Servings: 12
Prep Time: 24 hours 0 minutes
Total Time: 28 hours 0 minutes
1. Make sure your turkey is thawed! It can take a few days to thaw a turkey (usually 1 day per 5 pounds!) so plan accordingly. You want to dry brine your turkey at least overnight, so plan for that too!
2. In a bowl, stir together the kosher salt and sage.
3. A day or two before making your turkey, pat it completely dry with paper towels. Place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the turkey on the wire rack and use the dry brine - separate the skin from the meat and rub the brine directly on the turkey breast and legs. Sprinkle some inside the cavity. Rub it all over the skin. Place the turkey uncovered in the fridge - make sure it's not touching anything. Doing this will result in deliciously crispy and golden skin! This can be done for 24 to 48 hours.
4. When you're ready to cook the turkey, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
5. Take the turkey out at least 60 minutes before. Truss the legs together.
6. Place the turkey in a roasting pan, breast-side up. At this point, you can fill the cavity with stuffing if desired. If you choose not to do stuffing, you can add a mixture of fresh herbs, like sage, thyme and rosemary. Or you don’t have to do anything! Tuck the wings under the turkey.
7. Combine the 12 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan with the orange rind. Heat until melted and the butter begins to sizzle. Turn off the heat and let it sit.
8. Add the Chardonnay to the melted butter with orange rind.
9. Take a piece of cheesecloth and fold it until you have a 4-layer, 12-inch square. Submerge it in the wine and butter and let it soak.
10. Rub the turkey all over with the softened butter. Remove the cheesecloth from the wine butter and barely wring it out. Cover the turkey breast with the 4 layer cheesecloth. Roast for 30 minutes. Baste the turkey with the remaining butter and wine mixture in the bowl.
11. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. Roast the turkey for about 2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with the butter and wine in the bowl, or the drippings from the bottom of the roasting pan.
12. After 2 hours, gently remove the cheesecloth. Continue to baste the turkey liberally with the drippings or the butter and wine leftovers.
13. Roast it for about 60 more minutes, until the temperature taken in the thigh reaches 180 degrees F.
14. Once the turkey is finished, let it rest for 30 to 60 minutes before slicing.