The Best Ugly Turkey Recipes

THE BEST UGLY TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Rub olive oil and salt all over the bird. Place the apple pieces inside of the cavity. Place the turkey breast side down in a large roasting pan.
• Roast for 3 hours in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven and carefully turn the bird so the breast side is facing up. Return to the oven and cook until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh has reached 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Allow the turkey to rest for about 30 minutes before carving.

THE BEST TURKEY EVER

Steps:

• Thaw turkey as directed on packaging.
• Remove giblets from inside.
• Rinse completely inside and out.
• In a container large enough to hold the turkey, mix the water and kosher salt.
• Place cold turkey in solution and allow to soak for 24 hours.
• Be sure to keep it cold, if you can't refrigerate it, add ice throughout the day as needed.
• Remove the turkey from the brine solution.
• To infuse the meat with flavor, fill the cavity of the bird with garlic, leeks, herbs (set aside enough bay leaves to insert under skin later), citrus fruit, onions, apples, carrots, celery, shallots. You won't use all the fruit and veggies you cut during preparation to fill the bird, so don't panic.
• Preheat oven to 450.
• Use a roasting pan with a V-Rack in the pan.
• Fill 1/3 of the pan with apple cider, beer, chicken broth, and any remaining filling for the bird.
• Truss the bird before roasting if not sold that way.
• Insert Bay Leaves under skin all over, as much or as little as you like.
• Rub entire bird with softened butter.
• Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Place turkey on roasting pan.
• This pan will be VERY HEAVY--you may need some strong arms to assist putting in oven!
• Reduce heat to 325.
• Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes per pound, use a digital thermometer, till internal temp reaches 160.
• The temp will rise while the turkey is resting, be sure not to let it rise above 160 while cooking in oven!
• Tent the bird loosely with foil during the first hour of cooking and cover it again if the skin starts getting too brown.
• Baste the turkey every 1/2 hour with more softened butter and the juices in the bottom of the pan. I use an injector about every hour as well.
• After cooking, allow turkey to rest for a half hour before carving.
• ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR!

THE BEST UGLY TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Rub olive oil and salt all over the bird. Place the apple pieces inside of the cavity. Place the turkey breast side down in a large roasting pan.
• Roast for 3 hours in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven and carefully turn the bird so the breast side is facing up. Return to the oven and cook until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh has reached 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Allow the turkey to rest for about 30 minutes before carving.