By
eHow Food & Drink Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Defrost a turkey safely in a sink of cold water, in the fridge (recommended method) or in a microwave, if you need to thaw your turkey before cooking.
Step2
Prepare your turkey by removing any plastic wrapping, removing the neck and giblets and making sure the turkey legs are in the tucked position. Stuff the turkey just before roasting and brush with oil to prevent the turkey skin from becoming dry.
Step3
Know that there is no need to baste the turkey before cooking—the juice only penetrates about 1/8 inch under the skin and doesn’t actually make the meat any juicier.
Step4
Look at the size of your turkey; the size will affect the cooking time. In general, you should cook the turkey for 15-20 minutes per pound of weight, although the exact cooking time may vary.
Step5
Cook your turkey at a temperature ranging from 325 degrees to 350 degrees. A higher temperature may cause the meat to be dry; cooking for long periods at a lower temperature won’t cook the turkey properly and may cause food poisoning.
Step6
Test your turkey by using a meat thermometer after your turkey has cooked for the recommended time. Make sure that the stuffing, as well as the turkey, has reached the required temperature.
Step7
Know that a turkey is properly cooked when the thigh meat reaches 180 degrees and the interior of the breast meat reaches 170 degrees.