Step by Step Instructions for Cooking a Thanksgiving Turkey

I promise you, cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving is easier than you might think. Let me walk you through it.

[{"selector":"#anim-892a1c2e-8d78-4ba0-91ca-55516cfb0998","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c615dd74-b5a1-453e-ad47-31d4b37c87ec","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d7b9826-9c73-4cb9-9be1-1b5924a56041","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54b17bdb-b54c-4f0d-85f1-bf9b971ad533","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-247b021a-9414-461d-af80-8367397dd4be","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d339fb9d-3338-4f5d-904c-ef1202666e1a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1bbe1af-f588-4336-9d19-28c0f215c944","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbe11431-42c0-4212-a8d8-e1655bd5645e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a6d715ec-6fec-45cc-80f5-37dd0850140c","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1fc4d8f9-af36-4f7d-92c1-56e315ac70f8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

These step by step instructions for cooking a Thanksgiving turkey will be extra detailed to put any first timers at ease. Here we go.

Buying a Turkey

[{"selector":"#anim-ea44be4b-b92e-493d-b516-24d3d91024ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb062490-2189-4181-a4b7-2ed17854f1c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -705.14899%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93b84bb9-6e39-4e4f-ad94-be6405226800","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db91e7d0-0021-4eae-b7b1-83dc726451bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -1247.95271%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The first step is obvious. Buy a turkey. Buy about 1 pound per person. You can order a fresh turkey, or you can buy one at a grocery store. Learn more

Buy Turkey Seasonings

[{"selector":"#anim-2bf56a39-bb9d-474a-85d8-126fb5112449","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7ae8424-6374-4230-9563-27656216c4a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -656.57726%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e6c7290-2ee7-408c-b9b0-09b042907719","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8030c4e-160c-4f2d-86ab-862c183ef99f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -1240.05793%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While you are buying your turkey, pick up butter, thyme, rosemary, sage, a lemon, garlic, an onion, and chicken stock too. Learn more

To Brine Or Not To Brine

[{"selector":"#anim-3775e873-4525-4eb5-86bf-e9ca95c18257","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01afa4f4-d35a-4ff8-a8a7-723c16b6c414","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -661.17497%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-809a3a15-1197-46fa-b60c-88b8d3a04186","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b1f46be-723e-4923-b436-5633dac63fe5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -1250.58425%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It is a lot of extra work, and if you brine a turkey you can’t use the bones to make stock for turkey soup – it will be salty and bitter. Learn more

What to Do the Night Before

[{"selector":"#anim-7b3d09a5-772a-4ad9-b997-6e7aa0813228","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99650966-eb29-4ec7-b99b-c455543e316b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -727.1002%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bc36333-b88c-49e4-ac48-5333afe69b76","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d66786c-b0b3-4ac8-b66f-31bc89109e89","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -757.9126%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The night before Thanksgiving, completely unwrap the turkey. Then remove the neck and the giblets. These will be in the cavity of the turkey. Learn more

Swipe up to read the full post!

More Recipes

[{"selector":"#anim-c17b7e15-3382-4eab-9180-24f656bbfdac","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dab5b0be-2ee9-4ea8-8136-840ff3daeffd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40983427-a089-47ac-96e6-be165fc2aa93","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1fc12e9-f048-46f6-9558-fa62d2ca91c0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 208.85112%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Chicago Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner Alternatives to Serving Turkey on Thanksgiving