The Best Way To Cook A Turkey

There are plenty of occasions in which a nice moist and flavorful turkey meal can fit. For instance, are you cooking for someone who's been sick? Perfect! Are you having a dinner party with friends and family? Even better!

Now, I'm sure everyone knows that there are about a million different ways to cook and flavor a turkey. I'm not an expert, so the simpler, the better for me. If you are looking to impress, there is nothing wrong with adding a little of your own flavor to the mix.

Here's how you start. Gathering your ingredients is the first step. You'll need:

1 whole turkey of any size

2 cups of water or whatever kind of broth you like

Unsalted butter for basting (This is up to you.)

You will also need a roasting pan and rack, and a turkey baster or a big spoon.

Make sure you've thawed the turkey completely before attempting to roast it! You can either use the 24-5lbs method, which means thawing 24 hour per each 5lbs of turkey, or you can thaw it in a large bowl of cold water, changing the water about every 30 minutes or so.

Now, to begin the cooking process, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Remove any plastic or paper packaging from the turkey, including the little bag of giblets, before setting the turkey breast up on top of the rack inside the roasting pan.

I'd suggest that you rub a little salt and pepper on the turkey before putting it in the oven to give it a little flavor.

Pour the 2 cups of water or broth (your choice) into the pan over the turkey. Set one of the oven racks on the bottom of your oven and slide in the roasting pan. Turn the oven temp down to about 350 degrees and cook for approximately 13 minutes for every pound of turkey. To adjust the cooking time to your oven, check the temperature of your turkey about midway through the cooking.

About every 45 minutes or so, take out the turkey and use a spoon to drizzle the juices onto the meat. If you choose to baste with the unsalted butter in addition to the juices, do so before the last 45 minutes of cook time.

Make sure to check the temp of the breast and the thighs. They should be at least 165 degrees. If the temperature is not high enough, cook for another 20 minutes, covering the turkey with foil so that it doesn't burn or dry out.

After the cooking is done, drain the juices out of the cavity by tilting the rack and then remove the turkey from the roasting pan. Cover the entire turkey with foil and let it set for 30 minutes before attempting to cut or tear away any of the meat. Carving the turkey is optional. Make sure to put the uneaten meat into the fridge at most 2 hours after the cooking is finished.

There you have it! If you follow these simple steps, you'll have a perfectly roasted turkey that's great for any occasion. Whether you're sharing it with friends and family or going solo, this turkey will be a hit!