How to Roast a Turkey – learn easy techniques to perfectly roast a turkey. Step by step instructions from start to finish.
Roasting a juicy golden turkey is the centerpiece of many holiday meals. But many home cooks debate whether it’s best to cover the turkey or leave it uncovered in the oven. So what’s the verdict – should you cover your turkey when cooking for optimal flavor and moisture? In this article we’ll examine the evidence on both sides to help you make an informed decision.
The Case for Cooking Turkey Uncovered
There are some clear benefits to cooking your turkey uncovered:
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Browns the skin: Uncovered turkey gets direct exposure to heat, which crisps and browns the skin. This adds texture and is the favorite part for many.
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Showcases coloring The lovely golden brown exterior of a cooked turkey makes for an appetizing presentation Covering means you miss out on this visual appeal
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Reduces moisture: For those who prefer a drier turkey, uncovered drying it out more suits their taste.
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Avoids steaming: Some find covering makes the turkey too steamy instead of crisp. Uncovered prevents this.
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Saves effort: Tenting with foil is tricky and adds cleanup. Skipping this can be easier.
So uncovered roasting gives you the crispy skin and eye-catching presentation many love. But there are disadvantages to keep in mind.
The Benefits of Covering Your Turkey
Covering the turkey while cooking offers some big perks:
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Prevents drying: Covering helps keep moisture and steam inside, keeping the meat tender and juicy. This is especially key for the breast meat.
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Promotes even cooking: The trapped heat circulates evenly so no parts get over or underdone.
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Self bastes: The retained moisture bastes the turkey from the inside out – no frequent basting needed!
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Infuses flavor: Aromatic ingredients like herbs or citrus under the cover add extra flavor.
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Cooks faster: Covering speeds up cooking time slightly since it traps heat.
So covering helps ensure a moist, evenly cooked bird infused with flavor. But it means sacrificing that crispy browned skin.
Getting the Best of Both Worlds
Luckily, the choice doesn’t have to be all or nothing. With a simple technique, you can get moist tender meat AND crisp skin:
- Cover with foil/lid for most of cooking time
- Uncover for last 30-60 minutes
This steams the turkey at first for moisture and even cooking. Then finishing uncovered crisps and browns the skin by direct heat exposure.
If the skin needs more browning, rub it with oil or butter before returning to the oven uncovered. This combo method yields the ideal turkey – juicy on the inside with a perfect crispy skin.
How to Cover Your Turkey
If covering your turkey sounds right for you, here are easy ways to do it:
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Roasting lid: Many roasting pans include a tight fitting lid to trap moisture.
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Aluminum foil: Loosely tent foil over the whole turkey or just the breast.
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Cheesecloth: Soak in wine/broth first for flavor, then wrap around turkey.
Make sure the lid or covering doesn’t touch the turkey so air circulates.
Key Tips for Roasted Turkey Success
Beyond the cover decision, other tips ensure your turkey is stellar:
- Thaw completely 1-2 days before roasting.
- Dry the skin well before cooking for crisping.
- Use a meat thermometer for perfect doneness.
- Let rest 20 minutes before carving for juicier meat.
- Save pan juices for flavorful gravy.
- Carve carefully against the grain for tenderness.
The Consensus on Covering Turkey
At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong answer regarding covering your turkey. It comes down to your preferences for texture, appearance and flavor. The good news is you can easily achieve moist, tender meat with crispy browned skin by starting covered and finishing uncovered. With this simple technique and some practice, your holiday turkeys will be shining stars on the table!
Make The Herb Butter Mixture
In a small saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Add the lemon zest and juice and the teaspoon of thyme to the butter and stir. Set aside.
First, you’ll need to place the onions, celery and carrots in the bottom of a roasting rack, then place the rack on top. Place the turkey breast side up on top of the roasting rack.
Tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey, this will help stabilize the turkey when carving, plus it makes it easier to carve the breast. Tie the legs together with butcher twine.
Brush the turkey with the butter mixture generously over the entire turkey. Use all the butter. Next, you’ll want to season it with salt and pepper all around. Make sure to season a bit inside the cavity as well.
You can pour a little of water in the bottom of the roasting pan, but keep in mind the turkey will release drippings as well as it cooks. However, if you’re making gravy, it’s best to add about a cup of water to the roasting pan.
Basic Roast Turkey Recipe
Well with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, it’s time to roast a turkey. I love this season, it’s my favorite time of the year. And how can you not? You can’t turn the TV on without seeing a Christmas movie on and I just can’t help myself, I watch them all. I can watch Christmas movies all day long.
So have you roasted a turkey before? Don’t be scared, it’s just a big bird. Over the years, I’ve watched my mother roast turkeys over and over again. I love everything about roasting a turkey. The smell in the kitchen, the holiday atmosphere all around and of course, eating that delicious turkey.
This recipe here for a roast turkey is a simple basic turkey recipe. I brushed the turkey with a lemon flavored butter, generously and I mean generously and seasoned it with salt and pepper.
Do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?
FAQ
Is it better to cook a turkey covered or uncovered?
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Covering with foil:This helps retain moisture in the turkey, especially the breast, which can dry out easily if cooked uncovered for too long.
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Uncovering towards the end:Removing the foil during the final cooking stage allows the skin to brown and become crispy.
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?
Yes! Adding water to the bottom of the pan keeps the meat extra juicy and tender as it roasts. Without that added moisture, the turkey is much more likely to dry out as it cooks.
What is the secret to a moist turkey?
Baste It Another key to a delicious, juicy turkey is to baste as it cooks. Basting is also the key to delicious pan drippings and gravy! I love the combination of melted butter, chicken broth, and a little bit of cooking sherry for this turkey. Rich and flavorful, just as Thanksgiving and the holidays should be.
Should you cover a Turkey before cooking?
We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven. There are a few different schools of thought about the best way to cover a turkey.
When should you cover a Turkey?
There are a few different times when you may want to cover a turkey. * When you are roasting the turkey in the oven. If you are roasting the turkey in the oven, you may want to cover the turkey for the first half of the cooking time. This will help to keep the turkey moist and prevent it from drying out. * When you are smoking the turkey.
Should you cover a Turkey with foil before cooking?
One tip is to cover the turkey with aluminum foil for the first hour of cooking, and then remove the foil for the remaining cooking time to crisp up the skin. Another trick is to place a layer of cheesecloth soaked in butter or oil on top of the turkey before covering it with foil.
How do you cook a Turkey with a cover?
To cook a turkey with a cover, preheat your oven to 325°F. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a roasting rack inside a roasting pan. Cover the turkey with a lid or foil and roast until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, which typically takes about 15-20 minutes per pound.
Should you cover a turkey breast when roasting?
If you are roasting a whole turkey, it is generally best to cover it. This will help to keep the meat moist and prevent it from drying out. However, if you are roasting a turkey breast, you may want to leave it uncovered. This will allow the skin to brown and crisp more evenly. * The size of the turkey.
Why do you cover a Turkey when roasted?
* Can help to evenly cook the turkey. When a turkey is roasted in the oven, the outside of the bird will cook faster than the inside. Covering the turkey can help to slow down the cooking process and ensure that the turkey is cooked evenly throughout.