Things You'll Need
Shallow baking pan or rimmed cookie sheet
Paper towels
Kitchen twine
Scissors
Trussing pins
It's not necessary to truss a turkey before roasting, but taking the time to do so can ensure the bird cooks evenly and makes an attractive centerpiece before carving. The technique differs slightly depending on whether you're trussing a stuffed or unstuffed bird. Before starting, make sure your turkey has been safely defrosted beforehand, preferably in the refrigerator. For every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey, plan on 24 hours of thawing time prior to cooking.
Step 1
PREPARING THE TURKEY FOR TRUSSING: Remove the thawed turkey's outer wrapping. Take the neck and package of giblets out of the inner cavity. Discard these or reserve them to use for gravy.
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Step 2
Put the turkey in a shallow baking pan or rimmed cookie sheet. Use paper towels to pat it dry on all sides. Position the turkey breast-side up.
Step 3
Cut a section of kitchen twine that measures approximately 8 inches. Set aside.
Step 4
TRUSSING AN UNSTUFFED TURKEY: Cross the turkey's legs. Wrap the kitchen twine around the legs at the lowest point where they cross.
Step 5
Wrap the kitchen twine repeatedly around the turkey legs at the cross point, tightening the loops so that the legs are firmly held together.
Step 6
Tie the ends of the twine together. Snip off and discard any extra pieces of twine.
Step 7
TRUSSING A STUFFED TURKEY: Cut an additional, approximately 1-foot long length of kitchen twine. Set aside.
Step 8
Fill the turkey with your prepared stuffing right before you're ready to begin roasting. Pack the stuffing in loosely, being careful not to put too much in the cavity.
Step 9
Use a trussing pin to secure the turkey's neck skin flap over the open, stuffed cavity.
Step 10
Use trussing pins to secure the turkey's breast skin in the middle of its chest. Plan on inserting three to four trussing pins, separating each pin by several inches ranging from the turkey's neck to its tail.
Step 11
Use the 1-foot piece of twine to tie a knot around the turkey's tail. Pass the twine through the trussing pins, lacing up from the tail to the neck. Tie the twine ends together tightly at the top, snipping off any extra twine.
Step 12
Use the 8-inch piece of twine to tie the legs together as you would for an unstuffed turkey. Cut off and discard any excess string.
Tip
You can find kitchen twine in the baking or meat section of your grocery store. If you're having trouble locating the twine, ask the butchers at the meat counter for help.
Warning
Always cook turkey until it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Store cooked, cooled turkey in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for three to four days or up to six months in the freezer.
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