ALTON BROWN'S CLASSIC BRINED AND ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Thawing the Turkey
• Place wrapped turkey in a 5-gallon cooler with a drain spout. Place cooler in a bathtub and cover turkey with cold water. Drain and replace water every 2-3 hours, keeping water temperature below 40°, until turkey has thawed, 8-10 hours.
• Brining the Turkey
• Clean cooler with soap and water, then pour in hot tap water, sugar, and salt. Stir thoroughly to dissolve sugar and salt. Then stir in ice and vegetable broth.
• Unwrap thawed turkey and remove any parts (such as neck, organs, etc.) that may be inside cavity. These may be saved for gravy.
• Place turkey in brine, breast side up. If your turkey floats, fill a 1-gallon resealable plastic bag with water and place it on top of turkey. Set cooler, lid closed, in a cool place, turning turkey over once if possible, 8-12 hours. Check brining liquid periodically with probe thermometer; if temperature is above 40°, add a few freezer packs that have been enclosed in resealable plastic bags.
• Remove turkey from brine, rinse under cold water, and pat dry with paper towels. Do not stuff turkey.
• Roasting the Turkey
• Remove all oven racks except for one. Set this rack in the next-to-the-lowest position. Preheat the oven to 500°.
• Loosely pack turkey with a combination of herbs, carrots, celery, and onion. Keep packing loose.
• Place turkey, breast side up, on a V-shaped rack set inside a large roasting pan. Cut a piece of foil big enough to cover the turkey's breast. Mold piece to breast. Remove foil, then grease with spray.
• Rub butter between your hands until liberally greased (you may use disposable gloves if desired). Rub butter into turkey. You may need to re-butter your hands a couple times in order to get a nice, even coating.
• Place turkey in oven, neck end first and breast up. Roast turkey until nicely browned, 30-40 minutes. Apply foil to breast of turkey. Insert thermometer probe directly through foil into deepest part of breast.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350° and return turkey to oven, foil securely in place. Do not open oven to baste turkey. Roast until probe registers 161° for breast and 181° for thigh, 2-2½ hours.
• Cover turkey with foil and let rest 30 minutes. Save pan drippings for gravy.
• Carve turkey.
• Gravy (Optional)
• Mix pan drippings with water, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Heat in a small saucepan over medium until thickened.