Whether it’s your first time hosting the holidays, or you just need a quick review before this year’s feast, Betty’s got your back with all the details you need to prepare and cook a turkey to perfection.
Sure, you can deep fry, grill and even slow cook a turkey, but for the classic holiday meal we think roasting is best, so let’s dig in! Read on to delve into the delicious details.
Once you have your turkey, it’s all about having the right equipment, especially if you’re just learning how to prepare and cook a turkey. We’ve got you covered with the following list:
No matter if you plan to roast, slow cook, deep fry or grill your turkey, you’ll want to follow three basic prep steps: thaw the turkey, remove the giblets and season the turkey. We’ll dive into each step below.
Thawing your turkey in the fridge is usually the easiest and most efficient—make sure you plan ahead and have plenty of fridge space. It takes about 24 hours for every four to five pounds of turkey weight, meaning a 20-lb turkey can take up to five days to thaw in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that brining adds two days, so your prep could begin up to seven days before the holiday meal. For more details about turkey thawing and a chart to help you figure out how much time your turkey will take, check out our article on How to Buy a Turkey.
Inside the cavity of your bird, you will find the giblets—the neck and internal organs, including the heart, liver and gizzard. Often they’ll be packaged up in a little bag. It’s important to remove the giblets before cooking your turkey but you don’t have to waste them. Their flavor can be used to enrich gravy, stock or even stuffing. Check out these recipes to learn more: Giblets Gravy and Use-it-Up Turkey Stock.
Whether you’re first learning how to cook a turkey or you’re a seasoned pro, roasting is an easy way to get delicious results. After wet brining your turkey, follow Betty’s fail-safe recipe below. (Want to use those tasty turkey drippings for gravy? Betty has a fool-proof recipe for that too!)
Tip: To know exactly how long to cook a turkey, it’s best to use your turkey’s weight as a guide. The USDA website is a great resource for this information.
Tip: Check the turkey’s temperature in three different spots: the innermost part of the thigh (avoiding the bone), the innermost part of the wing and the thickest part of the breast.
So there you have it, now you know how to prepare and cook a turkey—from the thawing to the carving! Whether this year is your first or fortieth time hosting, Betty’s here to help every step of the way. If you have more questions, be sure to leave a note below.
