Thanksgiving is a time for family friends and of course, delicious food. While the turkey is often the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving feast, it can be intimidating to cook. But don’t worry, there’s a simple and foolproof way to cook a juicy and flavorful turkey: roasting it in a brown paper bag.
This method has been passed down through generations and is a favorite among many home cooks It’s easy, requires minimal cleanup, and produces a perfectly cooked turkey every time
So, are you ready to ditch the roasting pan and try something new this Thanksgiving? Let’s dive into the world of paper bag turkey!
What You’ll Need:
- A 10-12 pound turkey
- A large brown paper bag (ask for a clean one at the grocery store)
- Vegetable oil (any kind will do, but not olive oil)
- Salt and pepper
- Poultry seasoning
- Real mayonnaise (not low-fat)
- Celery, carrot, and onion (optional)
Instructions:
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Prepare the Turkey:
- Defrost the turkey completely in the refrigerator.
- Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey cavity.
- Add celery, carrot, and onion to the cavity (optional).
- Tie the wings and legs to the body of the turkey with kitchen twine. This helps the turkey cook evenly and prevents the wings and legs from drying out.
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Prepare the Bag:
- Check the bag for any holes. You don’t want steam to escape during the roasting process.
- Generously oil the inside and outside of the bag with vegetable oil. This prevents the bag from burning and helps the turkey brown evenly.
- Massage the oil into the bag, making sure to get every nook and cranny.
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Season the Turkey:
- Rub the turkey all over with mayonnaise. This helps the turkey stay moist and flavorful.
- Sprinkle the turkey generously with poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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Roast the Turkey:
- Place the turkey in the bag, seam side up.
- Fold the opening of the bag over a couple of times and staple it shut. You can also use paper clips if you prefer.
- Place the bagged turkey in a roasting pan or lasagna pan.
- Roast the turkey at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes per pound. A smaller turkey will require less time, while a larger turkey will need more.
- To check for doneness, use an instant-read thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding the bone. The temperature should read 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful turkey.
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Enjoy!
- Carefully cut away the bag and serve your delicious paper bag turkey.
- Don’t forget to save the drippings for making gravy!
Tips and Tricks:
- If you don’t have a large enough brown paper bag, you can use two smaller bags. Just overlap them in the middle and staple them together.
- For a crispy skin, you can open the bag for the last 30 minutes of roasting.
- If you’re concerned about chemicals in the paper bag, you can use a food-grade brown paper bag. These are available online or at some specialty stores.
- This method can also be used to roast other types of poultry, such as chicken or duck. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Will the bag catch fire?
No, the oil prevents the bag from catching fire. However, it can get a little smoky towards the end of roasting, so turn on the vent or open a window a crack.
- Aren’t there chemicals in the paper bag that are dangerous to my health?
There may be some chemicals in the paper bag, but they are unlikely to be harmful in small amounts. If you’re concerned, you can use a food-grade brown paper bag.
- Can I use an electric roaster oven to cook the turkey in a paper bag?
Yes, you can use an electric roaster oven to cook the turkey in a paper bag. Just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Can I stuff the turkey when roasting it in a paper bag?
Yes, you can stuff the turkey when roasting it in a paper bag. Just add an additional 30 minutes to the cooking time.
- Can I use olive oil to oil the bag?
It’s best to use vegetable oil instead of olive oil, as olive oil has a lower smoke point and may burn.
Roasting a turkey in a brown paper bag is a simple, delicious, and foolproof way to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. With just a few ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a juicy and flavorful turkey that will impress your family and friends. So, ditch the roasting pan and give this method a try this Thanksgiving! You won’t be disappointed.
How to Roast Turkey in a Brown Paper Bag
When I was single and living in Dallas, I invited a group of friends over for Thanksgiving dinner. The task of roasting a turkey sounded easy enough. Buy a turkey, put it in a roasting pan and pop it in the oven til done. Sure, but as the big day approached, I realized there was more work involved than just putting the turkey in a large pan and turning on the oven. Actually, I went into full blown PANIC! Roasting a turkey?? I no idea how to roast a turkey. Clueless!.
My boss at the time suggested I talk to his wife because she always made a “perfect” turkey. Fortunately for me, she shared her “embarrassingly simple” recipe with me, and I’ve been using it ever since. She roasted her Turkey in a Brown Paper Bag. It’s a Southern thing, she said–truth.
Roast Turkey in a Brown Paper Bag 101
Here are the basics from my original notes, circa 1985, written like the young novice I was. I remember writing all of this down as I talked to her. My thoughts on how to roast turkey in a brown paper bag were recorded afterwards I’m guessing.
While at the grocery store, don’t get too big a turkey or it won’t fit in the bag. (Get a 10-12 pounder).
Start with a big brown grocery sack from the market (ask for a clean one) and oil it. Apply Wesson oil to all of its pores to prevent burning (olive oil does not work well). MASSAGE the oil into the paper bag/sack. (And I mean MASSAGE).
Now remove all the giblets ? (innards) from the turkey. Add “Holy Trinity” (??) to the cavity (Holy Trinity = some onion, celery and carrot).
Massage REAL mayo all over bird. You don’t need to spend $$$ (on the mayonnaise). You need the fatty kind for the oil (full-fat real mayo only). Sprinkle poultry seasoning generously. (It’s easy to find at any grocery store). And some S&P.
Put bird in the bag, seam side up. Fold the bag over and staple it shut.
Roast til done, 10-15 minutes a pound (larger turkey takes the longer time).
So now you know how to roast a turkey in a brown paper bag.
The Reynolds method works just fine, but I prefer the taste of the paper bag version. Despite the fact that many Thanksgiving cooks swear by the Reynolds cooking bag, which seems to steam the turkey instead of roasting it (the paper bag actually breathes a little air, changing the results)—what about those plastic cooking bags?
The oil keeps the bag from catching fire, but as the roasting process is coming to an end, it can get a little smokey, so crack a window open a bit. Remember only use vegetable oil and NOT olive oil.
It’s possible that the chemicals in the paper bag are hazardous to your health, but I have been roasting turkeys in this manner for more than 30 years, and I keep doing it. And besides, there are probably chemicals in that Reynolds cooking bag or even aluminum foil, too. We won’t even talk about hot dogs. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all.
Here’s a more lucid and comprehensive rendition of her Roast Turkey in a Brown Paper Bag recipe.
