Cooking Instructions
You’ll Need:
- Fresh Turkey
- Herbs & Seasonings (Salt, Pepper, Mirepoix, Thyme, Garlic Herb Seasoning Shak’r, etc)
- Wegmans Organic Basting Oil
- Large roasting pan with rack
- Digital thermometer
What size turkey do I buy?
- For whole turkey – 1 lb per person
- For turkey breast – ½ lb per person
Prep:
Release turkey legs from oven-safe clamp (if applicable); remove neck and giblets from body and neck cavities. Tuck wings under back of turkey.
Season:
Season cavity with your choice of herbs and seasonings (salt, pepper, mirepoix, thyme, Garlic Herb Seasoning Shak’r, etc.). Drizzle outside of turkey with basting oil; season. Re-clamp legs (if applicable).
Roast:
Preheat oven to 325°. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in shallow roasting pan. Cover turkey loosely with a “tent” of aluminum foil.
Roast, using times listed on chart. About 45 min before end of suggested roasting time, remove foil tent; baste turkey with drippings. Roast until internal temp of turkey is 165°. Check internal temp by inserting digital thermometer into thickest part of inner thigh area where leg connects to body of bird – but not touching the bone.
Rest:
Let turkey rest 30 min before carving.
Tips:
- Covering turkey loosely with a foil tent eliminates the need to baste during cooking and prevents excessive browning
- Allowing the turkey to rest before carving allows the juices to stay in the meat and makes for a moist turkey.
- Increase cooking time by 15-20 minutes if cooking turkey stuffed. Be sure stuffing temp also reaches 165 degrees.
Roasting Time (Unstuffed Turkey)
- 8-12 lbs. – 2¾ to 3 hours
- 12-14 lbs. – 3 to 3¾ hours
- 14-18 lbs. – 3¾ to 4¼ hours
- 18-20 lbs. – 4¼ to 4½ hours
- 20-24 lbs. – 4½ to 5 hours