Basting (watering the meat) is a technique of greasing, pouring, or spooning liquids over the meat to give it a more moist and delicious texture from top to bottom, and a golden brown color when cooked. Even though it's not 100% mandatory as in the past, this technique is still closely related to the tradition and way of serving the turkey you want to cook.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing the Turkey before Watering
Step 1. Prepare the turkey for roasting
Preparations include thawing a frozen turkey, washing it, filling it, positioning it, etc. Need ideas? Just look for ideas on Wikihow, for example:
How to Roast a Turkey
Step 2. Turn on the oven and place the prepared turkey on a large roasting tray
If you can, place the turkey on a rack mounted above the roasting tray to make it easier to remove any dripping liquid.
Some people choose to drizzle the turkey with the liquid that falls to the bottom of the pan, while others choose to make a special seasoning for the meat. You are free to choose the liquid used to water the turkey
Step 3. Set the timer and start the baking process
You will need two timers: one to periodically water the meat and one to calculate the cooking time. The time it takes for the roasting process to depend entirely on the size of the turkey being cooked.
Set the watering time to 30 minute intervals. You will water the meat every 30 minutes
Step 4. After 30 minutes, open the oven to water the meat
Pull the shelf out halfway. Just slightly open the grill cover or aluminum foil covering the meat. Pay attention to the condition of the meat. Is the color starting to turn brown? Good. The turkey is ready for the first watering.
Some people choose to water the meat every 20 minutes. However, the shorter the interval, the more often you will need to open the oven
Method 2 of 3: Watering the Turkeys
Step 1. Prepare a spoon, cup and pipette for watering the meat
Meat watering pipette is a rubber device that serves to suck and pour liquid. The shape is like a large, soft injection. If you don't have one, you can also use a small spoon or cup.
Step 2. Water the turkey
Take the liquid that has been prepared to "bathe" the turkey, then slowly pour it over the surface of the meat with a spoon, cup, or a meat-watering pipette. You can use a variety of broths, wine, butter, oil, gravy, or juices. In essence, turkey meat should be kept moist.
It's easier to use the liquid meat dripping down. However, if you have a recipe for herbs and butter, marinade, or homemade gravy, use it
Step 3. Put on the tray or foil cover, then put the turkey back in the oven
Reset the time setting back to 30 minutes. Head out to watch your favorite TV show or read a book, but don't go too far!
Step 4. Repeat the process of checking and watering the meat with the remaining cooking liquid every 30 minutes
When the time is up, you'll need to re-spray the liquid that was at the bottom of the tray. Use the liquid left over from the cooking process, not the fresh liquid. Regardless of whether you used real gravy or seasoning, the liquid will now pool at the bottom of the tray and mix with the water from the turkey so it can be reused.
Step 5. Remove any excess liquid that has pooled in the bottom of the turkey
Do not let the turkey be submerged in the liquid. This will make the surface of the meat soft, not golden brown and crunchy.
This is why you need to install a small shelf above the baking tray. Using a rack, the meat will not touch the liquid underneath
Step 6. Don't throw away the dripping liquid
Use some of the liquid as a gravy mixture or pour it into a bowl as a side dish with turkey, vegetables, potatoes, etc. Don't let leftover cooking liquid go to waste! The liquid had been cooked for hours with the water from the delicious turkey.
Method 3 of 3: Using Alternative Watering
Step 1. Make a tray cover from aluminum foil
Many people prefer not to water the turkey, but instead wrap it in a foil “tent” – that is, aluminum foil that sits loosely on top of the turkey. This technique will keep the liquid in the turkey meat so as to produce the same effect as the watering process.
This method may be simpler because once the lid is on, you can leave the cooked turkey without having to return to the kitchen every 30 minutes to water the meat
Step 2. Spray apple juice
Instead of trying to smother the meat with the hard-to-get liquid on the bottom of the tray or using a gooey butter-and-herb mixture, simply squirt apple juice over the cooked turkey! If you have a spray bottle, this can be done very easily.
Of course, you can mix the juice with honey, herbs, butter, or whatever ingredients you like to give it a touch of savory that is stronger
Step 3. Use the bacon
Want to make a turkey look more trendy? What's better than bacon? Fry a few pieces of bacon, then add a little pepper, garlic, or even an onion, and save the remaining cooking liquid that comes out. Place the bacon on a paper towel to dry. Then, pour the remaining cooking liquid over the turkey.
When the turkey is almost done, chop up the bacon and sprinkle it over the turkey
Step 4. Understand that you don't need to water a marinated turkey
Marinated turkey is turkey that is stored in a large bucket or refrigerator for 12 hours with a mixture of water, salt, stock, honey, and other additives. The meat will stay moist as it cooks so you don't have to water it!
You should still cook the turkey as usual. Use an aluminum foil “tent” shaped cover for best results. Some people choose to place pieces of wood on a tray to give the turkey a distinctive curd flavor. If this sounds interesting, read the article on how to marinate turkey
Tips
- Don't use strong-flavored leftover liquid as a sauce as it can mask the taste of the meat.
- Don't let the turkey dry out. Make sure you pour enough liquid during the roasting process.
- Prepare the seasoning flush according to the recipe. You can also use your own recipe of flavoring ingredients and cooking oil. Pure butter can give a very delicious taste.
- Don't let the boiling liquid spill into the oven when you pull out the rack. Pull out the oven rack carefully. The weight may feel heavy.
- Turkeys should not be submerged in liquid. If you're using too much liquid and it doesn't decrease during cooking, don't add more. Use a spoon to scoop out excess liquid from the turkey. Then, use the remaining liquid to drizzle over the roasted turkey.
