Perfect the art of cooking a turkey

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Defrost the turkey in a bowl in the refrigerator for 24 hours so that it thaws at a controlled temperature.

Slow cooking results in a more succulent turkey. The suggested oven temperature is 180 deg. C.

For a 3 - 3.9kg bird, cook for 2 1/2  hours.
For a 4-4.9kg bird, cook for 3 hours.

Cover your bird with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the middle of the oven to ensure even heat distribution. Baste it two to three times while cooking.

A 4kg turkey should adequately serve nine to 12 with a serving size of around 350g per person.