Perfect Turkey

Total Time: 17 hrs Cook Time: 17 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 (18 lb) turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 2 cups kosher salt
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 large onions, peeled and chopped
• 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup dry wine

Recipe

• 1 rub the turkey inside and out with the kosher salt. place the bird in a large stock pot, and cover with cold water. place in the refrigerator, and allow the turkey to soak in the salt and water mixture 12 hours, or overnight.
• 2 preheat oven to 350°f (175°c). thoroughly rinse the turkey, and discard the brine mixture.
• 3 brush the turkey with 1/2 the melted butter. place breast side down on a roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan. stuff the turkey cavity with 1 onion, 1/2 the carrots, 1/2 the celery, 1 sprig of thyme, and the bay leaf. scatter the remaining vegetables and thyme around the bottom of the roasting pan, and cover with the wine.
• 4 roast uncovered 3 1/2 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180°f (85°c).
• 5 carefully turn the turkey breast side up about 2/3 through the roasting time, and brush with the remaining butter. allow the bird to stand about 30 minutes before carving.