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Best Way to Cook a Turkey – upside down, high heat, no basting!

The best way to cook a turkey! High heat, upside, no basting!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 20 minutes
Course: Recipes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: christmas, main dish, thanksgiving, turkey
Servings: 12 -16 servings
Author: Michelle Marine

Ingredients

  • 1 12-16 pound turkey
  • 1 carrot chunked
  • 1 stalk celery chunked
  • 1 onion quartered
  • 1 green apple quartered
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • ½ C. water

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 500 degrees.
  • Remove the turkey neck and bag of giblets. Cut off any plastic ties that may be holding the legs together. Remove the pop up thermometer, if there is one.
  • Place all your vegetables in the turkey cavity.
  • Carefully, separate the skin from the turkey and rub half the butter under the skin.
  • Rub the outside of the turkey with the remaining butter.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Place turkey breast side DOWN in a roasting pan.
  • Put water in pan around the bird but not over it.
  • Cook turkey at 500 degrees for 30 minutes, turn oven down to 350 and cook for 1 1/2 more hours.
  • After the turkey has cooked for about 2 hours, remove from oven, carefully flip over so the turkey is now breast side UP. Insert a remote safe oven thermometer in the thigh, without touching the bone and continue cooking until the meat thermometer reads 165 degrees.
  • Remove turkey from oven, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 30 minutes before serving.
  • Carve & Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Add about 13 minutes cooking time per additional pound of turkey over 16 pounds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 pound per person | Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 65g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 251mg | Sodium: 256mg | Sugar: 1g