It is so easy to roast a holiday turkey! Instructions and roasting times are always included with the package of just about any turkey you buy. To ROAST TURKEY: Buy a fresh turkey three days or sooner before the holiday. Or buy a frozen turkey ahead of time and thaw in the refrigerator, about 24 hours for every five pounds of turkey. Remove giblet and neck from your turkey cavities and put those into a separate saucepan. Cover those with six or more cups of water and simmer while your turkey is in the oven). Preheat oven to 325 degrees F, adjusting your oven racks to make the space you need. Brush turkey with olive oil and herbs that you like. I used dried Italian seasoning. You can brush with fresh sage, parsley rosemary, whatever you like. Cover the bottom of a large roasting pan with foil, and place a baking rack over the foil to keep the turkey from sticking. Place the turkey onto the rack breast side up. Cover the turkey lightly with foil. Roast at 325 degrees for 20 minutes per pound-- about 3-1/2 hours for a 13-pound bird. After two hours, use a turkey baster to baste the turkey with pan juices. When turkey reaches 165 degrees internal temperature, it's cooked. Remove from the oven and move to a foil-lined cookie sheet so you can make your gravy right in your roasting pan. TO MAKE GRAVY: In a mason jar, mix 3/4 cup of flour with 1 cup of milk. Cover the jar and shake vigorously. Put your roasting pan over two burners on your stovetop and set both burners to medium high. Let pan juices reach boiling point and pour in some of the milk and flour. Mix well with a wire whisk to remove all lumps. Whisk in some of the broth from your neckbone and giblets that have been simmering while the turkey cooked. Add broth and milk/flour as you like until desired consistency and quantity is reached. Allow to simmer for a few minutes, then pour into gravy boat (or boats, if you're serving a crowd). Serve your turkey and gravy with all your favorite holiday sides. (Check our my companion video about how to make mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes in your Instant Pot.) ENJOY!Looking to purchase an Instant Pot for yourself or as a gift? Prices are excellent right now: https://amzn.to/2rOqbkI. (Full disclosure, if you purchase one at that link, I will get a small commission, but at no additional cost to you.) ENJOY!
