The Attention-Hungry Turkey of Moistness
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"I made this at a Christmas party last year. It was the first time I'd ever done a turkey by myself, and my mother told me I was basting too much. I showed her; it was the most tender turkey any of the guests had ever had. Better than the woodchips she fed us every Christmas Day!"
Original recipe yield: 12 servings.
- Prep Time:
- 20 Minutes
- Cook Time:
- 4 Hours
- Ready In:
- 4 Hours 20 Minutes
- Servings:
- 12
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INGREDIENTS:
- 1 (18 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
- 8 cups prepared stuffing
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- salt and pepper to taste
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DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Set oven rack to the lowest position so the turkey will fit.
- Rinse the turkey and pat dry. Place in a large roasting pan and loosely fill the cavity with stuffing. Rub butter all over the outside, and season with salt and pepper. Use a large sheet of aluminum foil to make a tent over the bird.
- Place in the preheated oven, and here's where it gets interesting. Baste every 5 to 10 minutes - everywhere! Whenever you're not doing something, baste! If you are too busy to baste, take turns with someone else. After 2 hours, remove the foil tent. Keep roasting until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) when taken in the thickest part of the thigh. It should take about 4 hours total.
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