How to roast the perfect Christmas turkey, including how to baste the meat the right way and how to brine it to keep it moist.
Ensure your Christmas Day feast is a hit with our expert guide to turkey basting. Learn how to baste a turkey, plus three easy shortcuts that will save time on the big day. Advertisement.
There is a foolproof turkey guide that will answer all of your cooking questions. Our best ever turkey recipes will help you plan the largest roast ever.
Take a look at our favorite Christmas dinner recipes for more ideas. Our Christmas kitchen can answer all of your holiday questions.
A self basting turkey is a whole turkey that has been injected with a solution of butter broth oils, spices, and other flavorings before being sold. This solution bastes the turkey from the inside out during roasting, keeping it incredibly moist and adding flavor throughout the meat.
How Self Basting Turkeys Work
The main difference between a regular turkey and a self basting turkey is that self basting turkeys have been pre-injected with a basting solution. This solution contains things like
- Butter
- Chicken or turkey broth
- Vegetable oil
- Herbs and spices
- Phosphates
- Salt
As the turkey cooks in the oven the butter and oils in the solution melt and get distributed throughout the meat. This bastes the turkey continuously from the inside out. The manufacturer has already done the work of basting for you!
The ongoing basting prevents the turkey from drying out. Even if you happen to overcook a self basting turkey slightly, it will likely remain moist and juicy thanks to the internal basting solution.
The Pros of Choosing a Self Basting Turkey
There are some nice advantages to picking a self basting turkey for your holiday meal:
Convenience
Self basting eliminates the need to manually baste the turkey every 30 minutes during roasting. Once the self basting turkey is in the oven, you can focus your attention on other parts of the meal. The turkey essentially bastes itself!
Moistness
The continuous internal basting keeps the turkey very moist and juicy from the inside out. Self basting is an easy way to prevent the classic dried-out roast turkey.
Flavor Enhancement
Injecting the solution right into the meat helps infuse flavor throughout the entire turkey, rather than just coating the exterior. The broth, herbs, and spices get absorbed deep into the meat.
Forgiving Method
A self basting turkey holds up better if you happen to leave it in the oven a bit too long. The ongoing basting provides a nice margin of error in terms of drying out.
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
However, self basting turkeys also come with a few potential disadvantages:
Diluted Flavor
Some people feel the flavor of a self basting turkey can be diluted compared to a traditional brined or seasoned turkey. The artificial basting solution takes center stage rather than the natural turkey flavor.
Wet, Spongy Texture
The high moisture content from the internal basting can make the turkey meat texture overly wet and spongy. This isn’t appealing to people who prefer a more dense, traditional turkey texture.
Higher Sodium
The injected solution significantly increases the sodium content compared to an uninjected turkey. This may be a concern for anyone watching their salt intake.
Higher Cost
You’ll typically pay more per pound for a self basting turkey versus a regular turkey. You’re paying extra for the convenience of the built-in basting.
Limited Control
Since self basting turkeys come pre-injected, you have less control over the final flavor. A brined or seasoned turkey allows you to customize the flavors more.
Cooking a Self Basting Turkey
Cooking a self basting turkey is simple:
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Thaw completely – Let sit in the fridge 1 full day for every 4-5 pounds.
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** Roast at 325°F** – Estimate 12-15 minutes per pound roasting time. Use a meat thermometer.
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Reach 165°F internal temperature – Insert thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh to check for doneness. The juices should also run clear.
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Let rest before carving – Allow the turkey to rest for 15-30 minutes so the juices redistribute through the meat.
Since self basting turkeys come pre-injected with flavor, you can cook them straight out of the package with no brining, seasoning, or basting required!
Self Basting vs. Brining Turkeys
Self basting and brining (aka wet brining) are two common methods cooks use to keep turkeys extra moist. Here’s how they compare:
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Method – Self basting injects a solution into the raw turkey. Brining requires soaking the turkey in a saltwater solution before roasting.
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Flavor – With brining, you control the flavor profile. Self basting relies on the manufacturer’s solution.
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Convenience – Self basting saves time and effort compared to messy brining. But brining allows more customization.
