How to Prep a Turkey for the Oven

Step-by-step Thanksgiving & Christmas tips for seasoning, cleaning, and roasting the perfect holiday turkey.

Prep: ~30 min Cook: 3.5–4.5 hrs Total: ~5 hrs (with resting) Yield: 12–14 servings
Jump to Instructions
Seasoned whole turkey in a roasting pan ready for the oven

Turkey Prep Instructions (Timestamps)

  1. 0:00 Preparing a 24 lb turkey
  2. 0:14 Thawing and cleaning packaging
  3. 2:39 Checking weight and pop-up indicator
  4. 3:29 Removing neck and gizzards
  5. 4:26 Washing and rinsing turkey
  6. 5:23 Patting turkey dry
  7. 6:12 Melting butter with seasonings
  8. 7:10 Rubbing butter mix inside and outside
  9. 10:18 Adding vegetables to cavity
  10. 11:00 Wrapping turkey for refrigeration
  11. 12:40 Cooking instructions: 325°F for 4–5 hrs
  12. 15:20 Final Thanksgiving tips & safety notes
Tags: #turkeyprep #holidaycooking #thanksgivingturkey #christmasturkey #besuretocook

Watch the Video

Stay Connected

© BeSureToCook. All rights reserved.