HOW TO AIR FRY TURKEY: TIPS AND RECIPES
If you want to treat your family and guests to a crispy, juicy turkey, try using an air fryer or the air fryer capabilities on your oven. Air frying can help a turkey achieve a crispier texture compared to a conventional, non-convection oven, which still employs air to cook food.
This article will introduce you to the steps and tips on how to use your air fryer or oven with air fry mode to cook a turkey to make it the mouth-watering dinner statement piece that it deserves to be.
YIELDS
- 10-12 servings
INGREDIENTS
15-lb turkey
3/4 cup of softened butter (1 1/2 sticks)
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh sage
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh thyme
Salt and pepper
TOOLS
A wall oven or range with air frying capabilities, like this KitchenAid® Induction Slide-In Convection Range with Air Fry
Air fry basket
Baking sheet or pan
PREP TIME
- 20 minutes for a defrosted turkey. Follow step one to properly defrost a turkey.
COOK TIME
- Up to 2.5 hours
TOTAL TIME
- About two hours and 50 minutes
1. THAW THE TURKEY
It’s recommended to start the process
a few days early by thawing the turkey according to the instructions on the packaging. The USDA recommends thawing the turkey in a refrigerator. A common calculation is one day of defrosting for every four to five pounds of meat.
Before moving on to step two, make sure to remove the neck and giblets.
2. ADD HERBS, BUTTER, SALT, AND PEPPER
Mix or blend the herbs, softened butter, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Next, gently loosen the skin away from the turkey legs and breast without forcing it. After it’s loose enough, add roughly 2/3 of the butter under the skin. The remainder is for the outside of the turkey, which will also need some extra salt and pepper.
3. PREHEAT OVEN WITH AIR FRY MODE TO 400°F
Preheat your oven with Air Fry Mode to 400°F.
Certain models, like this one from KitchenAid brand, do not need to be preheated before cooking. Consult your appliance’s owner's manual for instructions on using this function on your oven.
4. FRY THE TURKEY
Place your turkey in the air fry basket. If you don’t have one, a low-sided pan will suffice. The low sides are key as they will help promote air flow around the food as it cooks. Place the basket or pan into the oven, and then put a sheet pan underneath to catch any drippings or juices. The last cooking step is to fry your turkey for roughly eight to ten minutes per pound.
5. LET THE TURKEY REST
Once your turkey has reached an internal temperature of 165°F, take it out of the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes to seal in the juices.
All that’s left now is to carve it to perfection.
DEFROST YOUR TURKEY
For the chance at achieving the best results, never place a frozen turkey in your oven or air fryer. If you do, it’ll take a lot longer to cook. Defrost your turkey ahead of time by following the thawing directions provided above.
ADD FLAVOR
It’s recommended to bast or brine your turkey to add some much-needed extra flavour and moisture. Basting moistens the turkey skin with hot liquids, such as melted butter or stock. Dry brining is when you rub salt and other seasonings onto your turkey and let it rest in the refrigerator for a few hours before cooking. Wet brining is similar, except you use salted water.
USE THE CORRECT APPLIANCE
Full-size turkeys need ample space, like the amount found in an oven with air frying capabilities. Turkey breasts, on the other hand, can usually be cooked in a countertop air fryer or a microwave with air fryer capabilities. Keep in mind that this depends on the size of the turkey.
