How do *you* cook your turkey?

[Potentialpoochowner]

I'm in charge of the turkey )and everything else) this year. Feck. Really struggling for time to research recipes and all of that hoo-hah. Only ordered the bloody thing today. Would to mind telling me what you season/dress your turkey and tips for roasting?? Would be much obliged

Follow Nigella's instructions. Much shorter (and hotter) cooking than others, but has never failed and never been overdone either.

I don't brine it or anything else, just butter, cover breast with bacon, shove a lemon in and cook it upside down!

Delia's tent method has never failed me.

I only cracked this properly when I got a meat thermometer. Takes away all last minute doubt about whether it's ready. Also, aim for it to be ready about 1/2 an hour or so before everything else.

Thank you very much for this. Agree, meat thermometer is key - especially for me - I need cold hard figures, nine if the 'ooh are the juices clear' stuff!

i get it delivered from waitrose. its in a plastic bag which you put in the oven for the specified time, and then you carve it. its a joy. before that i dawbed with marg and put onion in cavaty and wrapped foil round it so no gaps and steamed. my christmas is so laid back its great

Alas no waitrose round my neck of the woods! The in-a-bag one sounds great though - quite often do roast chickens like that

I have never failed with this Delia method - www.deliaonline.com/how-to-cook/chicken-and-other-poultry/how-to-roast-turkey

Brine it !!!!!. Look up any turkey brine recipe, find one you like and follow the directions. Stick turkey in brine over night and cook as per usual. Just be careful as once brined it cooks twice as fast, literally. So figure on 20 mins a pound but start checking using a meat thermometer at 1/2 that time. Once it reaches 160F pull it out ant tent it tightly with tin foil. Leave it for at least 20 mins. NEVER EVER EVER dry