How to Cook the Turkey

Plus, find out why you should be drinking your beer out of a wine glass. [START FREE TRIAL]( or [LOG IN]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [FIND RECIPES ›]( November 12, 2021 [Images of recipes]( [Images of recipes]( What’s New at ATK [Thanksgiving Dinner Plate (Getty Images)]( Thanksgiving Dishes You Can Make Ahead What can you make ahead of the big day? Fortunately, a lot.[From gravy to stuffing, here are some of our favorite make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes. →]( Drink Your Beer Out of a Wine Glass There are many different types of glasses for beer.[Find out why a wine glass is perfect for drinking beer. →]( Triple-Chocolate Magic Brownies: No Eggs, No Butter [If you have oil and baking powder, you can make delicious, fudgy brownies—no eggs or butter needed. →]( A Note From Our Test Cooks [Turkey for a Crowd (Julia Collin Davison)]( How to Cook the Turkey FROM Julia Collin Davison, Executive Editorial Director There are so many ways to cook a turkey (or two) for Thanksgiving, and the best method is the one that works best for your timetable and kitchen restraints. No matter which method you choose, however, there is just one thing to keep in mind: Ignore the pop-up timer and use an [instant-read thermometer]( to tell you when it’s properly cooked. A properly cooked bird will register 160 to 165 degrees in the breast and at least 175 degrees in the thigh. Here are my top turkey cooking methods for the big day. [Turkey for a Crowd →]( This basic, no-nonsense recipe is perfect for a newbie or anyone tight on time and energy. It works with any kind of turkey and doesn’t require advance prep, but it still delivers a Norman Rockwell–worthy centerpiece. Plus, there are great drippings and roasted veg left in the pan to make a wonderful gravy. [Julia Child’s Stuffed Turkey, Updated →]( For adventurous cooks who don’t mind a little advanced prep, this Julia Child–style roasted turkey is my personal hands-down favorite. The turkey is broken down into white and dark meat so that they can each be roasted to the perfect level of doneness. What’s even better is that the thighs are deboned and rubbed with fresh sage, making them the most sought-after pieces when serving. And to top it off, the turkey pieces are roasted on top of a pile of stuffing, basting it with flavor. [Spice-Rubbed Grill-Roasted Turkey →]( If you’re tired of the same old bird and ready for some fresh flavors (or if you’re cooking for a large crowd and need two turkeys), try this recipe for a spiced, grill-roasted turkey. The smoke and spices add a welcome hit of flavor, and it still tastes good alongside gravy and cranberry sauce. [Sous Vide Boneless Turkey Breast →]( This recipe is perfect for a small crowd or anyone who wants an additional turkey breast. Because the turkey breast is cooked sous vide, the final texture and flavor of the meat is absolutely ideal (even the leftovers are perfect). Plus, it doesn’t require the oven, which is nice if you’re tight on space. Just be ready to make the gravy separately since this recipe doesn’t produce any drippings to work with. [Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy →]( Last but not least, here is the ultimate recipe for turkey gravy that I swear by. It doesn’t require any drippings from a roast turkey, and it can be made weeks ahead of time. Even if you’re going to someone else’s house for the main meal, you’ll look like a rock star showing up with half a gallon of this killer homemade gravy. [Layout Graphic]( The recipes in this newsletter are free for two days. Ready for your easiest-ever Thanksgiving? Get instant access to our [Thanksgiving Guide]( plus every recipe, review, and video. [Start your 2-Week Free Trial →]( [Layout Graphic]( Essential Turkey Equipment [Read the review of Slicing/Carving Knives →]( [Buy the winner →]( [Read the review of Roasting Pans with Racks →]( [Buy the winner →]( [Read the review of Carving Boards →]( [Buy the winner →]( Julia’s Recommendations [Get the recipe for Turkey for a Crowd →]( [Get the recipe for Julia Child’s Stuffed Turkey, Updated →]( [Get the recipe for Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy →]( Turkey 101 [Find out How to Temp and Rest Your Turkey →]( [Read about Shopping for Turkey →]( [Find out How to Carve a Turkey →]( [Layout Graphic]( [Layout Graphic]( 13 [Days until Thanksgiving]( [Digital All Acess. 12,000+ Best-Ever Recipes, Free Shipping in Our Shop, Mobile App, 8,000+ Product Ratings, 2021 Thanksgiving Guide. Join now and save 33%. Try it free for 2 weeks →]( [Carving a Turkey (Play)]( FROM OUR ONLINE COOKING SCHOOL How to Carve a Turkey Your perfect turkey has just come out of the oven. Here’s how to carve it. 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