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1
Remove the giblets from the turkey, wash the turkey well, and pat dry with paper towels.
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2
Use your fingertips to gently separate the turkey skin from the breast.
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3
Mix the chopped herbs with the softened butter and distribute evenly underneath the turkey skin.
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4
This will create a self basting turkey and keep it moist as it cooks slowly.
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5
Preheat oven to 450 or 500 degrees F.
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6
Place the chopped onion, celery, apples, oranges, and carrots inside the cavity of the turkey and then sprinkle the turkey all over with salt and pepper, to taste.
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7
Place the turkey on a rack (the reason we place the turkey onto a rack is so we don't get a mushy bottom on the turkey) in a roasting tray, cover with aluminum foil, and place in a preheated oven at 450 to 500 degrees F for the first 25 minutes then reduce the heat to 325 degrees F for a further 4 hours checking every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the day.
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8
About 1 hour from finishing remove the foil and allow to get golden brown.
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9
You should roast the turkey until an instant-read thermometer registers 180 degrees F (this is the temperature for a whole turkey) and the juices no longer run pink when you cut into the center of the thigh (it should be clear).
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10
The drumstick should move easily from the socket when lifted or twisted.
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11
When the turkey has finished cooking remove from oven and let it rest for at least 30 minutes - longer is better.
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12
It will not go cold!!
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13
!
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14
Note: I personally don't like to baste because every time you open the oven you lose at least 25 degrees F of heat, so this means that you keep the turkey in the oven longer therefore drying it out.