All it takes is some fridge space, salt, and spices.
Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock
The responsibility of cooking a turkey comes with a lot of decisions.
Every year, I find myself asking questions like, what size of bird should I get?
Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock
How long should Ithawit?
Should I buy a fresh bird?
How should I season it?
Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock
How should Icook it?
The experts say dry brining is the way to go.
Planning accordingly, Ill have a fully defrosted bird to dry brine before the big holiday.
The method involves rubbing the turkey with salt andseasonings, then letting it chill outliterally.
Dry briningmeat changes its protein structure, causing it to release moisture.
For her, one of the best things about dry brining is avoiding the challenges of awet brine.
Pohaizer echoes the sentiment.
“The flavor is equally excellent, but with much less fuss,” she agrees.
She even admitted to using a blow-dryer to dry out her wet-brined turkeys in the past.
Talk about a turkey salon experience!
The Heat Is On
Hillier suggests blasting the heat first, then going low and slow.
“To get that golden crispy skin, she advises, sear the turkey first at 425F.
Then reduce the heat to 325F for the remainder of the cooking time.
It’s like a turkey tanning boothwith delicious results.
Should You Spatchcock Your Turkey?
Spatchcocking, says Gallant, is much faster than a traditional roast and produces a crispier skin.
Just be warned, you might need some heavy-duty toolsand someone who knows how to use them!
Who knew home improvement tools could be so helpful in the kitchen?
Podhaizer prefers switching up her dry-brining mixture to suit her mood.
She uses kosher salt and whateverherbsand spices she’s feeling excited about.
Wait to Carve It
No matter how you cook it, Hillier emphasizes the importance of resting your bird.
This helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat, leading to a more juicy and tender bird.”
Ultimately, the secret to the perfect roast turkey isn’t a secret at all.
Now, lets move on to theside dishes!
