Good Eats Roast Turkey

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Romancing the Bird (A Good Eats Thanksgiving)

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (2346)

Cook Time:
2 hr 30 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
10 to 12 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: 7 hr 0 min
Cook: 2 hr 30 min
Total:: 9 hr 45 min

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Ingredients

1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey

For the brine:

1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water

For the aromatics:

1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage
Canola oil

Directions

Click here to see how it's done.

2 to 3 days before roasting:

Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.

Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.

Early on the day or the night before you'd like to eat:

Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine.

Place the bird on roasting rack inside a half sheet pan and pat dry with paper towels.

Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey's cavity along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin liberally with canola oil.

Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Good Eats Roast Turkey
null null, null 11-21-2009
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what kind of turkey?
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I don't know what kind of turkey to get. All the ones I find have already been placed in some kind of salt water solution. ... I spoke to my butcher and she said that a brine wasn't necessary with these turkeys. What do i do? I can't afford to go to some organic store or whatnot....Read more
recipe Good Eats Roast Turkey
Don Yardley, PA 11-20-2009
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Take it up a notch!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I've been brining turkeys for 5-6 years? The Brine definitely keeps it Moist! Then I cook my Turkey on my Weber... Kettle, with Rosemary stems for Smoke! 3 years ago I upgraded to Rotisserie over Charcoal. Brined, Rosemary Smoked over Charcoal! Read more
recipe Good Eats Roast Turkey
John Mark Madison, MS 11-20-2009
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I use this recipe to smoke my turkeys. Absolutley fabulous!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The brine is the key, plus to keep it controlled a little, I only buy a breast as opposed to the whole bird. Smoke at 250... until the internal reaches 154, then wrap in foil for about 30 mins to an hour (it will continue to cook and reach an internal of about 160 to 163) and cut off the breasts and slice 1/8 inch against the grain...I cook a number of these for Thanksgiving and Christmas for the office and family/friends and the most hear phrase is "this is the most moist and juicy/flavorful turkey I have EVER eaten". JMTRead more
recipe Good Eats Roast Turkey
Megan Jourdanton, TX 11-20-2009
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Best Turkey My Family Ever Had
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I am 23 years old and followed this recipe exactly for Thanksgiving last year. My family (including my grandma) all said it... was the best turkey they had ever had. The breast was incredible moist, absolutely delicious. I made a small bird and don't remember how long it took, I think it was under 2 hours but the key is to cook to the correct temperature. You'll also want to give the bird time to rest.Read more
recipe Good Eats Roast Turkey
paul shelley, ID 11-20-2009
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Alton rocks
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Alton is a demi-god speaking in the culinary sense this recipe is one my wife has made for the past 5 years and we have never... had a bad one yet. Even her mom says it is the best turkey ever. A.B. if you read these comments if i could support my family independently i would work for you for free just to learn what that master food mind of yours could teach. Thank you for giving food geeks help and someone to look up to.Read more
recipe Good Eats Roast Turkey
Magdalena Sunnyside, NY 11-20-2009
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Help...
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is my first year making the turkey and I'm planning on using this method. I'm making an 8 lb. bird. How long will it... take?Read more