe that’s overdue for a revival. The premise is simple enough: When you baste a turkey, the juices ordinarily run off, but covering the bird with cheesecloth holds the juices in place.
Do you Baste a turkey breast over a cheesecloth?
You baste over the cheesecloth. The cheesecloth provides an extended baste and layer of protection for the breast. Right before removing the cheesecloth baste the cheesecloth well to make sure it’s loosened from the skin. It sometimes likes to try to stick to the turkey at the end of roasting. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! -Serena KAB said
Why does a turkey roast need a cheesecloth?
The cheesecloth shields the skin from the direct heat of the oven so it doesn’t brown faster than the meat cooks, but unlike foil, cheesecloth allows evaporation and air circulation so the turkey roasts rather than steaming. What Is an Instant-Read Thermometer?
What does cheesecloth do to a turkey breast?
Cheesecloth gives a layer of protection to the breast meat and also provides continual basting. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) said This turkey looks amazing!!! Unknown said