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Moistness – Both methods yield a very moist turkey if done properly. Brining success depends more on technique.
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Sodium – Self basting tends to increase sodium more than a homemade brine, but both methods significantly increase salt content.
So self basting offers more convenience and guaranteed moistness, while brining provides more flexibility with flavors.
Buying and Preparing Self Basting Turkeys
When purchasing a self basting turkey, look for the labeling indicating it has been injected with a basting solution. Opt for turkeys without added phosphates, which can create an unpleasant texture.
You can find self basting turkeys both fresh and frozen. Make sure frozen self basting turkeys are completely thawed before roasting. Fresh self basting turkeys can go straight into the oven.
Aside from removing giblets, self basting turkeys require minimal prep since they come pre-injected. Simply pat dry, season if desired, and roast until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F.
The Bottom Line
Self basting turkeys provide a foolproof, convenient way to cook a moist and flavorful holiday turkey with minimal effort. While they may lack the deep flavor of a brined or seasoned bird, their guarantee of juiciness makes them worth considering for cooks wanting an easy roast turkey with no basting required. Weigh the pros and cons to decide if a self basting turkey fits your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast needs this year!
What does it mean to baste a turkey?
When you bast, you spoon, squirt, or brush the roasting tin’s juices back over the meat while it cooks, or you put something on top of it that will let the fat drip off while it cooks.
You can buy turkeys that are already basted. These turkeys have a salt and flavor solution injected into them, so the meat will be much wetter as it cooks, but it might not taste better.
How to baste a turkey
A turkey baster is a long tube with a suction bulb on the end. Make sure it’s long enough to reach safely into the hot roasting pan and pull out any juices. A long-handled spoon will do the same job and be much more useful all year if you don’t already have one. You can find cheaper ones at catering supply stores.
You can also baste your turkey by putting butter-covered muslin or bacon or pancetta strips across the breast while it roasts. But, do take these off for the last part of the cooking in order to brown the skin.
Pushing a flavoured butter under the skin before you roast the turkey is also a popular technique. But keep in mind that butter has water in it, so if you want crispier skin, you need to use clarified butter.
Make a Self-basting Turkey Three Ways
FAQ
How do you know if a turkey is self-basting?
What does self-basting mean?
Is Butterball a self-basting turkey?
Should you brine a self-basting turkey?
What is a self basting Turkey?
This self-basting turkey recipe uses a herbed butter compound under the skin to baste the turkey meat while it roasts, delivering a juicy, crispy, beautiful skin with tender, seasoned meat. It’s like brining a turkey without any fuss or mess, eliminating the need for a turkey baster and basting the pan drippings over the bird every few minutes.
What does basting a Turkey mean?
Basting simply means to cover the surface of the turkey, chicken, or whatever else you want to baste with a liquid. The liquid can be cooking juices from the pan, melted butter, a marinade, or other sauces. And they can be applied with a brush, ladle, or (of course) a turkey baster. Basting helps to keep the meat moist and juicy.
Why do you Bast a Turkey?
Basting helps to keep the meat moist and juicy. Basting is particularly beneficial when cooking a turkey because it slightly cools the surface of the turkey and slows down cooking, which in turn keeps the breast meat cooking at close to the same rate as the legs and thighs. Is Basting Necessary?
What is a pre basted Turkey?
A pre basted turkey is a delicious juicy turkey. Pre basted turkey is a turkey that has been injected with some type of liquid which most likely includes some seasoning, even if it is just salt (there are several out there). Broth and sugar are also commonly used in injecting turkeys to make them pre basted.
Is basting a Turkey necessary?
The short answer is no, basting is not strictly necessary. There are other ways to keep meat and poultry moist, including brining, cooking a turkey upside down, and tenting it with foil. Basting is an optional step in our go-to roasted turkey recipe. What Is a Self-Basting Bird?
How do you know if a Turkey is pre basted?
When buying a pre basted turkey the wrapper should inform you with a percentage of basting that was injected in the turkey. This is basically telling you that the turkey has already been brined in which it is brined from the inside out and no other form of brine is necessary with a pre basted turkey.