As a culinary expert with extensive experience in preparing a variety of dishes, including the classic holiday staple, the turkey, I can provide some insights into the best practices when it comes to cooking this bird to perfection.

When it comes to the question of whether it is best to cover a turkey when cooking, the answer is not straightforward and depends on several factors including the cooking method, the size of the turkey, and the desired outcome in terms of texture and flavor. Let's delve into the details.

Firstly, preparation is key. Brushing or spraying the skin lightly with vegetable or cooking oil can indeed enhance the appearance of the turkey, resulting in a crisp and golden-brown skin. This is because the oil helps to render the skin, allowing it to become crispy while also preventing it from drying out. It's a good practice to do this before placing the turkey in the oven.

Next, when you place the turkey in a pre-heated oven, it's important to ensure that the oven has reached the desired temperature before inserting the turkey. This helps to cook the turkey evenly and prevents the meat from drying out due to prolonged exposure to heat.

As for the use of foil, it can be a double-edged sword. Covering certain parts of the turkey, such as the neck and any exposed stuffing, with foil can prevent over-browning. This is particularly useful if these parts are cooking faster than the rest of the bird. However, covering the turkey too early in the cooking process can lead to steam being trapped, which may result in a less crispy skin. Therefore, it's generally recommended to roast the turkey uncovered for the initial part of the cooking process to allow the skin to crisp up.

When the turkey is about three-quarters done, you can then consider loosely covering the breast and the top of the drumsticks with a piece of foil. This helps to prevent these parts, which tend to cook faster due to their thinner layer of meat, from overcooking and drying out. The key here is to use the foil sparingly and not to cover the entire turkey, as you still want to allow for some air circulation to maintain that crisp skin.

In conclusion, whether to cover a turkey when cooking largely depends on the stage of the cooking process and the specific parts of the turkey that need protection from overcooking. It's a balance between achieving a crispy skin and ensuring that the meat remains moist and tender. By following these guidelines and adjusting based on your oven and the specific turkey you are cooking, you can achieve a delicious and beautifully presented turkey.

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Brush or spray skin lightly with vegetable or cooking oil for best appearance. Cover neck and exposed stuffing with foil to prevent over-browning. Place turkey in pre-heated oven. When turkey is about ? done, loosely cover breast and top of drumsticks with a piece of foil to prevent overcooking.read more >>