Ingredients
Instructions
- Dry a 16 to 18 lb. turkey inside and out with paper towels.
- Oil the turkey inside and out with any kind of vegetable oil (olive, canola, etc.) using your hands.
- Cut away any excess skin around the opening of the cavity and wedge a fork inside the cavity to open it further. Leave the fork in to keep cavity open.
- Rub spices, herbs, or just pepper all over the bird with your oily fingers.
- Place the turkey, breast side down on a rack in a large metal roasting pan.
- Cover the top of the turkey, including legs and wings with greased foil.
- Pour ¾-inch of chicken or turkey broth in the bottom of the pan. As the turkey cooks, check the liquid every 45 minutes and add more in case it evaporates.
- Cook the turkey at 500° to 525° for 2 hours.
- Remove foil, stuff the turkey with cooked stuffing and return it to the rack breast side up.
- Cook the turkey 30 to 45 minutes longer until an instant-read thermometer stuck deep in the thigh reads 175°.
- Let the turkey rest at least 20 minutes, this allows the meat to reabsorb its juices.