Covering the turkey while cooking helps keep the meat moist and prevents it from drying out. For best results, tent the turkey with foil or use a roasting pan with a lid during most of the cooking time, then remove the cover during the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp up and become golden brown.

Moisture and Tenderness

• Keeping the turkey covered traps steam, preserving moisture and resulting in juicier meat.

• Leaving it covered until the end, except for the last 30 minutes, prevents dryness without sacrificing crispy skin.

Crispy Skin Technique

• Uncover the turkey near the end of cooking to let the skin brown and crisp.

• You can also choose to cover just the breast, which dries faster than the rest of the bird.

Resting After Cooking

• After removing the turkey from the oven, let it rest covered with foil for 30 minutes to allow juices to redistribute, which enhances both tenderness and flavor.

In summary, covering the turkey during most of the cooking process and uncovering it near the end will help ensure moist meat and crispy skin.