7 Injection Recipes for the Ultimate Roast Turkey (2024)

FAQs

Should I inject my turkey the night before? ›

After injecting the turkey, rub it with your favorite dry rub to add even more flavor. Then stick that bird back in the fridge and let it sit until you're ready to cook it—you can inject it up to 36 hours ahead.

If you are using a needle injector you may have to use a coffee or spice grinder to make sure all dry herbs are small enough to fit through the needle and insert it into the breasts and thighs of the turkey. Inject each thigh and each side of the breast with 1/2 an ounce of marinade for every 5 lbs. of turkey.

I recommend injecting the turkey the night before you plan to fry, but it can be done as soon as one hour in advance. I've found that the flavor is more intense if you allow it to set overnight in the fridge.

Stick with salt and pepper, put herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to work, or take spicy Cajun seasoning for a spin for some kick. Whatever blend you choose, spread it all over the turkey—on top, underneath, between the body and wings and legs, under the skin, and even in the cavity of the bird.

After injecting your turkey with the marinade, you can immediately cook it and avoid the hassle of spending hours brining your turkey. Deeper Flavor Penetration: Rubbing a marinade or dry rub on a turkey will only flavor the exterior.

I see it more as a safeguard against overcooking. It provides a little buffer in case you accidentally let that bird sit in the oven an extra 15 minutes. As long as you are very careful about monitoring your bird, there's no reason to brine or salt it in advance. That said, it doesn't hurt to take precautions.

Injected and Baked Whole Turkey, Water, Salt, Dextrose, Sodium Phosphate, Carrageenan, and Natural Flavors.

Whole turkey: On your meat thermometer, a whole cooked turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the breast and 175°F in the thigh. Whole turkey, stuffed: The center of the stuffing must reach 165°F. Turkey breast, boneless: The thickest portion of the turkey breast should reach 165°F.

For a 12–14-lb. turkey, you'll need approximately 4–5 gal. of oil. But pots vary in volume, so the method below will help you determine the precise amount you'll need to fill your particular pot.

Place the fresh or fully thawed turkey into the fryer basket, breast side up or according to the manufacturer's recommendations. When the oil reaches the target temperature, slowly lower the turkey and basket into the fryer. Set the timer for 3 to 4 minutes per pound.

When frying a turkey do you put the lid on or off? ›

Do not use a pot lid when frying your turkey. If a fire starts, do not spray water onto it, as this could splash and spread the burning oil. Never leave your pot, fryer or hot oil unattended. Allow your oil to cool completely before disposal.

There are several types of oil that you can use to deep fry a turkey, but we recommend using peanut oil. Many chefs agree that peanut oil produces some of the best results when deep frying.

We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. We've done the math for you — check out the chart below to determine both turkey cook times and estimated servings (with leftovers!).

Because turkey breast is especially lean, I like to rub softened fat beneath the skin just before roasting. It melts and gives the meat extra flavor, richness, and moisture. Duck fat is wonderful for this, and it fortifies the poultry flavors, but unsalted butter works well, too.

Place roast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in 2-inch deep roasting pan. Do not add water to pan. Roast uncovered according to Cooking Schedule or until meat thermometer in center of breast roast reaches 170° F and in center of turkey roast reaches 175° F.

It's easy: Simply cook it a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, then carve the bird into large pieces—breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks. Store in a container in the refrigerator until the big day. This method actually result in juicier meat—and an infinitely more relaxed host.

Harmful bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F possibly resulting in foodborne illness.

Dry-brining the bird by rubbing it with salt and refrigerating it for at least a night before cooking helps it retain juices. Low and slow heat and a good eye on the bird's temperature ensure that it stays moist.

PRO TIP: Inject and rub your turkey 24 hours ahead of time to make sure the flavor is completely infused with the flavors. If your turkey is frozen you'll need to thaw it 48 hours before cooking day, inject and rub 24 hours before cooking it!