When roasting a turkey for Thanksgiving, keep two things in mind: remember to remove the giblets and keep the meat moist and tender. There are many more turkey-truths to come, based on years of experience and personal taste when it comes to the coveted Thanksgiving bird. We’ve tried a variety of methods.
When roasting a turkey for Thanksgiving, keep two things in mind: remember to remove the giblets and keep the meat moist and tender. There are many more turkey-truths to come, based on years of experience and personal taste when it comes to the coveted Thanksgiving bird. We’ve tried many different roasting ways over the years, and one of our favorites is to use a roasting bag.
You’ll need a “turkey-size” roasting bag, which is quite easy to find this time of year. A roasting bag can cook a turkey weighing as little as eight pounds and as much as 24 pounds! Roasting bags have been around for a while, and one of the reasons they’re so great is that they help to keep moisture in. On Thanksgiving, no one likes a dry turkey! This also saves the chef time because the oven does not need to be opened frequently to baste the bird.
The procedure is quite simple, and it saves time on cleanup because there is no burned roasting pan to clean at the end of the day. We can begin turkey preparation once the turkey has been prepared (neck and giblets removed, and the entire turkey cleaned and dried). We put onions and carrots in the bottom of the bag to function as props for the bird while also infusing the meat with flavor.
The seasoning mix comes next: salt and butter are important for a well-seasoned bird, followed by our unique seasoning blend of black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes for a little spice, paprika, ginger, thyme, and poultry seasoning. The bird is massaged in all of this taste before being placed in the roasting bag to cook. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of your turkey, and you’ll also want to let the flesh to rest so that the vital liquids can be reabsorbed. The turkey is ready to carve after 15 minutes.
We spend a lot of time and effort adorning our homes and dinner tables for this magnificent holiday meal. The set has been meticulously prepared and decorated to complement the festive atmosphere and impress all of our family and guests. From traditional tablescapes to more casual dining settings, as well as a profusion of side dishes, our tables are set to highlight the most essential centerpiece of any Thanksgiving meal: the turkey. A roasting bag is a quick and easy method to make this year’s turkey something truly exceptional. A few critical ingredients combined in a single bag are a wonderful approach to ensure that the turkey is the genuine star of the show this Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
1 oven roasting bag, 1923 12″
1 frozen turkey (8 to 24 pounds), giblets and neck removed, cleaned and dried
2 teaspoons melted butter
1 big onion, quartered 4-6 garlic cloves, peeled
3 peeled and sliced carrots into 1-inch chunks
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 tbsp. coarse salt 1 tsp. black pepper
1 teaspoon chicken seasoning
1 paprika teaspoon
12 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed
12 teaspoon ginger powder
1 teaspoon thyme dried
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a medium-sized bowl, mix salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, ground ginger, and dried thyme until well combined. Place aside.
Shake flour inside the roasting bag. Place bag in a large 2-inch deep roasting pan.
Place onion wedges, garlic cloves, and carrot pieces in bottom of roasting bag.
Rub turkey with melted butter. Evenly spread and rub seasoning mix around whole turkey.
Place turkey into the bag, resting on top of onions and carrots. Roasting bag opening should face one end of the roasting pan and not open upwards.
Close and seal with cooking twine. Cut 4-6 slits in top of roasting bag.
Transfer roasting pan to oven and bake according to the weight of the turkey. (See weight and cooking times below)
When turkey reaches an internal temperature of 180°F in at the thickest part of the turkey thigh, remove from oven and rest in oven bag for 15 minutes to allow juices to settle back into the turkey.
Use a carving fork to lift turkey from bag and transfer to a carving board. Carve and enjoy!
Turkey Cooking Times
1.5-2 hours for 8-12 lb turkeys
2-2.5 hours for 12-16 lb turkeys
2.5-3 hours for 16-20 lb turkeys
3-3.5 hours for 20-24 lb turkeys
