Holidays and Events Recipes Thanksgiving Turkey Roasted Perfect Turkey 4.8 (1,752) 1,326 Reviews 226 Photos Looking for the best way to cook a turkey? Try this recipe that always results in a perfectly seasoned and juicy turkey. Use your own judgment for vegetable amounts, etc. I usually err on the side of more is better! Submitted by Shelly White Updated on September 26, 2023 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share 226 226 226 226 226 Prep Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs Additional Time: 12 hrs 30 mins Total Time: 17 hrs Servings: 24 Yield: 1 (18 pound) turkey Ingredients 1 (18 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed 2 cups kosher salt ½ cup butter, melted, divided 2 large onions, chopped, divided 4 carrots, coarsely chopped, divided 4 stalks celery, chopped, divided 2 sprigs fresh thyme, divided 1 bay leaf 1 cup dry white wine Directions Rub turkey inside and out with kosher salt; place in a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Cover and refrigerate to allow turkey to soak in brine solution for 12 hours, or overnight. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thoroughly rinse the turkey; discard the brine mixture. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Brush turkey with 1/2 of the melted butter. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Place breast-side down on a roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan. Stuff turkey cavity with 1/2 the onion, 1/2 the carrots, 1/2 the celery, 1 sprig of thyme, and bay leaf. Scatter remaining vegetables and thyme in the bottom of the roasting pan; pour white wine over vegetables. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Roast turkey in the preheated oven, uncovered, until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Carefully turn turkey breast-side up about 2/3 through the roasting time, and brush with remaining butter. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Allow turkey to rest for 30 minutes before carving. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Editor's Notes: The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the brine ingredients. The actual amount of brine consumed will vary. Always brine foods in a food-grade, nonreactive container such as a stainless steel or enameled stockpot, a brining bag, or a food-grade plastic bucket. I Made It Print