Roast turkey
The tradition of eating roast turkey at Thanksgiving is a long and storied one. turkey has been a traditional Thanksgiving dish in America since the early days of the holiday.
The first recorded Thanksgiving feast in 1621 included roast turkey, but it was not until the late 1800s that turkey became the main dish of the holiday. Prior to that, Thanksgiving was more of a harvest festival, and the main dish was typically roast beef or pork.
Turkey became the star of the show due to a few factors. First, turkey was more affordable than other meats at the time. Second, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, and turkey became the symbol of the holiday.
Advice
When making roast turkey, it is important to start by properly preparing the turkey. Make sure to remove any giblets from the inside of the turkey and pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Next, season the turkey with salt and pepper and any other desired seasonings. Stuff the turkey with herbs and/or vegetables for added flavor. Place the turkey on a roasting pan and add some liquid, such as chicken broth, to the pan. Cover the turkey with foil and cook at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Lastly, let the turkey rest before carving to ensure all the juices stay in the turkey.
Questions
Should I roast my turkey at 325 or 350?
It depends on how moist or crispy you prefer your turkey. Generally, roasting at 325°F will result in a more moist and juicy turkey, while roasting at 350°F will give you a crispier skin.
How long does it take to roast a turkey?
The time it takes to roast a turkey will depend on the size of the turkey and the temperature of the oven. A general rule of thumb is to cook a turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 350°F (177°C). For example, an 8-pound (3.6 kg) turkey will take 2 hours to cook.
How long do you roast a turkey at 350?
A turkey should be roasted in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 20 minutes per pound, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F (74°C). For a 12- to 14-pound (5.5- to 6.5-kg) turkey, this would take about 3 to 3½ hours.
What is the best temperature to roast a turkey?
The best temperature to roast a turkey is 350°F.
Do you put water in bottom of roasting pan for turkey?
Yes, it is recommended to add 1 cup of water or broth to the bottom of the roasting pan when roasting a turkey. This helps to keep the turkey moist and prevent it from drying out.
Do I cover my turkey when roasting in the oven?
Yes, you should cover your turkey with foil when roasting in the oven. This helps to retain moisture and prevent the outer skin from becoming too dry.
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
Buttermilk-Brined Roast Turkey
- turkey
- salt
- buttermilk
Expertly Spiced and Glazed Roast Turkey
- SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
- spice mill
- GLAZE AND ASSEMBLY
- hardy herb
- soy sauce
- light brown sugar
- sherry vinegar
- 2x1 orange zest
- garlic
- oil
- TURKEY
- light brown sugar
- smoked paprika
- turkey
- salt
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- black peppercorn
- black peppercorn
Brined Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy
- beurre manie
- turkey neck
- olive oil
- salt
- water
- carrot
- celery
- onion
- onion
- salt
- rosemary
- water
- onion
- thyme
- butter
- turkey
- madeira wine
- port wine
- carrot
- celery
- white wine
- clove
- ginger
- bay leaf
- olive oil
- sage
- garlic
- apple
- rosemary
- parsley
- rosemary
- honey
- maple syrup
- sage
- turkey stock
- black peppercorn
- peppercorn
Dry-Rubbed Roast Turkey
- light brown sugar
- turkey
- butter
- salt
- sherry vinegar
- honey
- 2x1 orange zest
- garlic
- rosemary
- worcestershire sauce
Crisp-Skinned Spatchcocked (Butterflied) Roast Turkey With Gravy Recipe
- salt
- turkey
- chicken
- thyme
- vegetable oil
- bay leaf
- butter
- carrot
- onion
- all purpose flour
- celery
New England Roast Turkey
- sugar
- black peppercorn
- turkey
- onion
- carrot
- celery
- salt
- bay leaf
- rosemary
Good Eats Roast Turkey
- canola oil
- salt
- water
- black peppercorn
- turkey
- cinnamon
- ice water
- vegetable stock
- red apple
- light brown sugar
- allspice berry
- candied ginger
- onion
