Roast Turkey In Cheesecloth

This perfect roast turkey recipe in cheesecloth makes for a beautifully golden brown, tender, and juicy turkey for Thanksgiving or any occasion.

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Roasted turkey in cheesecloth is an "easier" whole turkey recipe but still takes time due to all the basting.

TIP: The cheesecloth will look burnt by the time the turkey is done.

Looking for a super easy turkey recipe for the holidays?  Check out my roast turkey breast recipe as a very easy option.

Looking for more Thanksgiving Recipes? Check out my Thanksgiving Recipe Category.

Roast Turkey Baked In Cheesecloth

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EatSimpleFood.com

This perfect roast turkey recipe in cheesecloth makes for a beautifully golden brown, tender, and juicy turkey for Thanksgiving or any occasion.

• Author: beckie
• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 5 hours
• Total Time: 6 hours
• Yield: 16
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

• 16 lb whole turkey
• 12 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into 1 tablespoon each
• 2 cups white wine
• Zest from one orange (or lemon)
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 medium carrots, chunked
• 2 medium celery stalks, chunked
• salt
• black pepper
• 4 layers of cheesecloth

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450F
• Take the turkey out of the refrigerator at least 1 hour before cooking.  Remove giblets and neck from turkey.  Rinse and pat dry.  Sprinkle generously with salt.
• Bring a pan on the stovetop to medium heat and add butter, white wine, orange zest, and rosemary.  The goal is to melt it down, not boil it.  This is the basting liquid.  Remove the liquid from heat.  
• Cut 4 large piece of cheesecloth (enough to cover the entire bird - the cheesecloth should be 4 layers thick) and let soak in the butter mixture while you get the turkey ready.
• Stuff the inside of the turkey with onions, celery, and carrots.  Tie the legs together if they're not already tied.  
• Place on a rack in a roasting pan and add 2 cup water or broth to bottom of the pan.  
• Lay the cheesecloth over the top of the turkey and cover entirely.  Use aluminum foil if you run out of cheesecloth, you don't want the bird to brown too fast.
• Cook (breast side up) at 450F for ½ hour.
• Lower the heat to 350F and baste the cheesecloth/turkey every hour (if you run out of liquid, baste with the liquid from the bottom of the pan).  
• Remove the cheesecloth one hour before the bird is done cooking.  Place aluminum foil over brown areas if the turkey is not done on the inside (internal temp needs to be 165F at breast and 180F at thigh), but getting too brown on the outside.  Total cooking time is ~ 4 ½ - 5 hours.
• Let rest 30 minutes before slicing.  Just in time to get the Cornbread & Sausage Stuffing in the oven to cook  before eating.
• Happy Thanksgiving!  Be grateful, love yourselves and each other today and every other day.  Beckie