We comprehend that you might not want to make too many changes to your Thanksgiving turkey recipe. You don’t want anyone to be let down by a strange main dish. But you don’t have to prepare your turkey exactly the same way just because the flavors aren’t new. It seems that giving your bird a quick flip can actually change the course of the game. We’ll demonstrate how to cook a turkey on its side and discuss the benefits of trying this technique.
Prep the Turkey for Cooking
Rinse the bird thoroughly inside and out if you chose a dry brine to get rid of extra seasoning. Pat the bird nice and dry with paper towels.
If you didn’t dry brine the bird, now is the time to salt and pepper it inside and out. Important: If you used a dry brine, there’s no need to season the turkey again; it already has enough seasoning!
To prevent them from getting in the way when you flip the turkey, tuck the wings under it and tie the drumsticks together with kitchen twine. Tying the bird also helps the meat cook evenly. Give the prepared bird an hour to stand at room temperature.
Line the Roasting Rack With Buttered Ciabatta
When it comes time to flip the turkey, the buttered bread provides a soft surface for the bird to rest on to prevent the skin from sticking to the rack or becoming damaged. The butter also melts, making for delicious pan juices.
Slice the bread in half horizontally after trimming it to the length of the turkey breast. Bread should be buttered on both cut sides before being arranged lengthwise on a V-shaped wire rack. Make sure the turkey’s breast is resting on the bread and not the rack by placing it breast-side down on the buttered slice of bread. Roast the bird for 45 minutes.
Use a roasting pan with a heavy bottom so it won’t tip over when you’re flipping the bird. A friend can hold the pan while you flip the turkey if you ask them to assist.
Why you should not cook your turkey upside down
Your oven is probably set between 375°F and 400°F when roasting a turkey. This implies that a hot upside-down turkey, probably weighing around 12 lbs, is being held up by a hot roasting rack inside a hot roasting pan.
Could there be a safe, simple way to turn your turkey right side up? The answer is no. Do you grab a wooden spoon and a stack of paper towels when you’re ready to flip it? Do you cover your oven mitts in foil?
It is safe to say that cooking a turkey upside down will present challenges when you attempt to flip it back up, running the risk of splattering hot turkey fat all over yourself or causing a burn to your hand on the roasting rack.
FAQ
Do you cook a turkey right side up or upside down?
When roasting a turkey, cooking it upside down allows the juices to drip down, resulting in particularly moist and juicy breast meat. Additionally, because the dark meat is nearer the heat source, it cooks more quickly than it would using the conventional technique. It’s a win-win!.
Why do you cook a turkey breast side down?
Roasting a turkey breast-side down has two advantages: first, the juices trickle down for extra-moist breast meat, and second, the dark meat cooks more quickly because it is closer to the heat source.
Which side of the turkey faces up when cooking?
We’ve discovered that the roasting rack can leave unsightly marks and indents on the turkey’s breast if you cook it upside down. Or even worse, if you try to flip it, you might rip the skin. For the most beautiful bird, stick to roasting right-side up.
