PRO TIP: If you have time, prep the turkey ahead and rest uncovered and unseasoned in the fridge for 12-24 hours before cooking. This helps the turkey skin get a golden color and roasts a crispier skin while in the oven.
Optional Choice: Chop the vegetables ahead of time and place them in the bottom of your roasting pan or deep baking sheet pan. Toss with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. The veggies will work as your "rack" if you choose to do this step.
If you are not using veggies, simply place a wire rack down in the bottom of your pan. First, remove the plastic net and wrapper, and cut off the plastic leg tie. Remove both the gizzards and neck from the cavity and discard or use them in other recipes. Trim off extra skin from the neck and tail with kitchen scissors.
You will need some clean sharp kitchen shears or a good pair of poultry shears. Place the turkey breast side down on a cutting board, and using the kitchen shears cut along each side of the backbone of the turkey. In some spots it has a lot of bone, use a small serrated knife to cut through. Reserve the backbone and all the turkey parts for making turkey stock if desired.
Flip over, with the turkey breast-side up, and press and crack the breastbone. Place the heel of your hand in the center and push down hard with your body weight. You will hear it crack with a popping sound. Sometimes this takes a couple of tries! Roll the legs “inward” and tuck the wings under the bird so they don't roast too fast in the heat of the oven.
Pat the entire whole bird dry with paper towels, this helps the skin turn brown. Season all sides and surface area of the bird. In a small bowl, add the kosher salt and black pepper. This helps prevent cross contamination. Rub salt and pepper, and the room temperature butter all over the entire turkey. Butter adds tremedous flavor and gets the skin golden and crisp. You can also try my compound herb butter, which adds tons of flavor and is really good under the skin as well!
Place the turkey in the pan, and pour 1 cup of water or chicken stock into the bottom of the roasting pan. This helps flavor the veggies (if you chose to roast those too), keeps the turkey meat moist, and creates pan juices for gravy.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roast for 1 hour, check the turkey, if browning too fast tent with a piece of aluminum foil. Turn oven down to 375 degrees, and roast turkey for another 90 minutes. Tent with foil if the skin of the turkey is browning too fast. I recommend this at the 60 minute mark.
Use a good quality meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer. There are also wireless probe thermometers available which are great. You want the breast meat to be 165 degrees f in the temperature thickest part of the turkey breast, and not touching the breast bone or that throws off the accuracy of the reading. Also, check the thickest part of the thigh, it needs to reach 175 degrees.
Once it reaches a safe temperature, let the turkey rest for 10-15 minutes on a large cutting board, but don’t cover it so the skin stays crisp. Carve with a sharp knife, and serve warm with side dishes or use in other recipes.