How to Prepare a Turkey for Roasting

Turkey is often the highlight of the Thanksgiving meal, so it’s natural to want your turkey to be the talk of the holiday table! If you’re wondering how to prepare a turkey for roasting so it’s moist and delicious without loading it full of butter and salt, Health eCooks has the answers you’re looking for!

Here are some helpful tips and tricks that will ensure you roast your turkey to perfection without adding unnecessary ingredients that will increase the sodium, fat and carbs in your Thanksgiving meal:

• Choose a turkey that hasn’t been injected with flavor or soaked in a brine solution.
• Pick your turkey size based on the number of people coming to dinner. One pound of turkey usually feeds about two people, but plan to buy a little extra  if you enjoy having leftovers.
• To keep the sodium lower in your Thanksgiving turkey, skip the butter. Instead, rub the turkey skin with olive oil to give it a crisp, browned outside. Then add plenty of fresh herbs, including sage, parsley, rosemary and thyme instead of covering it in salt.
• For a moist turkey that doesn’t dry out, add a half-inch of water or reduced-sodium chicken broth to the bottom of the roasting pan. 
• Once you’ve prepped your turkey for roasting and preheated the oven to 325° F, it’s time to cook the turkey! Turkey cook time should be approximately 20 minutes per pound.
• To ensure your turkey doesn’t dry out, baste it several times throughout cooking. If the turkey starts getting too brown, cover it with a foil tent and add more liquid to the roasting pan.
• When the oven timer beeps, don’t cross your fingers and hope the turkey is done, as this can easily turn a delicious turkey dinner into a dinner that makes everyone sick! Instead, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey thigh and make sure it reads 165° F. Once it does, remove the cooked turkey from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.
• To make gravy from the pan drippings, wait for the fat in the roasting pan to settle on top and then skim it off. Alternatively, you can make this Healthy Caramelized Onion Gravy recipe to enjoy with your turkey.

Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes that are big on taste but low on calories and fat? Try our Heart-Healthy Thanksgiving Menu.

Does someone in your family need to avoid gluten at holiday meals? Here’s how to Leave the Gluten Out of Your Thanksgiving Dinner. 

Is Thanksgiving more about the sweets for you?  Here are 7 Healthy Thanksgiving Desserts You Can’t Help But Love.