I’ve discovered that the best way to cook a turkey is to discard all of the advice you may have heard about the “right” things to do because I’ve done everything wrong over the years. High heat, upside down, no basting. Whether you prefer white or dark meat, these are the step-by-step instructions for making the best turkey you’ve ever eaten. Keep reading to learn more!.
Thanksgiving is a time for family friends and, of course, delicious food. But sometimes, even the best-laid plans can go awry. That’s what happened to me a few years ago when I accidentally cooked my turkey upside down.
I was hosting Thanksgiving dinner for my extended family, and I was determined to make everything perfect. I had bought a beautiful turkey, prepped all the sides, and even baked a pie from scratch. But when it came time to cook the turkey, things didn’t go as planned.
I had always cooked my turkey breast-side up, but this year, I decided to try something different. I had read that cooking the turkey upside down could help to keep the breast meat moist. So, I flipped the turkey over and put it in the oven
A few hours later, when it was time to take the turkey out of the oven, I was shocked to see that it was completely flat. The breast meat was on the bottom, and the skin was all wrinkled. I had never seen a turkey look like that before.
I was sure that I had ruined Thanksgiving dinner. But when I started carving the turkey, I was surprised to find that the meat was actually very moist and flavorful. The breast meat was perfectly cooked, and the dark meat was juicy and tender.
My family was just as surprised as I was. They couldn’t believe that a turkey cooked upside down could be so delicious. But they all agreed that it was the best turkey they had ever had.
So, if you’re ever looking for a new way to cook your turkey, I encourage you to give the upside-down method a try. You might just be surprised at how delicious it is.
Why Cooking a Turkey Upside Down is Actually a Good Thing
While it may seem counterintuitive, cooking a turkey upside down can actually be a good thing. Here are a few reasons why:
- It helps to keep the breast meat moist. The breast meat is the most prone to drying out, but cooking it upside down allows the juices to flow down and keep it moist.
- It helps to cook the turkey more evenly. When you cook a turkey breast-side up, the breast meat tends to cook faster than the dark meat. Cooking it upside down helps to ensure that all of the meat cooks evenly.
- It gives the skin a crispy texture. The skin on the bottom of the turkey will get crispy and brown, while the skin on the top will stay moist and tender.
How to Cook a Turkey Upside Down
If you’re interested in trying this method, here’s how to cook a turkey upside down:
- Preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey.
- Rinse the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Place the turkey in a roasting pan, breast-side down.
- Add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom of the pan.
- Roast the turkey for 30 minutes.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue roasting for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.
Tips for Cooking a Turkey Upside Down
Here are a few tips for cooking a turkey upside down:
- Use a roasting rack to elevate the turkey so that it doesn’t sit in the water.
- Baste the turkey with butter or olive oil every 30 minutes.
- Cover the turkey loosely with foil if it starts to brown too much.
- Let the turkey rest for at least 10 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute and make the meat more tender.
Cooking a turkey upside down may seem like an unconventional method, but it can actually be a great way to ensure that your turkey is moist, flavorful, and cooked evenly. So, if you’re looking for a new way to cook your turkey this Thanksgiving, give the upside-down method a try. You might just be surprised at how delicious it is.
Now that you’ve done that, here’s the best way to cook a turkey!
Remove all extra racks in the oven, leaving only one in the lowest position. Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees a half hour before cooking time. Make sure you have taken out the giblets and turkey neck, cut off any plastic ties holding the legs together, and, if one is present, removed the pop-up thermometer.
Carefully, separate the skin from the turkey and spread melted butter inside the turkey under the skin. Then, brush the outside of the turkey with the remaining butter and season to taste with salt and black pepper. A silicone basting brush makes it easy to rub butter. If you don’t want to use butter, feel free to use oil. It’s your call.
You should also tie the legs together around the turkey with kitchen twine instead of inserting them in the skin as pictured above. That way all the skin comes out brown and lovely lovely. When you insert the legs into the skin as in the picture, the turkey skin portion that is covered turns out mushy and not that nice.
Place all vegetables and apple chunks in the cavity of the turkey.
How Long to Roast the Turkey
Make sure the wings are tucked underneath so they don’t burn. Cook the turkey for an additional 45 minutes to an hour, or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Also check the thickest part of the breast meat too. (Just to reiterate, the turkey in the above picture is breast side UP).
The biggest question people have when roading a turkey is how long to cook it. A 12- to 16-pound turkey will take between 2 3/4 and 3 1/2 hours to cook overall. Add about 13 minutes more for each additional pound if your turkey is over 16 pounds.
If you don’t have an oven safe thermometer, you can use the stick variety too. Just be aware that the meat will get slightly dryer each time you open the oven to check on the turkey. .
Finally, when the turkey is fully cooked, remove from oven. Loosely tent with foil and let turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. This is very important!! Don’t slice it on the cutting board for at least a half an hour.
Use the pan drippings in the roasting pan’s bottom to make a flavorful turkey gravy while the bird is resting. Homemade gravy is actually really easy. Here’s all you need:
- 4 tablespoons meat drippings
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- Use a high-quality stock (homemade is best) for the two cups of stock.
- Salt and pepper to taste
Get the full recipe + troubleshooting tips: How to Make Gravy
Although not necessary, having these kitchen tools will make cooking your Thanksgiving turkey easier. Here’s what we recommend to get the best roast turkey!.
TIFU by accidentally cooking the turkey upside down. #tifu #reddit #redditstories
FAQ
What happens if you cook a turkey upside down?
When cooking a turkey do you flip it?
What happens if you cook a Turkey upside down?
Cooking a turkey upside down can have a number of negative consequences, including: * The turkey will not cook evenly. The breast meat will be overcooked, while the legs and thighs will be undercooked. * The turkey will be dry. The juices from the turkey will drip down to the bottom of the roasting pan, leaving the turkey dry.
Should you cook a turkey breast upside down?
The idea is that by roasting your bird breast side down, it’s further away from the heat source and the juices from the dark meat can trickle down to the white meat, resulting in juicier white meat that won’t dry out. Then you flip the turkey right side up so the skin on the breast can crisp up in the oven. So should you cook a turkey upside down?
How do you keep a Turkey from turning upside down?
A: To prevent your turkey from cooking upside down in the future, there are a few things you can do: 1. Use a roasting rack. A roasting rack will help to keep the turkey upright while it cooks. 2. Tuck the wings under the turkey. This will help to keep the turkey from tipping over. 3. Secure the turkey with kitchen twine.
Can you flip a Turkey upside down?
Flipping your turkey can take away from your unveiling. When cooking turkey upside down, we found that the roasting rack can leave unsightly marks and indents on the turkey’s breast, which is the display side of the bird. Or worse, you could tear the skin during the flipping process. For the most beautiful bird, stick to roasting right-side up.