How to Make Crispy Turkey Skin in a Bag: A Comprehensive Guide

Crispy skin on a Thanksgiving turkey is the holy grail for many home cooks It’s a sign of a perfectly cooked bird, bursting with flavor and texture While the traditional oven-roasted method can achieve crispy skin, using an oven bag offers several benefits, including faster cooking time, minimal cleanup, and extra-juicy meat. However, oven bags can sometimes leave the skin less than crispy. But fear not, there are ways to achieve crispy skin even when using an oven bag.

This guide will delve into the best methods for achieving crispy turkey skin in a bag, combining the convenience of the bag with the satisfying crunch of crispy skin. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from choosing the right bag and prepping your bird to the secrets of achieving that perfect golden-brown finish.

Before we dive in, let’s address a common question:

Can you get crispy skin by cooking turkey in an oven bag?

The short answer is yes, but it requires a few extra steps. While a standard oven-roasting method allows the skin to directly contact the heat the oven bag creates a barrier, trapping moisture and preventing the skin from crisping. However with some adjustments to your technique, you can still achieve crispy skin even when using an oven bag.

Methods for achieving crispy turkey skin in a bag:

1 Dry Brining with Baking Powder: This method is a clear winner, delivering fantastically crispy skin with minimal effort Here’s how to do it:

• Mix a dry brine: Combine kosher salt, baking powder, and black pepper. The baking powder raises the skin’s pH, promoting crispier, evenly browned results.
• Rub the mixture onto the turkey: Ensure it covers the entire surface.
• Rest uncovered in the fridge: Let the turkey rest for 12-24 hours, allowing the salt and baking powder to work their magic.
• Cook in the oven bag: Follow your preferred oven bag instructions for cooking the turkey.
• Enjoy crispy skin: Once cooked, the skin should be beautifully crisp, with the exception of the underside of the thighs and wings, which may remain slightly chewy.

2. Spatchcocking and Dry Brining with Baking Powder: Take the winning dry-brining method to the next level by spatchcocking the turkey. This involves removing the backbone and flattening the bird, allowing for more even cooking and maximizing skin exposure to heat.

• Follow steps 1-3 from the dry-brining method above.
• Spatchcock the turkey: Remove the backbone and flatten the bird.
• Cook in the oven bag: Roast at a high temperature (450°F) for faster cooking and crispier skin.
• Revel in the ultimate crispy skin experience: With all the skin facing upwards, you’ll achieve an even, golden-brown crispness across the entire bird.

3. Baste with Clarified Butter: This method adds richness and flavor while promoting a slightly crispy texture.

• Clarify butter: Melt butter and separate the milk solids from the clarified butter.
• Cook the turkey in the oven bag: Follow your preferred instructions.
• Baste with clarified butter: Every 30 minutes during cooking, baste the turkey with the clarified butter.
• Enjoy a flavorful and slightly crispy skin: The skin won’t be as crispy as with other methods, but it will have a delicious, chewy texture with crispy patches on the drumsticks and wings.

4. Rub with Butter Under and Over the Skin: This method adds moisture and flavor, resulting in a beautifully golden, glistening skin with a chewy rather than crispy texture.

• Soften butter and mix with salt and pepper.
• Rub the butter mixture under and over the turkey skin.
• Cook in the oven bag: Follow your preferred instructions.
• Enjoy a flavorful and golden-brown skin: The skin will be more chewy and fatty than crispy, with some crispy bits on the drumsticks and wings.

5. Dry with a Hair Dryer: This method aims to dry out the skin before cooking, promoting crispier results.

• Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• Use a hair dryer on high heat and airflow to dry the skin and cavity for 10 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cook in the oven bag: Follow your preferred instructions.
• Enjoy pockets of crispy skin: While not entirely consistent, you’ll find larger patches of crispy skin on the breast, drumsticks, and thighs, with a more concentrated flavor similar to crispy chicken skin chips.

6. Start on High Heat, Finish on Low: This method aims to achieve crispy skin by starting with high heat and then finishing at a lower temperature.

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Cook the turkey in the oven bag for 25 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and continue cooking until done.
• Enjoy a gloriously brown bird with pockets of crispy skin: While not entirely consistent, you’ll find crispy bits on the breast and drumsticks, with the skin on the underside remaining softer.

Remember: Regardless of the method you choose, always use a reliable thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.

Additional tips for crispy skin:

• Use a large oven bag: This ensures the bag doesn’t touch the turkey, allowing for better heat circulation.
• Add flour to the bag: This absorbs excess moisture, preventing the bag from bursting and promoting crispier skin.
• Let the turkey rest after cooking: This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful bird.

With these methods and tips in hand, you can confidently achieve crispy turkey skin even when using the convenient and mess-free oven bag. So, go forth and conquer Thanksgiving with a beautifully browned, juicy, and flavorful turkey that will impress your guests and leave them wanting more.