How to Roast a Thanksgiving Turkey | Williams-Sonoma

Roasting a Thanksgiving turkey can sometimes be a difficult affair. In this video, Williams-Sonoma culinary expert Amanda shows you how to take the guess work out of roasting a Thanksgiving turkey.

Before you begin the roasting process, it is important to place the rinsed, dried and seasoned turkey at room temperature for about an hour. Once this has been done, place it on a roasting pan and put it in the oven. If you are stuffing your turkey, it is a good idea to cover the breast part of the turkey with an aluminum foil so that it roasts evenly. If you are not stuffing your Thanksgiving turkey, you should roast it breast side down.

Take out the turkey every 30 minutes for basting. It is important to close the oven door when you are basting the turkey, as an open oven door can considerably lower the oven temperature and prolong the cooking time. Continue basting at regular intervals till the turkey is roasted evenly.

You can use a probe thermometer or an instant read thermometer to monitor the roasting process. Alternately, you can use the knife and cut into the thickest portion near the thigh to check the quality of the roast. If the knife runs clear of all the juices, the roasting is done. Use turkey lifters to place the roasted turkey on a carving board and cover with an aluminum foil for 20 minutes to let the juices get evenly absorbed.

Your delicious turkey is now ready to be carved!

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Get a delicious turkey recipe at:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/roasted-turkey-with--herb-butter.html