Make your Thanksgiving turkey more flavorful than ever with our top turkey tips. In no time, youll know how to season a turkey that guests will crave.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, you’re sure to have your menu planned from the best Thanksgiving sides to perfect pumpkin pies. And of course, you’ve got the traditional turkey lined up.
Whether you’re serving up a small gathering of close friends and family, or throwing a Friendsgiving get-together, you’ll want to get (and serve) the perfect turkey for everyone at the dinner table. Make sure you know how much turkey to serve per person, so you grab the right size bird for your holiday dinner.
But before you pop your perfectly chosen turkey into the oven, don’t forget to season it well. The right Thanksgiving turkey recipes paired with pitch-perfect seasoning can turn your turkey from a basic bird to a fantastic fowl. Follow these tips and tricks on seasoning your turkey for a juicy and flavorful meal.
Cooking a delicious, juicy turkey can seem intimidating. But with the right techniques and seasoning, you can easily make a turkey with unbelievable flavor that will wow your guests. Here are 12 foolproof tips for cooking and seasoning the best tasting turkey you’ve ever had.
Season Under the Skin
One of the most important tricks for getting flavor into the turkey meat is to season under the skin. Simply loosen the skin from the breast meat and rub seasoning directly onto the meat before roasting. Salt, pepper, sage, rosemary, thyme and garlic powder are great options. The skin will crisp up beautifully in the oven.
Brine the Turkey
Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine before cooking infuses flavor and moisture throughout the meat. Dissolve 1 cup salt in 1 gallon water with herbs, spices and citrus. Let the turkey soak 8-24 hours. Remove from brine, pat dry and proceed with additional seasoning.
Stuff with Aromatics
Skip the stuffing inside the turkey, and opt for lemons oranges onions, garlic, fresh herbs and aromatics instead. They add tons of flavor without the safety issues of stuffing.
Coat in Flavored Butter
Rubbing flavored butter under and on top of the skin makes the turkey unbelievably moist and delicious. Soften 1 cup butter with minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage and pepper.
Inject Flavor
Injecting broth, melted butter and seasoning deep into the turkey meat amps up juiciness and flavor. Use an injector to pump liquid seasoning into the thickest parts of breast and thighs
Glaze the Skin
Brushing on a sweet and sticky glaze transforms the turkey skin into a crave-worthy treat. Whisk apricot jam, orange juice, mustard and spices for an easy glaze. Brush over turkey in the last 30 minutes of roasting.
Marinate Overnight
Soaking the turkey in a marinade imparts big flavor. Whisk broth, oil, herbs and citrus juice for the marinade. Submerge turkey and refrigerate 8-24 hours.
Rub with Herbs
Rubbing dried herbs under the skin and over the skin before roasting provides a flavorful crust. Try thyme, rosemary, sage, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
Fry in Peanut Oil
The high heat of frying locks in moisture and gives turkey an incredible crisp skin. Fry small turkeys cut in half at 350°F in peanut oil for about 3-4 minutes per pound. Drain on a rack.
Grill Over Charcoal
The smoky charcoal flavor from grilling makes turkey taste amazing. Grill over indirect heat at about 350°F for 15-18 minutes per pound, until 165°F. Move to direct heat to char the skin at the end.
Velvet with Soy Sauce
A Chinese velveting marinade gives turkey a savory umami flavor. Marinate turkey pieces in soy sauce, broth, cornstarch, oil, ginger and garlic for 30-60 minutes before roasting or grilling.
Finish with Gravy
A richly flavored gravy ties everything together. Simmer turkey neck and giblets in broth with herbs and spices to make a flavorful gravy. Drizzle over sliced turkey for added moisture and savoriness.
With the right seasoning techniques, herbs, spices and cooking methods, you can easily make a show-stopping turkey with unbelievable flavor. Brining, marinating, glazing and infusing the bird with flavor are secrets to the juiciest and tastiest turkey possible.
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Crack Open a Beer
Just like you might use beer to make Can-Can Chicken or beef brisket, you can use beer to flavor your holiday turkey. Instead of basting your bird with drippings from the pan, baste with your go-to brew. No need to splurge on anything too fancy here, but make sure it’s a good beer that you’d enjoy sipping.
This method might seem a little intimidating, but it packs a serious punch when it comes to boosting your turkey’s flavor. Flavor injectors work by pumping extra ingredients (think broth and melted butter) right into the center of your bird for extra moisture and an extra tasty turkey.
Coat with Flavored Butter
When hasn’t butter made something better? Rub flavored butter underneath the skin of your turkey to add another layer of flavor to your traditional turkey while also crisping up the skin.
This is really an easy way to add flavor to your main course, so for those hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, don’t be afraid to try this technique.
Marinades aren’t just for the grill! Try marinading your turkey in a mixture of broth, spices, and lemon juice, like in our Marinaded Thanksgiving Turkey for a roast that’s flavorful through and through.
Similar to brining, your turkey should sit in the marinade for a few hours to soak up all the delicious flavors.
Layer on the flavor with a bright and aromatic glaze. Brushing on a glaze takes an already tasty turkey skin to the next level. Glazes are an easy and quick way to give your main course an extra boost.
You can make an apricot-glazed turkey with just four ingredients.
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FAQ
What can I add to turkey to make it taste better?
How do you get the best flavor out of a turkey?
How to make turkey tastier?
What is the secret to a moist turkey?
How do you make ground turkey taste good?
There are a few things you can do to make ground turkey taste good: * Use a lean ground turkey. Ground turkey that is 93% lean or higher will have less fat and more protein, which will result in a leaner, healthier dish. * Season the ground turkey well. Ground turkey can be bland on its own, so it’s important to season it well.
How can I get my taste back during a cold?
When a person gets cold, there are many clinical symptoms with fever, nausea, fatigue and loss of appetite etc. Once cold has gone， all the symptoms will disappear immediately with taste back.
How do you make a turkey burger taste good?
Some people may just like the idea of the turkey burger, but had never been able to make a truly tasty one. There are only three things you need to do to make a turkey burger taste good, though: You have to up the fat (just a little), season it with MSG (that extra bit of glutamate makes a world of difference), and smash the heck out of it.
What can you put in a Thanksgiving turkey?
Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges. The citrus will add a nice brightness to the turkey and keep it perfectly moist. Here’s a full list of all the ways you can stuff your holiday turkey —that don’t include stuffing.