Final answer:
The most likely reason for Mary's turkey being dry, assuming it was not overcooked, is that she did not let the turkey rest before carving it, which is essential for the juices to redistribute.
Step-by-step explanation:
The turkey turned out dry despite following the package's instructions, and if we assume it was not overcooked, we need to address the other possibilities that could lead to a dry turkey. Not seasoning the turkey enough will not cause dryness; instead, it affects the flavor. Cooking the turkey at too high of a temperature could indeed cause it to dry out, but as Mary followed the instructions, we can likely rule this out. Not basting the turkey while cooking has the potential to lead to dryness as basting helps to keep the meat moist by coating it with either its own juices or a separate liquid. However, not all cooking methods require basting, and not doing so is not necessarily a mistake. Finally, not letting the turkey rest before carving is a common mistake that can lead to dryness. When a turkey is carved too soon after cooking, the juices have not had time to redistribute, causing the meat to be dry. Therefore, the most likely reason for Mary's turkey being dry is that she did not let it rest before carving.