Follow our guide below to learn the best way to cook a turkey.

How to cook a turkey in the oven. Using your hands, very carefully separate the skin of the turkey from the breast meat. Heat oven to 190c/fan 170c/gas 5. Web cooking a whole turkey can be a daunting task for new or novice home chefs.

Web in a small bowl combine the butter, garlic, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and salt and pepper. Unwrap the plastic around your turkey while holding it over the sink to ensure that any juices will run down the drain. “you need 24 hours for every four to five pounds of a bird,” campbell explained.

There’s a rule of thumb to know just how long it will take to defrost the turkey. Web doing so puts you at risk for a foodborne illness. Web preheat the oven to 450°f then drop the temperature to 350°f after putting the turkey into the oven.

Web stuff the turkey just before roasting. Web either brine the turkey beforehand or salt the inside and outside of the bird generously, then stuff the cavity with aromatics, like lemon halves, wedges of onion, and herbs. Pat outside and inside of turkey dry with paper towels.

If you notice the breast is getting too brown and crispy. Put the onion and a large sprig of bay in the cavity between the legs. Place the turkey in the roasting pan and put it in the oven.

Aluminum foil to help keep your turkey warm while it rests after roasting and to tent while cooking—if needed. Web preheat oven to 325° f. Cook until the juices run clear.