How to Bake the Perfect Turkey

Have trouble getting the turkey just perfect? This easy calculation is a sure thing every time!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• One raw turkey
• Butter
• Roasting pan
• Turkey baster or basting brush
• Aluminum Foil
• Timer or clock

1. Check label to see how big your bird is.
2. Calculate how long your turkey will take to bake. For every pound of turkey, calculate 20 minutes.
   
   For example, an 18 pound turkey will take 6 hours to bake. Add an hour to the cooking time if you plan on stuffing the turkey.
3. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
4. While the oven is preheating, prepare the turkey for baking-
   Remove turkey from packaging.
   Remove any metal or plastic holding legs together.
   Remove wrapped inards from inside the turkey.
   Thoroughly rinse inside and outside of turkey.
5. Sprinkle inside and outside of turkey with all or a combination of the following spices: poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, sage, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, or parsley. I usually use a bit of all of them....but if you don't have all of them, it's okay. Use what you have.
6. Rub seasonings over turkey to be sure it is thoroughly coated.
7. Place turkey in roasting pan and cover with aluminum foil.
8. Once oven is preheated, place turkey in oven for 1 hour.
9. After first hour, remove turkey from oven. Remove aluminum foil and rub turkey with 2 tablespoons of butter.
10. TURN OVEN DOWN TO 325 DEGREES.
11. After basting turkey with butter, place turkey back into oven.
12. Continue to baste every 20 minutes. Use butter only until there are enough drippings to baste with the drippings.
13. For the last one to two hours of baking, remove foil. This will allow the turkey to brown very nicely.
14. Lastly, sit back and enjoy the perfect turkey dinner and all of your grateful guests. Happy Thanksgiving!