Turkey Roasting Tips

- The average cost of a frozen turkey is about $1 per pound. http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2008/thanks...
- According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/tgturkeyf...

Roasting a turkey can be very intimidating for many people. But by following these turkey roasting tips, you will be able to cook the perfect turkey with minimal effort.

The holidays are upon us which means getting together with family and friends to enjoy a beautiful meal - which traditionally consists of a roasted turkey. Every Thanksgiving, and even Christmas too, people everywhere are trying to find ways to cook the perfect turkey. By following these simple tips, you can be sure that your turkey will get rave reviews from your family and friends at the holidays.
Tips for a Perfect Turkey
1. If you buy a frozen turkey, you need to buy it far enough in advance to allow time for it to defrost. Frozen turkeys need 1 day per 5 pounds of turkey to defrost in the refrigerator. For example, a 15-pound turkey will need three days to defrost. Place the turkey in a large bowl or pan and place it in the refrigerator to defrost. http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Thanksgiving-Planner-The-Four-Week-Plan/Detail.aspx
2. Don't forget to remove the giblets and neck from the turkey cavity. Check both the body cavity and neck cavity of the turkey.
3. Place the turkey onto a roasting rack over chopped onions, celery and carrots in a roasting pan. With the turkey on the roasting rack, rub it with Canola oil, then season with salt and pepper.
4. Add some water or chicken stock to cover the bottom of the roasting pan. This liquid can be used to make gravy when the turkey is done.
5. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Roast the turkey at 500 degrees for the first 30 minutes in order to get a beautiful golden brown color to your turkey. Then reduce the heat to 350 degrees for the remainder of the cooking time and cover the breast of the turkey with aluminum foil. A 14-16 pound turkey will take approximately 2 1/2 hours of roasting (unstuffed).http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html
6. Stick an probe thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast. The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. However, you should take the turkey out when it reaches 161 degrees. The turkey will reach 165 degrees while it rests. This will prevent over cooking the turkey.http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Lets_Talk_Turkey/index.asp
7. When you remove the turkey from the oven, cover it loosely with aluminum foil and allow the turkey to rest for at least 15 minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the turkey.http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Turkey-101/Detail.aspx
NOTE: For a juicy and perfectly cooked turkey, you should cook stuffing in a separate casserole dish instead of stuffing it into the turkey. This will prevent the turkey from being overcooked and drying out.