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Roast Turkey in a Brown Paper Bag How to Roast Turkey in a Brown Paper BagWhen I was single and living in Dallas, I invited a group of friends over for Thanksgiving dinner. The task of roasting a turkey sounded easy enough. Buy a turkey, put it in a roasting pan and pop it in the oven til done. Right? But as the day neared, I realized there was more to it than just putting the turkey in a large pan and turning on the oven. Actually, I went into full blown PANIC! Roasting a turkey?? I no idea how to roast a turkey. Clueless! My boss at the time suggested I talk to his wife because she always made a “perfect” turkey. Lucky for me, she was gracious enough to share what she called her “embarrassingly simple” recipe, and I’ve been using it ever since. She roasted her Turkey in a Brown Paper Bag. It’s a Southern thing, she said–truth. Roast Turkey in a Brown Paper Bag 101Here are the basics from my original notes, circa 1985, written like the young novice I was. I remember writing all of this down as I talked to her. My thoughts on how to roast turkey in a brown paper bag were recorded afterwards I’m guessing. While at the grocery store, don’t get too big a turkey or it won’t fit in the bag. (Get a 10-12 pounder). Step 1Start with a big brown grocery sack from the market (ask for a clean one) and oil it. Rub every pore of it with Wesson oil or else it might burn (any vegetable oil works but not olive). MASSAGE the oil into the paper bag/sack. (And I mean MASSAGE). Step 2Now remove all the giblets ? (innards) from the turkey. Add “Holy Trinity” (??) to the cavity (Holy Trinity = some onion, celery and carrot). Step 3Massage REAL mayo all over bird. You don’t need to spend $$$ (on the mayonnaise). You need the fatty kind for the oil (full-fat real mayo only). Sprinkle poultry seasoning generously. (It’s easy to find at any grocery store). And some S&P. Step 4Put bird in the bag, seam side up. Fold the bag over and staple it shut. Step 5Roast til done, 10-15 minutes a pound (larger turkey takes the longer time). Step 6Enjoy your dinner! So now you know how to roast a turkey in a brown paper bag. Any questions?What about those plastic cooking bags? I’ve heard of many Thanksgiving cooks who swear by the Reynolds cooking bag, but that seems to steam the turkey instead of roasting (the paper bag actually breathes a little air, changing the results). The Reynolds’ method works just fine, but I like the taste of the paper bag version better. Will the bag set on fire? No, the oil keeps that from happening, but it can get a slightly smoky toward the end of roasting so turn on the vent or open a window a crack. Remember only use vegetable oil and NOT olive oil. Aren’t there chemicals in the paper bag that are dangerous to your health? Maybe, but I’ve been roasting the turkey this way for 30 plus years, and I’m still here. And besides, there are probably chemicals in that Reynolds cooking bag or even aluminum foil, too. We won’t even talk about hot dogs. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all. And now for a more clearer and detailed version of her recipe for Roast Turkey in a Brown Paper Bag. Other Thanksgiving FavoritesLazy Turkey Pot Pie Cranberry Bourbon Sauce Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Pumpkin Roll
How long does a 23 lb turkey take to cook in a bag?Turkey in a Bag Cooking times:
A 20-24 lb turkey will take approximately 3 – 3 ½ hours.
How long does it take to cook a 22 pound turkey?For a 21- to 24-pound turkey: 425°F for 4 to 4¼ hours.
How long should you cook a turkey in a bag?Directions. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).. Remove and discard giblets. ... . Sprinkle the bottom of the turkey bag with flour; place turkey in the bag and add celery and onions. ... . Bake in the preheated oven until turkey is cooked and the juices run clear, about 3 to 3 1/2 hours.. How long does it take to cook a 21 lb turkey in a bag?How Long to Cook a Turkey in an Oven Bag. A 12- to 15-pound turkey will take approximately 2 to 3 hours. A 20- to 24-pound turkey will take about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. The best measure of a well-cooked bird is a thermometer read: 165 F in the thickest part of the breast, away from the bone.
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