With a bird this good-looking, you really don't want to do much to it.
With Parsons' precise salt ratio -- 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt for every 5 pounds of meat -- you can be confident you won't over- or under-season the star of the table.
A turkey sealed in a 2 1/2-gallon zippered bag takes up a lot less fridge space than one soaking in a vat of wet brine. (An oven bag will do in a pinch, but be prepared for it to leak.)
For the last 24 hours, take the turkey out of the bag to air dry in the fridge. Give it a good pat dry, inside and out -- the drier you get it, the better the skin will crisp.
You can baste the skin with butter, but it's not necessary. In one test, Parsons found that the butter helps with browning, but not necessarily with crispness.
Start roasting the turkey breast-side down for the first 30 minutes.
This helps keep the white meat nice and juicy.
When it's time to flip, grab two clean kitchen towels or oven mitts (or big wads of paper towels).
Now flip! You'll have more control than if you try to pick it up with tongs or a carving fork (which is really a recipe for turkey-on-the-floor).
Depending on the size and shape of your bird (and roasting rack) it might get these crazy indentations at this stage -- don't panic! They'll pop back out as it finishes roasting.
About 1 1/2 hours later (or earlier if your bird is tiny), start checking the turkey's temperature in the fleshy part of the thigh. At 165 degrees, pull it out to rest.
Rest that turkey at least 30 minutes.
Now get carving!
Author Notes: This recipe won a turkey taste test with staff of the L.A. Times Food Section in 2006 and Russ Parsons, the Food Editor at the paper, has been writing about it every Thanksgiving since. The technique is inspired by chef Judy Rodgers, who dry brines the famous roast chicken (and just about everything else) at Zuni Café in San Francisco, but never a turkey. Parsons decided to try it and found, not only does it work -- it comes out perfectly juicy and crisp, with none of the sponginess that you sometimes get with wet-brined birds. He tests a new variation each year, and slashes steps he decides aren't important. He's grilled the brined turkey, and added herbs and spices to the salt -- but his most genius discovery is that you can brine a frozen bird as it's defrosting. And why wouldn't you? —Genius Recipes
Serves: 11-15
Ingredients
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One 12- to 16-pound turkey (frozen is fine)
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Kosher salt
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Herbs and/or spices to flavor the salt (optional -- see suggestions in step 1)
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Melted butter for basting (optional)
Directions
- Wash the turkey inside and out, pat it dry, and weigh it. Measure 1 tablespoon of salt—we used Diamond Crystal kosher— into a bowl for every 5 pounds the turkey weighs (for a 15-pound turkey, you'd have 3 tablespoons). You can flavor the salt with herbs and spices if you like—try a pinch of smoked paprika and orange zest, bay leaf and thyme, or rosemary and lemon zest. Grind together with the salt in a spice grinder, small food processor, or mortar and pestle.
- Sprinkle the inside of the turkey lightly with salt. Place the turkey on its back and salt the skin of the breasts, concentrating the salt in the center, where the meat is thickest. You'll probably use a little more than a tablespoon.
- Turn the turkey on one side and sprinkle the entire side with salt, concentrating on the thigh. You should use a little less than a tablespoon. Flip the turkey over and do the same with the opposite side.
- Place the turkey in a 2 1/2-gallon sealable plastic bag, press out the air and seal tightly. (If you can't find a resealable bag this big, you can use a turkey oven bag, but be prepared for it to leak, or wrap the bird in a few layers of plastic wrap.) Place the turkey breast-side up in the refrigerator. Chill for 3 days, turning it onto its breast for the last day. Rub the salt around once a day if you remember. Liquid might collect in the bag as you go—this is normal!
- For the crispiest skin, the night before, remove the turkey from the bag. There should be no salt visible on the surface and the skin should be moist but not wet. Place the turkey breast-side up on a plate and refrigerate uncovered for at least 8 hours.
- On the day it is to be cooked, remove the turkey from the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature at least 1 hour (do not rinse—it's not needed, and rinsing will make the skin less crispy). Heat the oven to 425° F.
- Pat it dry one last time and baste with melted butter, if using. Place the turkey breast-side down on a roasting rack in a roasting pan; put it in the oven. After 30 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and carefully turn the turkey over so the breast is facing up (it's easiest to do this by hand, using kitchen towels or oven mitts).
- Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F, return the turkey to the oven and roast until a thermometer inserted in the deepest part of the thigh, but not touching the bone, reads 165° F, about 2 3/4 hours total roasting. Note that because a dry-brined turkey cooks more quickly than one that hasn't been brined, it's best to check the temperature early with this recipe—it may be done faster than you think!
- Remove the turkey from the oven, transfer it to a warm platter or carving board; tent loosely with foil. Let stand at least 30 minutes to let the juices redistribute through the meat. Carve and serve.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
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