Is it OK to cook a turkey without stuffing?

The United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) recommends cooking the stuffing out side of the bird. Bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached 165 F, possibly resulting in foodborne illness. Some people feel that stuffing has a better taste and is moister when prepared in the turkey.

What do you put in a turkey if you don’t have stuffing?

A few cloves of garlic and a quartered onion combined with herbs or any other ingredients on this list are sure to give you a tasty turkey.

1. 3 / 10. Apples. Consider quartering an apple or two for stuffing your turkey.
2. 4 / 10. Valentyn Volkov/Shutterstock. Celery.
3. 5 / 10. Citrus fruits.

How long does a non stuffed turkey take to cook?

The simplest way to figure out turkey roasting times is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (that’s about 3 hours for a 12- to 14-lb. turkey), or 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.

How do I keep my turkey moist?

Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe

1. Choose a fresh turkey instead of a frozen one.
2. Roast two small turkeys rather than one large one.
3. Brine the turkey.
4. Rub soft butter under the skin.
5. Truss loosely, or not at all.
6. Roast the turkey upside down at first.
7. Don’t overcook it.
8. Let the turkey rest before carving.

How do I cook a Butterball turkey without stuffing?

Place thawed turkey, breast side up, on flat rack in shallow roasting pan 2 to 2½ inches deep. DO NOT stuff. Brush or spray skin lightly with vegetable or cooking oil for best appearance. Insert oven-safe meat thermometer deep into the thigh without touching the bone.

What happens if you don’t stuff a turkey?

You Could Overstuff the Turkey. It will, however, make it even harder to get the stuffing to cook evenly, meaning you’re even more likely to get a scorched bird—or wind up with salmonella-susceptible pockets of undercooked stuffing.

What do I stuff my turkey with?

Stuff it with the quartered lemon, onion, apple and herbs. Tuck the wings of the turkey underneath the turkey and set the turkey on a roasting rack inside a roasting pan (or on top of a bed of chopped veggies —carrots, onion and celery work well—in a disposable roasting pan).

What should a turkey be cooked to?

You’ll need a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Insert it close to, but not touching, the thigh bone. If it reads 180 degrees F in the thigh and 170 degrees F in the breast, it’s done and ready to serve.

Should I put butter or oil on my turkey?

Once you’ve carefully dried off the skin, the next step you can take to guarantee perfectly crispy turkey skin is to rub it with a fat, like butter or oil. Oil will yield a crispier skin than butter because butter is at least 20 percent water, while oil contains no water.

How do you roast a turkey without stuffing it?

You can simply roast a turkey without stuffing it. It will cook more quickly than a stuffed bird. Make sure to season the inside with salt and pepper and whatever spices you are using, just the way you season the outside, let it sit uncovered in the fridge overnight to dry the skin,…

What do you need to cook a Turkey in the oven?

A roasting pan with handles will make it easier to move your turkey in and out of the oven. Remember this is a big bird! An ovenproof meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer, because temperature is the most reliable way to tell if the turkey is done cooking.

How do you know when a Turkey is done cooking?

Roast the turkey until temperature in the innermost part of the thigh reaches 165°F as measured with a food thermometer. Check the wing and the thickest part of the breast. You may choose to cook the turkey to higher temperatures. Cooking time will vary.

How do you season a Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner?

Taste of Home. The secret to adding extra flavor to your Thanksgiving turkey is to season it liberally. To make sure that your favorite herbs permeate every bit of your bird, stuff a small bundle into the turkey cavity. Thyme, sage, parsley and a bit of rosemary are a great combination—but feel free to customize to your taste.