![Stew Leonard Jr. Shares His Secret for Cooking the Best Thanksgiving Turkey](https://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2020/11/StewFINAL-.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Stew Leonard Jr. Shares His Secret for Cooking the Best Thanksgiving Turkey
Stew Leonard Jr. is the President and CEO of Stew Leonard's grocery chain, but also happens to be a visible and vibrant member of many communities in the the Tri-State area. Stew recently shared his secret for the best Thanksgiving turkey on the company's Youtube channel.
This is what Stew says you should do:
- Find a great turkey (at a Stew Leonard's location near you).
- Take out the neck and gizzard and toss them
- Pat the turkey down until it's dry
- Add to the bottom a layer of "mirepoix," a mix of celery, onion and carrot.
- Lay the turkey on top of the veggie mix in a tin.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Butter the turkey under the skin with unsalted herb butter, use a lot.
- Stuff apples and oranges into the cavity of the bird.
- Rub the outside of the bird (the skin) in salt & pepper
- Cook the turkey 15 minutes per pound.
- Baste the turkey every 45 minutes.
- The last hour, tent the turkey with aluminum foil.
- After you "tent" it with the foil, cook it for another 20-25 minutes.
Here is Stew's full instructional video below.
If I got any of the instruction wrong, used the wrong terms or misunderstood Stew, my bad. I am not the cook in my house, I'm just a spoiled eater. Gobble gobble you filthy animals, Thanksgiving is here!
![WRKI and WINE logo](https://townsquare.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WRKIFM.png?w=100)
Enter your number to get our free mobile app
Famous Musicians From CT
More From WRKI and WINE
![‘Epic’ Swimming Hole Named Best in Connecticut](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/06/attachment-RS46214_GettyImages-1276539630-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Connecticut Lake Named Best in the State and It’s Not Candlewood](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/06/attachment-candlewood-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The 2024 Connecticut Italian Festival Season is Heating Up](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/07/attachment-thumbnail_IMG_1322.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Famous Graves and Notable Names Laid to Rest in Connecticut](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/07/attachment-scott-rodgerson-ZLHBjxbCCEc-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![One of the Most Charming Small-Town Downtowns in America is Right in Connecticut](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/07/attachment-RS37643_GettyImages-95522458-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Highway Signs Are Changing Along Connecticut’s Route 8](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/07/attachment-rt8.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Remembering the Brief Flirtation of Tim Horton’s in Connecticut](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/07/attachment-feature.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Connecticut Drive-In Highlighted for Best Breakfast Sandwich in the State](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/06/attachment-RS16495_534159727-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![You Can Get Fined for Stacking Rocks in Connecticut](http://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2023/12/attachment-Untitled-design-2023-12-14T131237.199.jpg?w=980&q=75)