- rosemary
- sage
Juicy Roast Turkey
- sage
- garlic powder
- paprika
- onion
- turkey
- black pepper
- white wine
- butter
- thyme
- garlic
- herb
- salt
- garlic
- chicken broth
- all purpose flour
- salt
- salt
Roast Turkey
- chicken broth
- basil
- parsley flake
- tarragon
- thyme
- onion powder
- sage
- turkey
- garlic powder
- black pepper
- paprika
- salt
- butter
Very Classic Dry-Brined Roast Turkey
- turkey
- butter
- soy sauce
- garlic
- rosemary
- light brown sugar
- salt
Roast Turkey With Cider and Bacon Turkey Gravy
- hard apple cider
- garlic
- turkey
- lemon
- walnut
- chicken broth
- bay leaf
- all purpose flour
- onion
- butter
- rosemary
- tomato
- bacon
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
Alton's Roast Turkey
- canola oil
- salt
- water
- black peppercorn
- cinnamon
- heavily iced water
- vegetable stock
- red apple
- allspice berry
- candied ginger
- turkey
- light brown sugar
- onion
- rosemary
- sage
Perfect Roast Turkey With Bacon
- turkey
- chicken broth
- water
- bacon
- butter
- salt
- celery
Roast Turkey with Orange-Rosemary Butter and Pan Gravy
- rosemary
- pepper
- salt
- butter
- turkey
- orange
- orange peel
- giblet stock
- all purpose flour
- orange juice concentrate
- rosemary
- rosemary
Roast Turkey With Berry-Mint Sauce and Black Walnuts
- salt
- pea shoot
- turkey
- sage
- black walnut
- maple syrup
- mint
- sunflower oil
- cranberry
- raspberry
- rice liquid
- leek
Herb-Rubbed Crisp-Skinned Butterflied Roast Turkey Recipe
- gravy
- salt
- shallot
- butter
- turkey
- parsley
- sage
- chive
- thyme
- garlic
Balsamic and Honey Glazed Roast Turkey
- turkey
- orange
- salt
- honey
- thyme
- black pepper
- orange juice
- butter
- white balsamic vinegar
Spiced Herb Roast Turkey
- sage
- all spice
- ginger
- skimmed
- rosemary
- thyme
- garlic
- white pepper
- turkey
- paprika
- onion
- curry powder
- canola
- all purpose flour
- turkey
- water
- carrot
- parsley
- celery
- stock
- salt
The Best Simple Roast Turkey With Gravy Recipe
- salt
- vegetable oil
- soy sauce
- carrot
- onion
- turkey
- chicken stock
- all purpose flour
- bay leaf
- celery
- butter
Cider Roast Turkey with Applejack Gravy
- herb
- butter
- ham
- turkey
- egg
- chicken stock
- shallot
- sugar
- all purpose flour
- honey
- rutabagas
- sweet potato
- chicken stock
- leek
- thyme
- applejack
- apple cider
- sage
- egg bread
Glazed and Lacquered Roast Turkey
- spice mill
- cooking spray
- turkey
- salt
- brown sugar
- allspice berry
- sherry vinegar
- soy sauce
- sage
- black peppercorn
- butter
- bay leaf
Roast Turkey with Sausage and Apple Stuffing and Pan Gravy
- giblet broth giblet
- turkey giblet
- salt
- apple stuffing
- rosemary
- turkey
- bay leaf
- onion
- butter
- pepper
- salt
- thyme
- sage
- celery
- sherry
- parsley
- whipping cream
- water
- all purpose flour
Easy Roast Turkey with No-Roux Gravy
- chicken wing
- black pepper
- turkey
- garlic
- all purpose flour
- white wine
- dark brown sugar
- fennel seed
- onion
- salt
- soy sauce
- chicken broth
- celery
- butter
- thyme
Roast Turkey in Parts Recipe
- salt
- soy sauce
- carrot
- onion
- chicken stock
- turkey
- black peppercorn
- marmite
- vegetable oil
- bay leaf
- celery
- garlic
- butter
- all purpose flour
Perfect Roast Turkey Recipe
- garlic
- onion
- turkey
- butter
- water
- clementine
- sage
- celery
- carrot
- Dry Brine
- pepper
- garlic
- turmeric
- smoked paprika
- salt
Simplest Roast Turkey
- pepper
- turkey
- olive oil
- salt
Roast Turkey with Shallot Butter and Thyme Gravy
- salt
- soy sauce
- butter
- white wine
- shallot
- turkey
- madeira
- cornstarch
- chicken stock
- water
- thyme
Roast Turkey with Pepperoni
- preserved lemon
- pepperoni
- fennel
- sage
- turkey
- salt
- thyme
- rosemary
- butter
- pepper
Herb Roast Turkey
- sage
- thyme
- apple
- onion
- rosemary
- butter
- black pepper
- salt
- turkey
Easy Stuffed Roast Turkey With Giblet Gravy Recipe
- salt
- rosemary
- sage
- thyme
- vegetable oil
- soy sauce
- carrot
- onion
- sausage stuffing
- turkey
- chicken stock
- butter
- all purpose flour
- marmite
- bay leaf
- garlic
- celery
Roast Turkey with Lemon and Chives
- lemon juice
- salt
- carrot
- onion
- all purpose flour
- chive
- turkey
- butter
- turkey stock
Fast and Juicy Roast Turkey in Parts
