Martha Reveals Her Secret to the Juiciest Thanksgiving Turkey Ever

While Martha was officially crowned as the Queen of Thanksgiving by TODAY in 2022, it's a title she's held for decades. Since the 1980s, Martha has taught hosts across the country how to execute a perfect Thanksgiving dinner—and she's still teaching those skills today.

During a recent TODAY segment, Martha answered common conundrums submitted by individuals hosting Thanksgiving dinner. And one person asked the question on the minds of many—how do you cook a juicy bird?

Martha's time-honored secret is to cover the turkey with cheesecloth soaked in a butter and wine mixture, or to cover it with buttered parchment paper. Both methods are designed to lock in moisture while the bird cooks, so the meat remains moist while the skin is nice and brown. 

If you use the parchment paper technique, Martha notes that it will steam the turkey as it cooks, so it's important to remove the paper about 30 minutes before the bird is done cooking to give the skin time to become brown and crispy.

Of course, there is so much more to Thanksgiving dinner than just the turkey. When asked what Martha's favorite Thanksgiving dish is to make besides the main, she said she loves to make pie or scalloped potatoes.

Don't Miss

Our 20 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes—From the Perfect Turkey to Classic Pie

15 Thanksgiving Décor Ideas That Set the Scene for a Perfect Feast

"I love scalloped potatoes," she said. "The recipe is so easy. You can make it the day before." Martha says to slice the potatoes, cook them in a milk mixture, and layer them in a baking dish with cheese, salt, and pepper. Before you sit down for dinner, simply pop the dish in the oven to bake for an hour.

She said she also loves her mom's mashed potato recipe. Her secret? Cream cheese, butter, and milk. They're decadently delicious, Martha says.

As for the best time to serve your Thanksgiving meal, Martha has a strict 2 p.m. start time. "People are hungry, and they're starting to circle the kitchen," she says. "If you have a bunch of guests, you don't want to wait until it's nighttime." Her proposed schedule: Eat, watch the big game, have more drinks, and then, of course, have dessert.