Dry Brine Turkey
Course: ThanksgivingCuisine: EuropeanPrep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
2
minutesAdditional Time
3
minutesTotal Time
3 days 12 hrs 15 mins
Servings
15
Yield
1 (15-pound) turkey
Ingredients
1 (15 pound) — whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
3 tablespoons — kosher salt
undefined — freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 — onion, cut into wedges
4 stalks — celery, halved
Directions
- Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Season inside and outside of turkey with kosher salt, focusing on breast and thighs. Place turkey, breast-side up, in the roasting pan and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate turkey for about 2 days.
- Flip turkey breast-side down, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 1 more day.
- Remove plastic wrap and place turkey on a rack over a baking sheet the night before you plan to roast. Allow turkey to air-dry in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
- Bring turkey to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours; pat dry with paper towels. Season turkey with black pepper and place onion and celery in the cavity.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place turkey, breast-side down, in a roasting pan.
- Roast in the preheated oven until skin is golden, about 30 minutes. Remove turkey from oven and flip to breast-side up. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C); continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 2 hours.
- Transfer turkey to a large platter and loosely tent with aluminum foil; allow turkey to rest about 30 minutes before carving.
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