Introduction

Turkey is one of the best-tasting meats, but it can be tricky to cook. Here are some tips for cooking a turkey:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Preheating is important because it helps your turkey cook more evenly, and prevents you from having an overcooked exterior and undercooked interior.

If you don’t preheat, the outside of your bird will be dry and tough while its insides are still raw or pinkish in color.

If needed, stuff the cavity with several cups of apples or onions and celery.

If you want to add some flavor to your turkey, stuff the cavity with several cups of onions and celery. You can use apples too if you want a sweeter taste. If you’re feeling savory, go with celery instead. You could also use other vegetables like peppercorns or garlic cloves for added flavor!

Tie legs together with kitchen string to keep them from drying out or burning.

You can also use kitchen string or a clip to keep the legs from spreading apart. This will help them cook evenly, and prevent burning.

Rub butter or margarine over entire outside of turkey with your fingers.

Rub butter or margarine over entire outside of turkey with your fingers. Use enough to cover the entire outside of the turkey, but not so much that it will drip off and make a mess in your oven. Use a paper towel to wipe off any excess butter or margarine from your hands, then set aside for later use (see below).

Place turkey in roasting pan breast side up, on rack if desired.

Place turkey in roasting pan breast side up, on rack if desired. If you don’t have a rack, place the turkey in a roasting pan and use a rack from another dish to elevate it above the bottom of the pan. Place foil-lined baking sheet under turkey to catch drippings if desired; discard drippings once cooled.

Brush the top of the breast and sides of turkey with melted butter or margarine.

Brush the top of the breast and sides of turkey with melted butter or margarine. This helps to brown the skin and keep it moist during cooking. You can also use olive oil, or even some tangy marinades or rubs on your bird for added flavor!

Bake for 2 1/2 hours per pound plus 15 minutes more at 350 degrees until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees (for a total of 3 1/2 hours). It may take a bit longer depending on your oven, but use your experience as a guide for doneness as well as temperature when checking for doneness. Remember that each person likes their bird cooked differently!

The internal temperature of the turkey should reach 180 degrees. This is not the same as doneness, which can be subjective. The best way to tell if your turkey is done is to use a meat thermometer and make sure that its internal temperature reaches 180 degrees (this may take longer or shorter than 3 1/2 hours).

An 18 pound turkey will take about 5 hours and 20 minutes to cook

As we mentioned above, cooking times vary based on the size and oven temperature of your turkey. For this particular example, an 18 pound turkey would take about 5 hours and 20 minutes to cook at 350 degrees F.

The best way to determine whether or not your bird is done is by using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 180 degrees F before removing it from the oven. If you don’t have one handy or don’t want to use it (for whatever reason), there are other ways you can check for doneness:

• Use your experience as a guide for doneness as well as temperature when checking for doneness!

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a delicious, moist turkey, this is the recipe for you! It’s easy to make and will give you plenty of leftovers. Make sure to follow these instructions carefully so that your turkey comes out perfectly every time.