Cook's Illustrated's Roasted Brined Turkey
When we talked to Cook's Illustrated publisher Chris Kimball about the November 2007 issue of the magazine, we asked for his turkey recipe. You may not be able to get a fresh turkey from your neighbor across the street, like Kimball did, but you'll be able to cook a turkey just as moist and flavorful.
Roasted Brined Turkey
- serves 10 to 12 -
Ingredients
Table salt
1 turkey (12-14 pounds gross weight), rinsed thoroughly, giblets and neck reserved for gravy, if making
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Procedure
1. Dissolve 1 cup salt per gallon cold water for -4 to 6-hour brine or 1/2 cup salt per gallon cold water for 12- to 14-hour brine in large stockpot or clean bucket. Submerge turkey completely and refrigerate for predetermined amount of time.
2. Before removing turkey from brine, adjust oven rack to lowest position; heat oven to 400°F. Line large V-rack with heavy-duty foil and use paring knife or skewer to poke 20 to 30 holes in foil; set V-rack in large roasting pan.
3. Remove turkey from brine and rinse well under cool running water. Pat dry inside and out with paper towels. Tuck tips of drumsticks into skin at tail to secure; tuck wing tips behind back. Brush turkey breast with 2 tablespoons butter. Set turkey breast-side down on prepared V-rack; brush back with remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Roast 45 minutes.
4. Remove roasting pan with turkey from oven (close oven door to retain oven heat). Using clean potholders or kitchen towels, rotate turkey breast-side up; continue to roast until thickest part of breast registers 165 degrees and thickest part of thigh registers 170 to 175 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 50 to 60 minutes longer. Transfer turkey to carving board: let rest 30 minutes. Carve and serve.
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5 Comments:
I have used this one for years...I have an online subscription to Cooks Illustrated.
A little of the reason behind cooking it this way is to not dry out the lean breast meat on top, when cooking upside down the dark meat provides fat and juice that run down to the breast basting it while cooking. And since heat rises it gets the darker meat portions of the bird more heat and cooking time right up front and then flipping over to finish the breast and dark meat.
Thats why the recipes gives you two different temperature readings to look for in the end result. Almost ten degrees apart.
...cook, chef, culinary sponge, traveler, volunteer, missionary.
tyronebcookin
tyronebcookin at 9:01AM on 11/09/07
I have used this one for years...I have an online subscription to Cooks Illustrated.
A little of the reason behind cooking it this way is to not dry out the lean breast meat on top, when cooking upside down the dark meat provides fat and juice that run down to the breast basting it while cooking. And since heat rises it gets the darker meat portions of the bird more heat and cooking time right up front and then flipping over to finish the breast and dark meat.
Thats why the recipes gives you two different temperature readings to look for in the end result. Almost ten degrees apart.
...cook, chef, culinary sponge, traveler, volunteer, missionary.
tyronebcookin
tyronebcookin at 9:01AM on 11/09/07
I am not a fan of the bird. I tend towards suckling pig, it's never dry and needs no brining.
www.fusiononthefly.com
karlwilder at 2:54PM on 10/22/08
I don't know the reason for soaking a turkey in a brine bath... In fact, until now, I'd never heard about it.
Some years ago, my sister heard about using Italian Dressing when roasting a turkey, she cooked hers outside on a covered grill all day. Living in Illinois, she had to constantly add coals to the grill. It was wonderful.
I now use Italian Dressing, the zesty type, and never have a bird come out dry. You just loosen the skin on the back of the turkey, all the way past the thighs, and down the sides, then squirt in a bottle of the dressing. Use a toothpick to secure the neck skin over the opening and cook in a roaster oven or conventional oven at around 350 degrees about 20 minutes per pound. I alway cook my birds breast down, for the same reasons as tyronebcookin. I also like garlic salt on the skin plus a little chicken seasoning, just for color.
This also makes a wonderful base for making gravy and noodles. The Italian Dressing doesn't overpower, and the little bits of color makes a pleasant looking addition.
fourkidsandadog
vernete at 4:55AM on 11/12/08
I brine a turkey every year. I personally like to bring a little more flavor to the party by replacing a quart or so of the water with apple cider and using some aromatics. I also use a little ( I mean a little) molasses or brown sugar - like a a cup. I have to heat some of the water to disolve the salt/sugar and extract a little flavor, but when you add the rest of the water and cider, it brings it down to a safe temp quickly. The sugar gives you a little browning help.
meascanbe at 6:38PM on 11/14/08