Turkey

1. Prepare roasting pan by lining with lots of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Keep a large flap off to one side to cover the breast later on.
2. Use fingers to gently separate skin from meat along breast and back.
3. After buttering under skin and on skin surface, salt and pepper inside and outside of bird.
4. Cook at 425 degrees for 45 minutes in roasting pan breast side DOWN.
5. Remove pan from oven and reduce heat to 350 degrees.
6. Turn turkey over so breast is UP.
7. Roast at 350 until thermometer inserted into thigh reads 165
8. After breast has sufficiently browned, use the excess aluminum foil to make a tent over the breast to protect it from over browning.
9. Breast should read 160 degrees.

Estimated Thawing & Roasting Times

Refrigerator thawing             1 - 3 days            3 - 4 days         4 - 5 days           5 - 6 days              6 - 7 days
Roasting  (325 degrees)   2½ - 3 hours   2¾ - 3¼ hours    3 - 3¾ hours   3¾ - 4½ hours     4½ - 5¼ hours