Turkey Roast
Ready In: 2-8 hours
Cook Time: see notes below
ingredients
the Roast
turkey, thawed in the fridge
turkey-sized roasting pan
turkey baster or basting brush
poultry string or strong twine
salt
canola oil
water
Gravy
flour
Pan drippings from roast turkey
Salt & pepper to taste
instructions
- If thawing a frozen turkey, be sure to start early. It takes about 3 days to thaw in the fridge.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C)
- Rinse the turkey thoroughly in clear running water
- Pat dry with paper towels
- Rub the salt on the inside of the turkey
- Tie the legs and wings of the turkey together, tightly against the body, with poultry string. This will keep the limbs from getting dry
- Place in the roasting pan
- Pour 1/2 cup water in the bottom of the pan to keep the drippings from burning
- Put roast in the oven, and turn the oven temperature down to 350°F (180°C)
- Baste with canola oil every 30 minutes
- The turkey is done when juices run clear. The drumsticks should be soft and move easily at the hip joint
Gravy
- Whisk 1/2 cup pan drippings with flour until smooth
- In a saucepan, bring the rest of the pan drippings to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer
- Whisk the flour mixture into the drippings, being careful to get rid of any lumps
- Over low heat, cook the gravy for about 10 minutes until it has reached the desired thickness
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
from the kitchen of
Mom
How much to buy
1 pound of uncooked turkey per person
Thaw time
4 to 5 pounds of turkey thaw per 24 hours. Remember to thaw in the fridge, as it will spoil if left on the counter.
Cook time
Turkey takes 20 minutes per pound to cook, or 40 minutes per kilogram. The larger the turkey is, the longer it will take to bake.
Stuffing
I've found that it's often tastier and a lot easier to buy pre-made stuffing. My favorite is Stovetop turkey stuffing. All it takes is a package or two, a microwave, and some water. That being said, I have my roommate's recipe for some pretty fabulous stuffing as well.