The perfect turkey

[WebLady]

I want my turkey to come out looking perfect (it always tastes good, but doesn't always have that perfect color) this year.

[sandy03]

I want my turkey to come out looking perfect (it always tastes good, but doesn't always have that perfect color) this year.

Have you tried rubbing your turkey with softened butter? That's what I always do with my chicken and turkeys and they usually come out with the nice crispy brown skin.

[WebLady]

Have you tried rubbing your turkey with softened butter? That's what I always do with my chicken and turkeys and they usually come out with the nice crispy brown skin.
Yep, I do that ... I think the problem is my roasting pan; it seems the turkey slips a little in there and one side ends up looking better than the other.


*Moved this convo here so we could all talk about how we cook our turkey*

[kgvettegirl]

RC and I use a showtime Rotisserie roaster to cook our Turkey breast. Rub it with the butter, salt, pepper, a little garlic and several hours later we have a gorgeous turkey. No one in the family likes dark meat so we just go with a large breast.

[WebLady]

We never eat the dark meat, but FIL likes the legs.

I roast ours in one of those oven bags too; it always turns out yummy and juciy that way.

[melissa1031]

i think those oven bags are great.

I roast mine in a big metal pan with a glass lid.I rub butter on the top and salt and pepper.About a half hour before it's done I'll take the lid off so the top can brown.

It may be your pan.At the grocery store they have aluminum turkey pans.Get 1 of them and try.If the turkey comes out all golden brown you know it's your roasting pan.

[MrsDM]

I, (well, my mom, but I help!) takes a butter mixture with herbs and puts chunks of it under the skin so when it is cooking, it melts into the meat. Then over the top as well. Also, basting the turkey every 45 minutes or so helps as well.

I second the aluminum roasting pan. It cooks well in there and is easy clean up!

[WebLady]

The roasting bag eliminates the need for basting; mine always turns out juciy and yummy ... hopefully with the aluminum roasting pan it will look better too ;)

[FFC]

I, (well, my mom, but I help!) takes a butter mixture with herbs and puts chunks of it under the skin so when it is cooking, it melts into the meat. Then over the top as well. Also, basting the turkey every 45 minutes or so helps as well.

I second the aluminum roasting pan. It cooks well in there and is easy clean up!

I've never cooked a turkey, but my friend swears by putting chunks of butter under the skin... Hmm....

[sandy03]

I used the aluminum pan for my turkey and it turned out really well. I just stuff it with quartered onion and lemon, garlic cloves, and sprigs of sage and rosemary which gives it a good flavor and the steam off of everything helps keep it moist. I rub the outside with unsalted butter, then baste it with melted butter occasionally (not for moisture, but to add a little extra browning power!)

Brandi, maybe the solution for yours is to slip it out of the bag about 30 minutes before it's supposed to be done and let it bake uncovered for a bit so you can get the pretty brown skin.

[gwenshack]

I've never cooked a turkey, but my friend swears by putting chunks of butter under the skin... Hmm....

Butter solves everything when cooking...:)