With the holiday season in full swing, there’s so much to enjoy! Gift giving, house decorating, tree chopping, clothes shopping. And who can forget the eating! A common meal during this festive time is turkey, but it is a long, tedious project. So why not lend a hand in the kitchen this year with this helpful how to.

Step 1: Completely thaw the turkey. The best way to do this is to let it sit in a refrigerator for 24 hours for every 5 pounds it weighs. You can speed up this process by letting the bird sit in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes.

Step 2: Preheat your regular or convection oven to 335 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3: Drain all juices from the turkey and pat dry. In this step you can season the turkey with butter and vegetables like onions, celery and carrots. These can just be placed in the pan.

Step 4: With the turkey facing breast up, place it in a 2-2.5 inch pan (for a medium bird).

Step 5: To give the bird a crispier appearance, brush on or spray vegetable or cooking oil on the turkey. Then cover the turkey with a large piece of foil to cover the breast.

Step 6: Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the turkey’s thigh away from any bones. This will ensure that you cook the bird safely and all the way through.

Step 7: Once preheated, put the turkey in the oven. Follow these cooking times based on the size of your bird, according to the USDA,

8 to 12 lbs: 2 3/4 to 3 hrs

12 to 14 lbs: 3 to 3 3/4 hrs

14 to 18 lbs: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hrs

18 to 20 lbs: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hrs

20 to 24 lbs: 4 1/2 to 5 hrs

Step 8: When the turkey is 2/3rds done, wrap the breast and drumsticks in foil to keep them from getting dry. Also, adding vegetables to the pan can help to keep the turkey from sticking to it.

Step 9: To be safely cooked all the way, make sure the turkey’s thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 10: Let the turkey sit for about 20 minutes before carving. This allows all of the juices to redistribute, making the turkey moist and tender.

Now you can sit at the dining table this holiday and enjoy the great taste of determination.