Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

2-hour steam roasted turkey

(2 ratings)
Recipe by
Diane Atherton
PINE MOUNTAIN, GA

20-lbs and 2 hours later, this bird is done! Why spend most of your time in the kitchen roasting a turkey when you can do it in 2 hours. Give this a try, you won't be disappointed! Add your favorite seasoning, just don't add salt until the end to prevent it from getting dry. This is a very moist roasted turkey. I believe you will enjoy!

(2 ratings)
yield serving(s)
prep time 5 Min
cook time 2 Hr
method Bake

Ingredients For 2-hour steam roasted turkey

  • 1
    18 to 20 pound turkey, thawed and don't forget to remove giblets
  • olive oil
  • favorite herbs (i use smoked paprika, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder)

How To Make 2-hour steam roasted turkey

  • 1
    BEFORE YOU GET STARTED: You will be baking at a very high temperature, there’s no room for error, so, make sure your oven is clean or it will smoke up the house. Also, the oven must register accurate temperatures. If you are uncertain about this, test your oven with an oven thermometer. Do NOT bake any side dishes in oven while turkey is roasting.
  • 2
    TOOLS YOU WILL NEED: Roasting Pan with Rack (big enough for turkey) You will need a meat thermometer: the kind you leave in during baking (not an instant-read) would be nice, however, you can test close to the end of cooking time with an instant read.
  • 3
    Thaw turkey in the fridge breast side down. NOTE: this could take a couple of days. Remove 30 minutes prior to roasting and turn breast side up. NOTE Do NOT rush the thawing process by trying to thaw on the counter. This is not safe!
  • 4
    Remove giblets and anything in the cavity of the turkey; set aside for making giblet gravy and/or stock. Cut off any excess fat around the body cavity. There's always a big hunk right at the main cavity entrance. Discard it.
  • 5
    Rinse off the turkey and dry inside and out with paper towels. It must be dry as you are going to oil the skin. Oil the turkey on all sides (oil will help keep moisture in), place breast-up and prop the vent open with an eating fork. The fork will stay in the turkey during roasting. Do not tie the legs together and do not stuff. You want the heat to circulate. NOTE: If you do not have Olive Oil, use some other kind of oil, do not use butter, it tends to burn.
  • 6
    Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
  • 7
    Place breast-up on an oiled rack and place inside roasting pan. Do not salt (salt draws out moisture), however, you may pat herbs and pepper on the oiled skin or place in cavity. Insert meat thermometer at the breast bone. Push all the way until it touches the breast bone. It should not touch any part of the pan or the inside of the oven. NOTE: Optional: Spray pan and rack with PAM. Line with aluminum foil and spray the foil as well. This will make for a much easier clean up.
  • 8
    Lay a greased sheet of aluminum foil loosely on top of the turkey; do not tuck or wrap; just let it lie on top.
  • 9
    Pour 3/4-inch of water or stock into bottom of roasting pan. This should not touch the turkey, adjust rack if necessary. Check that ¾" of liquid remains in the bottom of the pan throughout roasting. Do not baste and open the oven as SELDOM as possible.
  • 10
    Roast turkey for 2 hours (18 to 20-pound). Remove from oven when the thermometer reads 160°. NOTE: For a larger turkey, you may need some more time. Watch thermometer.
  • 11
    Let turkey rest for 10 to 20 minutes before carving. NOTE: if meat at leg/thigh joint seems excessively red, return this portion to oven while craving the rest.
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