Turkey 101

When choosing the size of turkey for your Thanksgiving gathering:

• allow 1 pound per adult for turkeys under 12 pounds.
• allow 3/4 pound per adult for turkeys over 12 pounds.
• allow 1/2 pound per adult if using a boneless turkey breast.

If you want leftovers for more turkey recipes, buy a turkey 2-4 pounds larger than you need and make one of these delicious dishes.

Brining involves submerging your turkey overnight in a mixture of salt, water, and often added spices. The result is tender, flavorful meat with every bite.

Get our step-by-step directions for how to brine a turkey.

Here's a sneaky trick for how to season a turkey using herbs: After you've rinsed and dried the turkey, gently loosen the skin over the breast. Slide sage leaves between the skin and meat. Tuck additional sage leaves and onion wedges into the neck and body cavity to add big flavor to the drippings.

Learn everything you need to know about how to roast a turkey, from thawing to trussing. We've included a step-by-step photos to make roasting a turkey easy! 

Do you know how long to cook a turkey? Or what tempature to cook a turkey at. It all depends on the size of your bird. We recommend roasting in a 325-degree-F oven using these cooking times for stuffed turkeys:

• for an 8- to 12-pound turkey, roast 3 to 3-3/4 hours.
• for a 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast 3-1/4 to 4-1/2 hours.
• for a 14- to 18-pound turkey, roast 4 to 5 hours.
• for an 18- to 20-pound turkey, roast 4-1/2 to 5-1/4 hours.
• for a 20- to 24-pound turkey, roast 4-3/4 to 5-3/4 hours.

Note: For unstuffed turkeys of the same weight, reduce total cooking time by 15 to 45 minutes.

After you've successfully roasted the turkey, it's time to carve it and serve! Start by removing the drumsticks before moving on to breasts, wings, etc. 

An essential part of how to prepare a turkey is the stuffing, of course! Stuffings require three elements:

1.    Starch: bread, rice, or potatoes

2.    Liquid: broth, wine, or liquor

3.    Additions: herbs, fruits, meats, seafood, and/or veggies

Create your own:

You'll have to do a little math: Each pound of uncooked turkey requires 3/4 cup stuffing. And for every 1 cup starch, add about 2 tablespoons liquid.

Safe stuffing:

Always mix stuffing ingredients just before stuffing and roasting the bird—do not stuff in advance.

Making bread cubes to use in stuffing really is as easy as 1-2-3:

1.    Use a serrated knife to cut bread into cubes about ½ inch wide.

2.    Spread cubes in one layer on a baking pan.

3.    Bake 10-15 minutes at 300 degrees F. Stir occasionally to ensure that they're evenly browned.

Watch the process for how to make bread cubes.