k.a. The Judy Bird)" from Genius Recipes. Recipe says rest uncovered for at least 8 hours - is there a max or preferable amount of time? Thanks, nt

Roasting a large turkey requires a long cook time because of the large cavity of air. Roasting cut pieces significantly decreases cook time, makes a nice presentation with evenly browned crispy skin and lessens the chance of dry white meat or underdone dark meat. A similar method called Spatchcock (likely Irish in origin), involves removing the backbone and splaying the turkey out as one piece and results in a beautiful and evenly cooked bird. There are many sites with information on the web.

Apologies for straying from specifics, but I've tried every roast turkey recipe and done everything possible to a turkey except to make love to it. Now, the butcher cuts it up for me and I roast in pieces I simply salt and pepper straight from the bag. I have the crispiest, prettiest and most delicious skin, and as juicy a meat as a turkey can have, done the simplest way. Everyone loves my turkey. I'll never touch a whole turkey again.

I've made this and it is a great recipe. I just took it out of the bag the night before I planned to roast it, and let it sit uncovered in the refrigerator until about an hour before I had to start cooking it. As Susan said, the idea is to dry the skin so it gets super crispy.

It's to dry the skin so you end up with a crispy skinned turkey. Eight to ten hours is fine. You still pat it with paper towels before roasting. I would put it on a rack on top of a sheet pan so the air can circulate all around the turkey. Such a great sounding recipe.