Safeway's Two Hour Turkey

Submitted by CHRISSYG

"Our local Safeway is called Genuardi's and they've been advertising this recipe all over the place. I think it's worth giving a try. This can be done with a Turkey as large as 24lbs."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs 5mins
• Ingredients: 4
• Serves: 8-10

ingredients

• 1 (10 lb) whole turkey (if frozen, fully thawed)
• 1 -2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• kosher salt
• pepper

directions

1. Remove and discard truss that holds turkey legs together. Pull or trim off and discard any excess fat in neck or body cavity. Remove giblets and neck.
2. Rinse turkey inside and out with warm water. Pat dry with paper towels.
3. Place the adjustable V-shaped rack in a 13 x 16 x 3-inch roasting pan (set rack sides so the bird is a minimum of 2 inches from pan bottom).
4. Rub turkey skin generously all over with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set bird breast-side-up on rack. Pull wings away from body, then firmly twist them to push the wing tips under the bird.
5. Using aluminum foil, form caps over the tips of the end of each drumstick. If any parts of the turkey extend beyond pan rim, fashion a foil collar underneath to make sure drippings flow back into pan. Do not tie legs together, add stuffing, or close body cavity.
6. Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer near the center of the breast through thickest part until the tip touches bone, which is most accurate spot to check doneness.

7. Verify oven temperature and set pan on the lowest rack in a 475° oven. Roast according to time chart:

8. 10-13 lb. 50min to 1 1/4 hrs.
9. 13-16 lb., 1 1/4 hrs to 1 hr 50 mins.
10. 16-19 lb., 1 1/4 hrs to 2 hrs.
11. 19-22 lb., 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs.
12. 22-24 lb., 1 1/2 hrs to 2 1/2 hrs.
13. Continue to check as directed during cooking, until thermometer reaches 160°. Halfway through roasting time, rotate pan in oven to assure even cooking and browning (Tip C). If areas on turkey breast start to get browner than you like, lay a piece of foil over the dark areas.
14. Remove pan from oven, set in a warm spot, and loosely cover pan with foil to keep it warm. Rearrange oven racks to accommodate potatoes and dressing. Decrease oven temperature to 400º. Let turkey rest 30 to 60 minutes. The resting period will allow the internal temperature to reach 165°, the USDA safe cooking temperature for poultry.
15. Drain juices from body cavity (often plentiful in unstuffed birds) into roasting pan. Transfer turkey to a platter or rimmed cutting board. Set aside juices for gravy.
16. Cut off turkey legs at thigh joint . If joint is red or pink, return legs to the oven for 3 to 5 minutes (at 300° to 475°) or heat in a microwave oven for 3 to 4 minutes.
17. Carve the rest of the turkey. Carving juices may be clear to pink or rosy; both are fine. Save juices to pour into gravy if desired.
18. Time Saving Tip. If you have a frozen turkey, place it in the refrigerator to thaw 4-6 days before Thanksgiving. Take it out an hour before cooking to bring it to room temperature.
19. Helpful Hints.If there is any smoke, check pan and wings for drips into oven; adjust foil under wings, or slide roasting pan onto a larger shallow rimmed pan. Wipe drips from oven bottom.

Reviews

[kimmassi]

I’ve been using this recipe for a number of years to cook my 24 pound turkey. Turned out great every time. Moist and juicy. I did not tweak the recipe.

 

[lsh60]

I have been using this method for many years. My oven has a convection setting so I use it to minimize smoke and to get more even cooking, and I will also remove the turkey at 155 degrees F. I buy the cheapest turkey available because I have found it doesn't make a difference; the turkey comes out fabulous every time. Also, I use a lot more spicing than most people. A chef taught me that on large roasts, it takes a lot more (X4 at least) for the flavor to penetrate. Finally, I always roast with the breast down. Yes, the skin won't have that beautiful color, but the breast meat will be amazingly juicy. The breasts are the first part to cook through, and if you cook breast up you are adding to that tendency. If you want to go to the trouble, turn the turkey over 30 minutes before removing from the oven and it will be the best of both worlds.

 

[ExZonie]

I was so excited when I saw this recipe at the local Von's store in Fresno. We had a smallish bird (~14 lbs.) so it didn't take long at all and the meat was moist and perfectly done. Everyone loved it and I was so proud! I cooked our stuffing in the crock pot and that was great too. We will always do our turkeys this way now. Yummy!!

 

[Ang31a_in_b1kh20]

This recipe worked really well for me. I didn't use a rack though so I left my turkey in a bit longer than was listed here.I didn't want my turkey to taste exacttly like everyone else's since everyone eats turkey so often during this season! So... I also used some spices for my turkey other than salt and pepper. I added some "poultry seasoning" which included like thyme, rosemary, etc. after I coated my turkey with the olive oil. It turned out awesome and the spices made the drippings really flavorful as well which made an awesome gravy. The poultry seasoning is the generic whatever is premixed in the seasoning aisle of the supermarket.

 

[smksapper]

I've used this recipe for four turkeys so far. We brine our birds first so that helps as well. Very happy with the results and both my mom and mother-in-law had nothing but love for my turkey :)