How to cook a thanksgiving turkey in foil for a perfectly brown and juicy bird every time

November 9, 8:37 PMSacramento Easy Meals ExaminerSuzanne Pitner

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Perfectly browned Thanksgiving turkey can be roasted in foil.
PRNewsFoto/Foster Farms

There are many ways to cook a turkey. Everyone seems to have their own favorite flavors and seasonings. Baking a turkey for the first time can be an intimidating experience, but it doesn’t need to be. Following this method will result in a perfectly browned, juicy, and tender turkey every time. After 25 years of roasting turkeys this way, there has never been one that didn’t turn out wonderful.

This method involves cooking the turkey in foil. Here are the advantages of cooking in foil.

• First, sometimes a turkey is too big to use the lid to the roaster without touching the turkey. If the roaster lid touches the turkey, the skin will peel off, and it will be a disaster.
• Second, when cooking in foil, the edges can be lifted to allow some of the steam to escape and the turkey to brown.
• Third, the turkey will be done faster than with other methods, which is why it stays moist. A large, 16-18 pound turkey can be table ready in about 4-5 hours. This means the cook doesn’t have to get up before-light-o’clock to get the bird in the oven.

Preparation of the turkey

• Thaw the turkey according to safe handling instructions on the label. In the refrigerator, it may take three days to thaw a turkey.
• Remove the giblets and set aside.
• Rub the cavity with sea salt.
• Do not place stuffing inside the turkey cavity.
• Brush the skin with olive oil or softened butter.
• Place aluminum foil over the wing tips, the tail, and the ends of the legs.
• Place the turkey breast side up in a KitchenAid Gourmet Distinctions 16-1/2-Inch Roaster with Rack or other heavy duty roasting pan with a roasting rack.
• Cut two pieces of heavy duty aluminum foil twice as long as the pan is wide.
• Make a tent over the turkey with the aluminum foil pieces.
• Seal the foil over the edges of the roasting pan. Do not seal the top airtight.
• The turkey should now be covered in foil, but the foil should not touch the turkey.

Roasting the turkey

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Use the timetable below to find the correct cooking time.
• About 30 minutes before the turkey is done, fold the foil back.
• Insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh or breast.
• Allow the turkey to continue roasting, uncovered, to brown and crisp the skin.
• The turkey meat should be 185 degrees when it is fully cooked.
• Carefully lift the turkey out of the pan and place on a platter.
• Allow the turkey to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.

Cooking times for turkey in foil

• 7-10 pounds = 2 to 2 ½ hours
• 10-13 pounds = 2 ½ to 3 hours
• 14-17 pounds = 3 ½ to 4 hours
• 18-21 pounds = 4 ½ to 5 hours
• 22-24 pounds = 5 ½ to 6 hours
• 25-27 pounds + 6 ½ to 7 hours

For more holiday cooking ideas, learn how to cook a pumpkin for fresh pumpkin pie.

Make a side dish of fresh homemade cranberry sauce in ten minutes to serve with this turkey.