TIP: Flipping the bird, or how to get a perfect roast every time.

[cathouse_mary]

Start out with your turkey or chicken, or even a game hen. Remove the giblets, then rinse inside and out in cold water, patting fry with paper towels afterward. Salt and pepper the cavity, and truss for roasting. Take softened butter and loosening the skin of the breast from the meat with your fingers, spoon the butter under the skin and then smooth the skin back into place. I use a tablespoon divided for a game hen, two for a chicken of four or five pounds, use your best judgment on a turkey. Seasoning the butter is optional, but I like to flavor my butter with garlic, lemon, and rosemary.

Rub the whole bird with olive oil, then season the skin as desired. Preheat the oven to 350F, and rack the bird - then insert some stainless steel item with some heft into the cavity. I use a pair of butter knives. Stainless steel conducts heat and helps the bird to cook more thoroughly. Cover the roasting pan and cook for 25 minutes per pound.

During the last hour of roasting, turn the heat up to 400F uncover the pan and brown the breast skin for 30 minutes. Then remove the pan from the oven, and carefully flip the bird breast-side down and return to the oven for another 30 minutes at 400F. Remove from oven, allow to sit for fifteen minutes, then remove the stainless steel before carving and serving.

Comments

oh...

[angel_negra]

Oh, thanks for this tip. <3

Re: oh...

[cathouse_mary]

Welcome! It's almost like a rotisserie bird.