roasting a turkey

By MauiDreaming

from fannie farmer

Ingredients

• heavily greased parchment paper
• 1 turkey
• 1/2 lb. butter
• salt and pepper or seasoning salt

Preparation

Step 1

place the parchment paper on cooking rack to place turkey on, it needs to be turned, so the parchment paper keeps the skin from sticking on the rack when it is time to turn the turkey over.
preheat oven to 425F
rinse the turkey and pat dry.
if stuffing turkey, now is the time. if not adding stuffing, you can place aromatic herbs in the cavity.
soften butter and rub all over turkey, can rub under skin if desired. sprinkle with spices.
place breast side down on baking rack. roast 20 minutes then turn heat down to 325F.
every 20 minutes baste turkey with drippings.
if turkey weighs less than 12 lbs. turn after 1 hour.
if it weighs over 12 lbs. turn after 1+1/2 hours.

cooking time
if turkey weighs less than 16 lbs, cook 15 minutes per pound, 12 minutes per pound if it weighs over 16 lbs.
to check doneness, meat thermometer should be between 170F-185F in the thigh meat. if wings or legs are cooking too quickly, cover with foil.

remove turkey and place on a platter, cover loosely with foil and rest 15 minutes before carving