Your Thanksgiving Turkey Will Turn Out So Buttery And Juicy When You Use This Cheesecloth Trick

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and what's more important than the star of the show? Cooking a whole turkey is arguably the most important job for the special day, and you want to get it right the first time. With turkey, home cooks often run the risk of the bird drying out in the oven, making for an unpleasant bite. With this classic method that's recently resurfaced across the internet, your bird will be plump and juicy.

The key is to drape a cheesecloth soaked in fat over your turkey before putting it in the oven. You'll want to butter the bird first, then lay the cheesecloth over the buttered meat. This method has been featured in many viral videos as of late, but it's not new; the technique originated in Julia Child's 1975 cookbook, "From Julia Child's Kitchen." The viral videos call for the cook to soak the cheesecloth in melted butter and drape, but Child used oil or lard. Either method has the same effect. Essentially, you're making a fat sandwich for the turkey to roast in — butter on the inside, more fat on the outside, making for crispy skin and juicy meat all the way through.  

The fat-soaked cheesecloth provides a heavy exterior that stays moist throughout the roasting duration. Oftentimes, the turkey soaks up the fat quickly. This way, you have a consistent supply of it for the bird to cook in, so it never goes dry. Julia Child is prolific when it comes to culinary methodology, and among her huge list of cooking tips, this one stands out. Here are a few pointers for getting it right.

When buttering the turkey itself, the key is to get it under the skin. This way, it makes contact with the meat directly, better maintaining moisture. Just gently work your fingers beneath the skin over the bird's breast (being careful not to poke holes in it) to form a pocket. Then use your fingers to rub a stick of softened butter all over the meat under the skin. To impart flavor, stuff your turkey with aromatics and try using a compound butter — butter infused with fresh, earthy herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage. These herbs will enhance your turkey without too much effort. 

Then it's time for the blanket. Cheesecloth is best for this because it's porous, absorbent, and oven safe. Make sure your cloth is 100% cotton (most are) and fully submerged in the butter or oil before laying it across the breast and partly down the sides of the bird.

To further curb worries of a dry bite, lift the cheesecloth and baste your turkey with the fat drippings around every 30 minutes during cooking. Julia Child suggests this in her cookbook. You can also apply more oil to the surface of the cheesecloth if it starts to dry out. The key with turkey is to maintain moisture in the oven while juggling other tasks in the kitchen on the big day. It can be a difficult undertaking, but mitigating risk is important when you're serving an important meal like Thanksgiving dinner — especially when it comes to the star of the show.