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Cider-basted turkey

Use this marinade to baste a whole turkey or a turkey breast. It's also a great way to moisten turkey stuffing or add wonderful flavor to gravy.

Ingredients

1/8 cup butter, melted
1 cup apple cider
1 cup orange juice
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon crushed basil

Directions

1. Melt butter in a pan.
2. Add apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice and basil.
3. Stir together and cook over low heat until well dissolved.

Turkey preparation*

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit or as specified by your recipe. Move the rack to the lowest position.
2. Remove the whole turkey from the refrigerator about one hour before cooking, but no longer than one hour, so that it comes to room temperature. During this time, cook the giblets or neck for the stuffing, stock or gravy.
3. Remove the giblets from the bag (stuck in the neck cavity) and the neck bone from the body cavity and rinse them under cool running water. This will help to remove bacteria. Pat dry with paper towels and set aside for use in the stuffing or stock, if desired.
4. Rinse the whole bird, including the body and neck cavities, under cool running water. Rub your hands over the surface to help remove any bacteria. Pull out any lumps of fat from the cavity and discard. Pat dry with paper towel; salt and pepper the inside and outside of the bird, and rub in any seasonings according to your recipe.
5. Roast according to timetable for the size of your bird and method desired (open pan or roaster). Note: Opening the oven to "check on the turkey" will lengthen roasting time. Basting can be done during the last 30 minutes of roasting, after the foil tent or roaster lid has been removed to allow the bird to brown.

*Options not included in nutrition facts.

Related Links

A sensible Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving and diabetes

Recipes

First published: 12/01/2001
Last updated: 11/07/2007

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education