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.
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, so you’ve probably already planned your menu, which should include the best Thanksgiving sides and mouthwatering pumpkin pies. And of course, you’ve got the traditional turkey lined up.
Getting (and serving) the ideal turkey for every guest at the dinner table is important, whether you’re hosting a small get-together for friends and family or hosting a Friendsgiving celebration. Make sure you choose the appropriate size turkey for your holiday meal by knowing how much to serve each person.
But before you pop your perfectly chosen turkey into the oven, don’t forget to season it well. When combined with pitch-perfect seasoning, the right Thanksgiving turkey recipes can elevate your bird from a simple bird to an amazing fowl. Follow these tips and tricks on seasoning your turkey for a juicy and flavorful meal.
Get ready to wow your Thanksgiving guests with a juicy, flavorful turkey that’s bursting with taste. We’ll share 11 secret tips and tricks on how to season a turkey like a pro, so you can ditch the bland bird and serve up a masterpiece.
1. Season Under the Skin:
This is the golden rule of turkey seasoning. By rubbing your spices and herbs under the skin, you ensure maximum flavor contact with the meat. Plus, you can peel off the skin after cooking if you’re not a fan, without sacrificing any of that delicious seasoning.
2. Brine Your Bird:
Brining is a game-changer for achieving a juicy, tender turkey. This simple technique involves soaking your turkey in a saltwater solution, often infused with herbs and spices, for several hours or overnight. The salt helps retain moisture and adds a subtle flavor boost.
3. Don’t Forget the Inside:
Seasoning isn’t just for the outside! Be sure to sprinkle your chosen blend inside the turkey cavity as well. This ensures even flavor distribution throughout the entire bird.
4. Fill with Aromatics:
Instead of stuffing your turkey (which can be risky), opt for filling the cavity with aromatic ingredients like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage. These aromatics infuse the turkey with classic Thanksgiving flavors and help keep it moist.
5. Coat with Flavored Butter:
Who doesn’t love butter? Rubbing flavored butter under the skin adds another layer of richness and helps achieve crispy, golden skin. It’s a simple trick that elevates the flavor profile of your turkey.
6. Try a Marinade:
Marinades aren’t just for grilling! Marinate your turkey in a mixture of broth, spices, and lemon juice for a flavorful, juicy bird. Similar to brining, allow your turkey to soak in the marinade for a few hours to absorb all the delicious flavors.
7. Glaze the Turkey:
Take your turkey to the next level with a flavorful glaze. Brushing on a glaze adds a sweet and savory touch to the skin, creating a beautiful caramelized finish. Experiment with different glazes like apricot or cranberry for a unique twist.
8. Crack Open a Beer:
Just like you might use beer for grilling, you can use it to add depth of flavor to your turkey. Instead of basting with drippings, baste your bird with your favorite brew. No need for anything fancy, but choose a beer you enjoy drinking.
9. Inject Flavor:
This method might seem intimidating, but it’s a powerful way to infuse your turkey with extra moisture and flavor. Flavor injectors pump ingredients like broth and melted butter directly into the meat, resulting in a juicy, flavorful bird.
10. Layer on the Gravy:
A well-seasoned gravy is the perfect finishing touch to your Thanksgiving turkey. Drizzle it over your carved bird and all the sides for an extra burst of flavor.
11. Serve It with a Sauce:
While gravy is a classic, don’t be afraid to explore other flavorful sauces. Fruit-based sauces like cranberry or raspberry add a sweet and tangy twist to your turkey.
Bonus Tip:
Don’t be afraid to experiment! Try different spice combinations, explore new marinades, and get creative with your glazes. The possibilities are endless when it comes to seasoning your turkey.
With these 11 secrets, you’re well on your way to mastering the art of turkey seasoning. So get ready to impress your guests with a Thanksgiving turkey that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Season Inside the Turkey
Don’t limit your seasoning to just the exterior of your holiday main. Make sure your spice mixture reaches every crevice and crevices of the turkey, including the insides. This will give your roast the most flavor possible.
Instead of filling your bird with stuffing, fill it with aromatics. (News flash: Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can be dangerous. ) The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor.
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.
Season Under the Skin
As with any other protein, it can be tempting to simply sprinkle your seasonings over the frozen turkey (obviously after defrosting it). To get the most flavor, however, it’s best to season under the skin. This is our greatest tip for teaching anyone how to season a turkey.
This puts those spices in direct contact with the meat for maximum impact. Additionally, you can remove the skin after cooking without losing any of the flavorful herbs if you don’t like it.
When it comes to seasoning, salt and pepper are the right place to start. However, you can go beyond these fundamentals by utilizing fall flavors that go well with turkey, such as sage, thyme, and rosemary. You can branch out further with your favorite seasoning blends.
Try a simple brine or even a dry brine to give your Thanksgiving turkey more flavor and tenderness. In addition to adding flavor and moisture to the entire turkey, soaking it in this mixture of saltwater helps to tenderize the meat. While plain old saltwater is the most basic brine, we love to add herbs and spices to give the turkey as much flavor as possible. These turkey brine recipes will give you the inspiration you need.
But take heed, brining is a plan-ahead trick. At least four hours should pass while your bird is in the brine (overnight is ideal, so start a full day ahead) And before you brine, make sure you have a food-safe container large enough to accommodate your bird.
How to Season Your Turkey | Weber Grills
FAQ
What should you season your turkey with?
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