High Roasted Turkey

Steve_G's Note:

Cooks in 80-100 minutes with crisp skin, very moist. From Cooks Illustrated.

• Total Time: 2 hrs
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 12

Yield: 1.0 turkey

• 1 ½ cups kosher salt or 1 cup table salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 (12 -14 lb) gross weight whole turkey , butterflied, rinsed thoroughly, giblets, neck, and tail piece removed and reserved for gravy
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted

Directions:

1. To brine the turkey: Dissolve salt and sugar in 2 gallons cold water in large stockpot or clean bucket.
2. Add turkey and refrigerate or set in very cool spot (not more than 40°F) for 8 hours.
3. Set slotted broiler pan top on top of roasting pan with foil-covered dressing and spray with nonstick cooking spray; set roasting pan on baking sheet to support bottom.
4. Remove turkey from brine and rinse well under cool running water.
5. Position turkey on broiler pan top; thoroughly pat surface of turkey dry with paper towels.
6. Refrigerate turkey and dressing, uncovered, 8 to 24 hours.
7. To roast turkey with dressing: Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 450°F.
8. Remove broiler pan top with turkey and foil cover over roasting pan; replace broiler pan top with turkey.
9. Brush turkey with melted butter.
10. Place entire assembly with turkey in oven and roast until turkey skin is crisp and deep brown and instant-read thermometer reads 165 °F when inserted in thickest part of breast and 175°F in thickest part of thigh, 80 to 100 minutes, rotating pan from front to back after 40 minutes.
11. Transfer broiler pan top with turkey to cutting board, tent loosely with foil, and let rest 20 minutes.
12. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to upper-middle position, place roasting pan with dressing back in oven, and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
13. Cool dressing 5 minutes, then spoon into bowl or onto turkey serving platter.
14. Carve turkey.

Reviews

[CCinSC]

Hands down, without a doubt, the BEST turkey I've ever made (including the fried one). Shoot, it was the best turkey I've ever eaten. This is the only way I'll do a bird again. Incredibly moist and delicious you can't go wrong with this one!

[riffraff]

Wow steve- this was sooooooooooo good! my mom made this today for christmas and i can not stop eating it! she did not have time to brine it- but i bet that would make it even better. thanks so much for sharing!