If you're making a turkey, you'll find lots of complicated turkey recipes and turkey cooking instructions in cookbooks and on the web!

Ever heard of a Tarducken? Did you think it sounded insanely difficult? Me, too. I wouldn't know (as I’ve never made one myself, thank goodness), but they're supposed to take a full 12 hours to make. Not to roast-- 12 hours only to assemble. Argh!

Suffice it to say, some turkey cooking methods are crazy-complicated. And while some ambitious chefs may decide to give them a go, most of us want just one thing: simple turkey cooking instructions for a perfect, moist, delicious turkey. Here, I'll go over a few turkey cooking methods ranging from complex to super simple-- and all of them turn out delicious.

If you still have questions about cooking a turkey when you're done here, go to turkey central to read more, or to submit a question!

Turkey Cooking Methods

Roasted Turkey. These simple turkey cooking instructions have you cook the turkey at 325 degrees F for the amount of time appropriate for your turkey. Simply baste the turkey with chicken broth, butter, or the mixture of your choice every half-hour.

Dry-Rub Roasted Turkey. Using a dry rub will result in a flavorful turkey with a crisp, tasty skin. Mix together a dry rub with the spices of your choice (spicy with cayenne? or traditional with thyme? It's is up to you.), and rub it into the turkey, both on top of and under the skin. Roast as usual.

Some rubs call for bacon or other wet ingredients to add moistness and flavor to the turkey.

Oven Bag Roasted Turkey. Oven-safe plastic bags made especially for turkeys are a great way to get a moister turkey without a lot of hassle. Simply coat the bag lightly in flour on the inside and cut some slits to allow steam to escape. Shove the turkey inside, place into the roasting pan, and cook as usual. The bag creates a moister space for the turkey to cook-- this keeps it from drying it out. Follow these simple turkey cooking instructions for a most turkey without a lot of effort.

Brined Turkey. Dry breast meat is the enemy of any turkey chef. But what's the best way to prevent it? One of the most common methods to get a really juicy and flavorful bird is to brine it with a salt brine the night or morning before cooking. Drain the brine away before cooking, then roast using your regular turkey cooking instructions. The meat will be more tender and juicy than any turkey you've ever tried.

Note: Don't worry that the salt brine will make the turkey too salty-- if you use the right kind of salt, the meat doesn't absorb it. Looking for some recipes for tasty turkey brines? We have 'em here.

Marinated Turkey. This works a lot like brining, except that the marinade usually uses the spices of your choice and some sort of acid, like vinegar or lemon juice. The main purpose of a marinade is to flavor the turkey while tenderizing it slightly.

Deep Fried Turkey. The up-sides to a deep fried turkey? It cooks quickly, and is moist and flavorful with a delicious, crispy skin. The down-sides? Frying is one of the turkey cooking methods that requires both extra equipment (a HUGE turkey fryer) and a bit of experience. It's also a little on the dangerous side.

Fried turkey cooking instructions go something like this: inject the bird with a special mix of butter and spices. Refrigerate it overnight. Heat oil in turkey fryer to 350 degrees F (this is where it gets dangerous-- if it goes over 375 it could ignite) and watch closely. Fry turkey about 5 minutes per total pound.

Looking for detailed Turkey Frying Instructions?

Grilled Turkey. Grilled turkey is really tasty... and, ladies, and grilling is one of the turkey cooking methods that will allow you to give up the responsibility of cooking the Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey to the man of the house. (Of course, if you're a man in charge of dinner... good for you! You want to come visit this Thanksgiving?) This works best in a covered kettle-style grill with medium-hot coals. Try this recipe for Grilled Turkey Drumsticks.

Smoked Turkey. Making a smoked turkey requires a place to cook outside, a smoker, some experience, and quite a bit of time. With hard wood (such as apple) in the bottom of the smoker, smoke the turkey for up to 12 hours (depending on temperature and weight) following the manufacturers' instructions. Want more detailed instructions on smoking turkey? Check out our Smoked Turkey Drumsticks page.

Go from Turkey Cooking Instructions to the Divine Dinner Party Ultimate Turkey Guide.