Moist and Tender Turkey (Or Turkey Breast)
PLEASE READ this regarding TEMP & TIME! There is no "right" temperature. If you roast it at 250°F it will just take longer to cook than at 325°F. (Just like picking High or Low on a crock-pot) I cannot tell you exactly how long it will take. It depends on what type of oven you have & how warm/cold your turkey is when you put it in the oven. You HAVE to use an instant read thermometer to know when it is cooked. (I roast my 18-20 lbs. fresh turkey at 250°F. It took about 4 hours to reach the correct temperature in my old convection oven. It took 5 hours in my new one.)
Because of the mayo, the skin is crisp and flavorful and the meat is tender, moist and delicious. If you don't use the butter & broth, you will not have enough pan drippings to make gravy. I've also added 1/2 cup of beer or wine to the mixture before & it was also spectacular. With slow roasting it, the meat stays so juicy I've actually had it squirt out when I insert the thermometer! I've never had a better turkey.
Reviews
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I can't say enough good things about this recipe! I made it for my Christmas Eve dinner, and everyone RAVED over it, saying it's the best they've ever had! It was so moist and still moist days after for leftover turkey sandwiches. And oh my gosh, the gravy! My sister-in-law wanted to bathe in this delicious gravy, lol! To answer another rater's question as to how to make the gravy, this is what I did: I poured the cooking juices from the bottom of the pan into a gravy separater and let the fat rise. I saw that I had 4 cups of liquid, so I skimmed 4 tablespoons of fat off the top of the cooking liquid and mixed it with 4 tablespoons of flour in a cooking pot, making a roux. Mix and stir constantly over medium heat for about 4 minutes or so. Then add the liquid very slowly, stirring constantly. Bring to a rolling boil and then let simmer for a few minutes until it reaches the desired consistency. It was PERFECT! Thank you, Marg! -
I have made bone-in turkey breast using this recipe several times, and it has always turned out moist and delicious! I rub light mayo both under the skin as well as on top, and also add freshly ground pepper, kosher salt (or Lawry's - it tastes great here), and minced garlic under and on the skin as well. I also add about half an onion, a couple carrots, garlic, and a few ribs of celery (all chopped) to the pan to ensure a more flavorful gravy (the veggies can make a nice side after roasting too) - it hasnt failed me so far. In order to make the gravy I go with a roux and whisk the (strained) broth/drippings mix and add a bit of milk to get enough volume. It is perfect every time. I also will tent foil around the bird to keep the broth from evaporating throughout the entire cooking process, and remove it about an hour before the bird is done so that it browns.
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WOW!! Include me with the other Reviewers who were skeptical and loved this recipe. I had a turkey breast, just under 6 pounds and 2 turkey thighs. I preheated the oven to 350 degrees and placed the turkey in a greased casserole, 9x13. I spread the turkey with mayo and some seasonings. I did not add the butter and broth, I try to stay away from gravy. I placed the pan in the preheated oven, uncovered for 1 3/4 hours. Then I removed it from the oven and covered with foil and let it set for 30 minutes. Perfect. The skin was a beautiful brown and the meat nice and juicy. Its a keeper.
Thanks Marg! -
Superb! I loved that I didn't have to baste it since the mayo kept the skin from drying out. I followed the directions exactly (5 lb bone-in turkey) and turned it up to 350 for the last 30 minutes (total cooking time=2 hr, 45 min). The outside was crisp and the inside was moist--perfect texture all around. Next time I'll double the broth/butter so there is enough gravy for all the leftover turkey and mashed potatoes.
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I just made this and can I say this was great!!!!! I put 1 teaspoon of seasoning salt, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper in the mayo and then spread it in and out, soooo good I would have never thought that mayo would make that much difference but it did. Thank you so much
