Pat turkey dry with paper towels and season the cavity generously with salt and pepper.

Roast turkey cooking instructions. Pat the turkey dry and place it on a roasting rack, breast side up. Let turkey rest at room temperature 1 hour. How long to rest the turkey?

Web heat oven to 450 degrees. Fresh or thawed whole turkeys. Transfer oven rack 1 level below center and preheat oven to 350 degrees near end of resting.

Web table of contents. How to cook a turkey. Web step 1 position rack to the lower third of your oven and preheat oven to 450°.

Place thawed turkey, breast side up, on flat rack in shallow roasting pan 2 to 2½ inches deep. Web brush the turkey with the herb butter mixture all over and generously season with salt and pepper. Rest the turkey for at least 15 minutes before carving.

Remove the aluminum foil and transfer the turkey back to the oven. Roast, basting with stock every 30 minutes, for about two and half hours. 2 if you brined your turkey, rinse it well under cold water.

Tips and tricks for cooking a turkey. 2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper. Place the rack on the lowest level in the oven and adjust the heat to 425 degrees.