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There’s nothing worse than taking a bite of turkey after hours of roasting it in the oven and finding that it tastes like, well, turkey. nothing. But that doesn’t have to be the case all the time! There are many ways to make a turkey juicy and tasty; you just need to know how to season it.
Nobody will like your turkey breast whether you cook it in an air fryer, smoker, turkey fryer, or oven. If you don’t season it right, it won’t taste good. The good news is, seasoning a turkey is simple. You can use different methods, such as Ree Drummond’s favorite brine, butter, or your own favorite spice blend rubbed on a bird. Find out below how to make your turkey taste better for Thanksgiving by adding fresh herbs, citrus, and aromatics. After making a plan for how to season the turkey, find out how much turkey each person needs for this year’s feast. Season your turkey recipe with one of these methods and everyone will want seconds!.
A beautifully bronzed, juicy turkey is the centerpiece of many holiday meals. But you want that bird to be more than just a pretty face – it needs to deliver serious flavor too.
While turkey holds appeal for its versatility and mild taste, it can use a little help in the flavor department Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways to amp up the taste without much effort
Follow these simple tips and tricks for getting the most flavor out of your turkey every time.
Season Under the Skin
Lifting up the skin and seasoning underneath is one of the most effective ways to add flavor to turkey. The skin protects the seasoning so it sticks right to the meat rather than falling off the exterior.
Try a basic blend of salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Or for more flavor options, use fresh herbs, spices, citrus zest, garlic, mustard or curry powder.
Make a Flavored Butter
Compounding butter with herbs, citrus, spices or other aromatics then rubbing it under the turkey skin is an easy flavor win. As the butter melts, all those seasonings impart flavor into the meat.
Lemon dill garlic herb and orange cranberry flavored butters all make great pairings with turkey.
Brine the Bird
Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine solution helps season it from the inside out. The salt also helps retain moisture so the turkey stays juicy.
For extra flavor, use an aromatically spiced brine with additions like onions, garlic, peppercorns, citrus and bay leaves.
Stuff with Herbs
Skip the bread stuffing for once and fill the cavity with fresh herbs and aromatics instead. Stuffing lemons onions and bunches of rosemary, thyme and sage adds tons of flavor as the turkey roasts.
Marinate It
Letting the turkey sit for hours soaked in a flavorful marinade allows the seasonings to penetrate deep into the meat.
Try marinades with olive oil, citrus, Worcestershire sauce, spices, herbs and garlic. Just be sure your bird is submerged in the fridge.
Coat in Spices
For quick and easy flavor, you can coat the exterior of the turkey in a dry spice rub. Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, ranch mix or tandoori spices all work well on turkey.
You can also combine spices like cumin, mustard, paprika, coriander and chili powder to make your own signature rub.
Use Flavored Wood Chips
If smoking or grilling your turkey, use wood chips with robust flavors like hickory, mesquite or applewood. As the chips burn, they impart smoky, savory flavor right into the turkey.
Soak chips beforehand so they don’t burn up too quickly while cooking.
Baste with Flavor
Basting the turkey as it cooks brings big flavor benefits. For an easy baste, combine melted butter with herbs, citrus juice or zest. Or use wine, stock or cider enriched with savory ingredients.
Brush the baste generously over and under the skin every 30 minutes for maximum impact.
Glaze It
Similar to basting, glazing adds flavor and color to your cooked turkey. Whip up a sweet glaze with ingredients like apricot jam, orange marmalade, maple syrup, chili sauce or bourbon.
Apply the glaze several times during the last 30 minutes of roasting so it sets nicely.
Infuse the Cavity
Fill the cavity with aromatics like halved lemons, oranges, onions and garlic cloves. As the turkey cooks, the flavors from the fruit and veggies permeate the meat.
Fresh herb sprigs also work well. Bonus: citrus makes your kitchen smell amazing too.
Amp Up the Gravy
A well-flavored gravy can make or break your turkey. Cook aromatics like onions and garlic in the drippings. Then whisk in broth, wine and herbs for maximum gravy impact.
Letting the drippings sit for a few minutes helps develop deeper flavor as well.
Take It Easy
While all these tips help ratchet up the flavor, don’t go overboard. Turkey can still shine with very simple preparation.
Salt, pepper and just a touch of sage do wonders. A small amount of prep goes far. Let the turkey be the star!
With these easy tricks, you’ll have succulent, full-flavored turkey every time. Now get out there and start seasoning for your best bird yet!
How to Season Turkey Breast
Just like with a whole bird, a turkey breast can be brined or dry-brined before cooking. To make the turkey breast cook faster, rub it with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a fresh herb butter. It’s perfect for a Thanksgiving dinner for two. When shopping, look for bone-in and skin-on turkey breast. Itll have the best flavor!.
Should You Season a Turkey Before Cooking?
Yes, as long as you season your bird before it’s cooked, it doesn’t really matter when you do it—right before you put it in the oven or a few days ahead of time for a brining. This is important for the butter, herbs, and other spices you use to season the turkey’s skin and meat.
How to Cook a Turkey: Add Flavor with a Spice-Rubbed Turkey Recipe| Williams-Sonoma
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