You *Can* Cook a Turkey Upside Down, but Whether You Should or Not Is the Next Question
We hear you —Thanksgiving dinner can be supremely overwhelming. From the classic sides to the pies to the Thanksgiving table setting, there are a lot of recipes to prepare and balls to keep in the air. And that's before worrying about the Thanksgiving turkey. No matter how much you prepare, roasting this bird for a crowd can still prove to be a daunting task. And while there are lots of tips out there, not all are foolproof methods to preparing the perfect turkey.
Heard of flipping and cooking turkey upside down? This method promises a juicer turkey breast (the part of the bird that can dry out!) by roasting your turkey breast-side down for the first 30-45 minutes of cooking. Then, once flipping the bird back over, the theory is that you can crisp up the skin for a beautiful, juicy turkey.
So should you cook a turkey upside down? While this hack seems like it makes for a flavor-packed roast, our Test Kitchen agrees that it's too good to be true. In fact, it's not even the best way to make a turkey. All0w us to break down the reasons why, and share our secret to a show-stopping turkey that you can use year after year. See ya, Turkey Day stress!
Why you should not cook your turkey upside down
When roasting a turkey, your oven is probably set between 375℉ and 400℉. This means there is a hot roasting rack sitting within a hot roasting pan holding up a hot upside down turkey, which is likely around 12 lbs.
When you're ready to flip it, do you reach for a wooden spoon and a wad of paper towels? Do you wrap oven mitts in foil? Could there be a safe, easy way to turn your turkey right side up? The answer is no.
It’s safe to say that cooking turkey upside down will pose a problem when you try to flip it back up, risking splashing yourself with hot turkey fat or burning your hand on the roasting rack.
Flipping your turkey can take away from your unveiling.
If you’re cooking turkey upside down, we've found that the roasting rack can leave unsightly marks and indents on the turkey's breast. Or worse, you could tear the skin when trying to flip it.
For the most beautiful bird, stick to roasting right-side up. And if you're looking for some inspo, check out our ultimate Thanksgiving turkey recipes, for everything from a fried bird to a spice-roasted breast.
Brining is the real winning idea.
Learning how to season a turkey with a dry brine and how long to cook a turkey will result in perfectly moist slices. When it comes to brining, you have two options: Rub the bird all over with kosher salt a couple of days ahead (this is a called a 'dry brine'), or use a salt-concentrated liquid brine (this is called a 'wet brine'). Our Test Kitchen prefers the less-mess dry brine. Not only does brining your turkey lock in the moisture of your bird, resulting in a show-stopping turkey with golden-brown (crisp!) skin, it also offers up a seriously well-seasoned Thanksgiving centerpiece (and some epic Thanksgiving leftovers, too!).
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