Should You Baste a Thanksgiving Turkey? Yes, Here's How to Do It (2024)

Thanksgiving planning brings on a lot of turkey talk: How much turkey per person do you need and when do you order a turkey? Do you clean a turkey? Should you roast or fry this year's bird, and should you spatchco*ck it? And then there's the whole stuffing versus dressing debate. But once your turkey is in the oven, there's just one final step to consider: basting. But why should you baste the turkey and is it even necessary?

A technique that involves periodically spooning, brushing, or pouring juices on a turkey while it cooks, basting is one of those age-old practices that causes some division. Some cooks believe it is absolutely crucial to a golden, juicy, flavorful bird. Others think it's a waste of time. Similar to using a turkey brine, basting isn't absolutely necessary to make a good turkey, but it can make a better turkey! Just ask Ree Drummond whose a big believer in the power of basting. Ree coats her roasted Thanksgiving turkey in butter infused with orange peel, rosemary, salt, and pepper. As it melts and combines with the turkey drippings, it becomes liquid gold for basting the bird. The result is a juicy, seasoned turkey with golden brown skin.

Does basting a turkey keep it moist?

The only sure fire way to keep a turkey moist is to not overcook it. That's where a meat thermometer comes in! But basting a turkey can help give you the tastiest skin of all time. A periodic butter bath helps brown the skin and infuse it with salty, buttery, herbaceous flavor.

At what point do you start basting a turkey?

Some cooks like to bast their turkey at intervals throughout the entire cook time, while others choose to wait until the last few hours of roasting to begin basting the bird. Ree falls in the latter category of basting towards the end. She cooks her turkey covered for several hours, then smears on that aromatic butter. After half an hour in the oven, that luscious butter pools in the bottom of the roasting pan and mixes with the turkey drippings to provide a wonderful liquid to baste the turkey in. Since you're having to open the oven every time you do it, basting too often can slow down the cook time, so try waiting till the end. You'll still get golden brown skin and delicious flavor!

How often should you baste a turkey?

Basting a turkey every 30 to 45 minutes is standard, especially if you wait until the last hour or so of cooking to begin basting. Remember that basting too often can greatly increase the turkey's cook time, so don't baste anymore often than every 30 minutes. When you do baste the bird, be sure to work quickly. Remove the roasting pan from the oven, making sure to close the oven immediately to trap the heat. Swiftly use a baster or spoon (more on that below) to drench the breast in the juices. Quickly return the turkey to the oven and continue cooking.

What do you use to baste a turkey?

A baster is the easiest option. It allows you to gather the juices and coat the bird in them with less risk of burning your hand. But if it's Thanksgiving morning and you can't seem to locate your handy dandy turkey baster, don't panic—a big spoon, ladle, or brush will work fine. Just be cautious of the hot oven and juices!

Is it better to baste a turkey with butter or oil?

Nothing beats butter! Olive oil can work great, too, but butter is more flavorful. Plus, it gives the skin a rich, golden color.