- olive oil
- sage
- thyme
- black pepper
- sweet smoked paprika
- turkey
- salt
- garlic
- shallot
- carrot
Crisp Apple-Scented Roast Turkey with Cider-Calvados Gravy
- olive oil
- calvado
- black pepper
- ancho chile
- cup dark brown sugar
- all purpose flour
- salt
- turkey
- chicken leg
- basil
- garlic
- butter
- carrot
- celery
- onion
- granny smith apple
- white wine
- apple cider
Jamaican Jerk Roast Turkey
- green onion
- light brown sugar
- thyme
- nutmeg
- clove
- black pepper
- lime juice
- olive oil
- cinnamon
- ginger
- soy sauce
- turkey
- scotch bonnet pepper
- salt
- garlic
- butter
Thanksgiving Roast Turkey
- salt
- turkey
- butter
- sage
- onion
Simple Roast Turkey Recipe (The Best)
- turkey
- celery
- broth
- salt
- herb
- black pepper
- garlic
- butter
- carrot
Sage-Brined Roast Turkey with Oyster Dressing
- black pepper
- sugar
- salt
- hazelnut
- grain rice
- white wine
- turkey
- onion
- shucked oyster
- butter
- onion
- rice
- garlic
- celery
- thyme
- bay leaf
- bread
- chicken
- olive oil
- sage
- bacon
Roast Turkey with Root Vegetables and Gravy
- salt
- white wine
- cornstarch
- cumin
- sweet paprika
- turkey
- butternut squash
- celery root
- butter
- olive oil
- shallot
- flat leaf parsley
- carrot
- turnip
- potato
- thyme
Chile-Rubbed Roast Turkey
- port
- nutmeg
- orange juice
- salt
- black peppercorn
- turkey
- onion
- orange
- cornstarch
- parsley
- honey
- butter
- olive oil
- garlic
- turkey
- pasilla chile
Roast Turkey with Fried Sage and Pecans
- salt
- canola oil
- pecan
- sage
- carrot
- garlic
- onion
- all purpose flour
- turkey
- butter
- turkey stock
Roast Turkey with Celery-Root Stuffing and Giblet Gravy
- salt
- turkey
- white button mushroom
- mushroom
- olive oil
- all purpose flour
- sage
- loaves stale country bread
- parsley
- white wine
- celery
- celery root
- lemon juice
- salt
- black pepper
- onion
- shallot
- turkey
- butter
- heavy cream
- turkey
- butter
Bouchon Roast Turkey
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- butchers' string
- salt
- chive
- heavy cream
- crème fraîche
- black peppercorn
- all purpose flour
- honey
- ground turkey
- rosemary
- thyme
- turkey
- parsely
- thyme
- leek
- onion
- breakfast sausage
- lemon
- bay leaf
- carrot
- egg white
- garlic
- butter
- salt
- turkey stock
Herbed Roast Turkey
- salt
- turkey
- lemon
- carrot
- onion
- rib celery
- butter
- sage
- thyme
- light brown sugar
- paprika
Roast Turkey with Cornbread Dressing
- salt
- paprika
- chicken stock
- white bread crumb
- sage
- thyme
- poultry seasoning
- carrot
- onion
- celery
- turkey
- chicken stock
- carrot
- garlic
- onion
- butter
- celery
- butter
- cornbread
Roast Turkey
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- salt
- turkey
- butter
Roast Turkey with Madeira Truffle Butter
- salt
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- turkey
- butter
- sweet paprika
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Tamarind-Glazed Roast Turkey
- salt
- turkey
- vietnamese
- honey
- scotch bonnet pepper
- chicken stock
- cornstarch
- garlic
- tamarind pulp
Roast Turkey with Chestnut-Apple Stuffing
- Stuffing
- pepper
- turkey giblet
- white bread
- thyme
- onion
- parsley
- chestnut
- turkey
- olive oil
- sage
- rosemary
- celery
- fuji apple
- salt
- Turkey
- pepper
- salt
- onion
- shallot
- turkey
- turkey
- sage
- carrot
- butter
- celery
Roast Turkey with Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing
- butter
- celery
- salt
- turkey
- onion
- pork sausage
- sage
- black pepper
- cornbread
- bread crumb
Roast Turkey With Wild Rice Stuffing
- black pepper
- salt
- sherry
- mushroom
- turkey
- chicken liver
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- rice
- onion
- all purpose flour
- egg yolk
- butter
- butter
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Correlated with Higher Ratings
- carrot
- celery
Staple Ingredients
- turkey 62%
- salt 60%
- butter 46%
Common Ingredients
- onion 32%
- sage 30%
- thyme 28%
- rosemary 26%
Usual Ingredients
- all purpose flour 24%
- garlic 24%
- celery 22%
- bay leaf 18%
- carrot 18%
- soy sauce 16%
- water 16%
- black peppercorn 14%
- black pepper 12%
- chicken broth 10%
- chicken stock 10%
- light brown sugar 10%
- pepper 10%