HOW TO BASTE A TURKEY WITH BUTTER RECIPES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower half of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees . Mash the butter, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place the turkey in a roasting pan and fold in the wingtips.
• Using your fingers, loosen the skin at the neck end. Grasp the skin with one hand and work in your other hand to loosen the skin down to the thighs and legs.
• Spread the butter mixture under the skin, then, working with your hands on top of the skin, spread the butter evenly all over the meat. Season the bird with salt and pepper.
• Place the onion inside the cavity, then tie the legs together using kitchen string.
• Roast the turkey until it registers 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 1/2 hours; cover with foil during the last hour to prevent the skin from browning too quickly. Let rest for 20 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Remove giblets and neck from turkey; reserve for another use. Pat turkey dry. Trim excess fat. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Brush turkey with clarified butter; sprinkle evenly with kosher salt. Place roasting rack in large roasting pan. Arrange turkey, breast side up, on roasting rack. Bake turkey at 325° for 1 hour and 10 minutes, basting after 1 hour. Increase oven temperature to 450° (do not remove turkey from oven); bake an additional 25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into meaty part of thigh registers 165°. Remove turkey from oven; let turkey stand for 30 minutes before carving. Discard skin.