Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey

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Picture of Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Photo: Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 36 Reviews
Total Time:
25 hr 10 min
Prep
10 min
Inactive
20 hr 0 min
Cook
5 hr 0 min
Yield:
18 servings
Level:
Easy
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Ingredients

  • 2 gallons water
  • 2 cups apple juice
  • 1 1/2 cups kosher salt
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 5 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 5 bay leaves
  • 4 tablespoons black peppercorns
  • 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
  • 3 oranges, peeled, white pith removed, skin roughly chopped
  • 1 (20-pound) fresh turkey
  • 1 1/2 sticks softened butter
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
  • 3 tablespoons chopped orange zest

Directions

Combine the water, apple juice, salt, sugar, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, dried rosemary, and orange peel in a large pot and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat immediately, cover, and allow mixture to come to room temperature. Cool mixture in the fridge until you're ready.

To brine the turkey, remove the turkey from wrapper, remove interior bags (set aside; refrigerate), and rinse turkey thoroughly under cool water.

Place the turkey into a plastic brining bag or a very large pot.

Pour the cooled brine mixture over the top, adding extra cold water if you need more to completely cover the turkey. Seal the bag or cover the pot and allow the turkey to brine in the refrigerator for 16 to 24 hours before roasting.

Before roasting, remove the turkey from brine and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Then soak in a sink full of fresh water for 15 to 20 minutes. Pat dry. Discard brine. (This soaking process will decrease the likelihood of too-salty gravy).

Preheat the oven 275 degrees F.

Truss the bird and place it breast side up on a rack in a large roasting pan. Cover the turkey tightly with heavy-duty foil. Make sure it's entirely covered (cover over the bottom edges of the pan). Place in the oven and roast for about 10 minutes per pound (a 20 pound turkey will roast for about 3 1/2 hours).

Remove the turkey from the oven and increase the temperature to 375 degrees F. Remove the aluminum foil and set aside. Mix the softened butter with the rosemary and orange peel and rub all over the skin of the turkey, covering every single inch of the skin. Insert a meat thermometer into the thigh, near the hip joint. Place the turkey, uncovered, back into the oven. Continue roasting the turkey, basting with butter every 30 minutes, until the thermometer registers 170 degrees F and until the juices are no longer pink.

Remove from the oven and cover with foil until you are ready to carve and serve. Reserve pan juices to make gravy.

Cook's Note: This is enough for a 20 pound fresh turkey. You can decrease the quantity for a smaller bird.

  • A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.

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Wine Suggestion for This Recipe

Merlot

Merlot

Jammy, earthy red wine

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 36 reviews

  • on December 30, 2012

    Flag

    This was my first turkey to ever make all by myself and it was really easy to make ;and it was the best turkey I've ever had!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on December 25, 2012

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    it was awesome! the brine was great!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on December 20, 2012

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    never roasted a turkey. Much less brined one. This was the best turkey ever!! My mom even said it was better than hers and shes been doing it for only about... 15 years. i urge u make this turkey now! it is not hard and it iss awsome! so much for beginners!

    people found this review Helpful.
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