Turkey - Whole

By Maverick19

Cook your whole turkey, breast side down.
Cook stuffing separately.

Ingredients

• 1 turkey, approx 15 lbs.
• juice of 1-2 lemons
• salt and pepper
• butter

Preparation

Step 1

Bring turkey to room temperature. Remove neck, giblets, heart and gizzard for stock.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Wash out turkey with water. Pat dry with paper towel. Lathe the inside of cavity with juice of lemon. Rub salt inside cavity.

Slide butter under the skin of turkey and rub melted butter over the outside of the turkey. Sprinkle salt and pepper on outside of turkey, all over.

Place turkey, breast down, on bottom of rack over sturdy roasting pan

Place turkey in oven. For 15 lb bird, start at 400 degrees for 1st half hour. Then reduce to 350 degrees for next 2 hours. Then 225 degrees for 1-1 1/2 hours.

Place thermometer in bird. 175 degrees for the dark meat, 165 degrees for the white meat, and the turkey is done.

Chop giblets. Put in small saucepan, cover with water, add salt. Simmer for 1 hour to make stock for stuffing.