Roast Turkey in an Electric Roaster
Servings: 20
Equipment
- Electric roaster
Ingredients
- 18 lb whole turkey
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 2 tbsp freshly snipped thyme, rosemary, and sage
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
For the cavity:
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Make the herb butter:
- Mix together 1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick) with the freshly snipped herbs. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but remove from fridge 1 hour before using so that it is soft enough to spread.
Prepare the turkey:
- Set the roaster oven (with the lid on) to the highest temperature available.
- Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey cavity. (Set aside for giblet gravy or discard.)
- Dry off the turkey with paper towels.
- Loosen the skin over the turkey breast by sliding your hand between the meat and skin. Rub half of the butter mix underneath the skin of the breast.
- Rub the other half of the butter over the outside of the bird.
- Sprinkle the outside of the bird with salt and pepper.
- Put 1/4 cup butter in the cavity of the turkey along with 1 tsp each of salt and pepper.
- Place the turkey in the preheated roaster and cook at the highest temperature for 30 minutes.
- Without opening the lid, turn down the temperature to 325 degrees and roast until the turkey tests done (at least 165 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh).
- The exact timing will depend on whether the turkey is stuffed or unstuffed and how large the turkey is. Plan for about 15 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.