Air frying is more popular than ever, and you may be wondering if you can use this method to roast your holiday turkey in your Samsung oven. The answer is yes! With an oven or range that has Air Fry mode, youll be able to crisp up your turkey in just a few hours on Thanksgiving morning. Air Fry mode will also save you tons of time, giving you a chance to work on all your other delicious side dishes, such as green beans, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.
Air frying has become an immensely popular way to cook meat and poultry quickly and conveniently. With Thanksgiving right around the corner many home cooks are wondering if they can use their air fryer to cook a stuffed turkey. In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about air frying a stuffed turkey, from practical considerations to step-by-step instructions.
What is an Air Fryer and How Does it Work?
For those unfamiliar, an air fryer is a compact countertop convection oven It works by circulating super hot air around the food at high speed, essentially mimicking the effect of deep frying This allows food to cook quickly with a crispy outer layer using little to no oil. Air fryers have emerged as a healthier alternative to traditional deep frying.
Benefits of Air Frying a Turkey
Cooking a turkey in an air fryer offers several advantages over roasting in the oven:
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Shorter cook time – A whole turkey can be cooked in about half the time around 8-10 minutes per pound versus 15-18 minutes in the oven. This adds up to big time savings!
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Crispy skin – The high velocity hot air circulates around the turkey, crisping up the skin nicely without basting.
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Juicy meat – Air fryers lock in moisture extremely well. Turkey cooked in an air fryer stays succulent and tender.
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Frees up oven space – Air frying the turkey leaves your oven available for all those holiday side dishes.
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Safer – There’s minimal risk of hot oil splatter like with deep frying turkeys. Air frying is much safer.
Can You Air Fry Stuffed Turkey?
Yes, you can absolutely air fry a stuffed turkey with delicious results! There are a few special considerations for ensuring food safety and proper cooking when air frying a stuffed bird.
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Smaller turkey – Look for a turkey labeled fryer or roaster around 10-12 lbs to allow even airflow. Overstuffing can prevent thorough cooking.
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Cook breast down – Flipping the turkey promotes even cooking of the dark and white meat. The stuffing shields the breast meat.
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Moist stuffing – Add chicken broth or apple juice to the stuffing to prevent it from drying out.
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Use a meat thermometer – Verify the internal temperature in both the thigh and stuffing reaches 165°F for food safety.
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Let turkey rest – Allowing the cooked turkey to rest ensures the juices are locked in.
Step-by-Step Guide to Air Frying Stuffed Turkey
Follow these simple steps for air fryer success:
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Select a small turkey (10-12 lbs) that will fit comfortably in your air fryer basket.
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Clean the turkey thoroughly inside and out. Remove giblets and neck.
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Make your favorite stuffing. Avoid very dense stuffing that won’t cook through.
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Loosen the skin on the turkey breast and evenly stuff some under the skin. Put the rest in the cavity.
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Truss the legs together with kitchen string and secure cavity openings.
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Coat with oil or butter to ensure crispy skin. Generously season outside with herbs and spices.
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Cook at 355°F for ~20 minutes per pound, flipping halfway through. Monitor temperature.
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Verify 165°F is reached in the thigh and center of the stuffing using a meat thermometer.
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Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your juicy stuffed turkey!
Helpful Air Fryer Tips
- Brush turkey skin with melted butter or oil every 30-40 minutes for maximum crispness
- Add celery, onions, carrots to the stuffing for extra flavor
- If stuffing seems dry, tent foil over turkey and add broth to the cavity
- For ideal results, thaw turkey completely before air frying
- Use tongs to carefully flip the turkey, inserting into cavity for leverage
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my turkey is too big for the air fryer?
Look for an air fryer with at least a 12-16 quart capacity for turkeys over 12 lbs. Otherwise, stick to a smaller unstuffed turkey.
Should I baste my air fried turkey?
Basting isn’t necessary and may make the skin soggy. Air fryers naturally keep meat juicy without drying out.
Can I cook turkey pieces instead of a whole turkey?
Yes, turkey breasts, legs, thighs, etc. are all great choices for air frying. Pound to an even thickness and adjust cook times.
Is air fried stuffing as moist and flavorful as oven roasted?
Absolutely! The stuffing gets perfectly tender and infused with turkey juices when cooked inside the bird in an air fryer.
How do I know when turkey is done without a meat thermometer?
Check that the legs wiggle freely and juices run clear when pierced. The skin will be deeply golden brown when fully cooked through.
The Takeaway
With proper precautions taken, an air fryer can produce a mouthwatering stuffed turkey with remarkably juicy meat, flavorful stuffing, and crispy skin. In under 2 hours, you can enjoy a beautiful golden turkey worthy of any holiday feast. Ditch the marathon oven roasting and embrace the ease and convenience of air frying this Thanksgiving!
Prepare your turkey and oven
Preparing your turkey for air frying is a little different from using other cooking methods, such as oven roasting. Read below for our air frying tips:
- For an extra flavorful turkey, brine it in advance. There are wet or dry brining methods, so browse some recipes and decide which works best for you.
- If you want to bake the stuffing inside the turkey, dont put the stuffing in the cavity until right before the bird goes in the oven. This will help avoid bacteria growth.
- Check if your oven is large enough to accommodate your turkey. You can test this out by placing the turkey in your oven before cooking, or by checking the ovens dimensions and cubic feet in your user manual. You can also find your ovens cubic feet using the our website.
- Do you have a turkey injector? Use it! If you dont, regular basting will help keep the turkey nice and juicy too. Be sure to save some of the drippings that collect in the pan to make a delicious gravy.
Cook your turkey with Air Fry mode
Note: Preheating your oven is not necessary when using Air Fry mode. To check if your oven has this feature, please consult your user manual.
To begin cooking your turkey, you’ll need an Air Fry tray. Some models come with one included, however some models include the Air Fry feature but sell the tray separately. Youll also need a baking sheet, which will catch any drippings from your turkey.
You should also calculate how long it will take to cook your turkey using this method: the estimated cook time is around 8-10 minutes per pound. So, a 20-pound turkey will take around 3 hours to cook using Air Fry mode.
- Place your turkey directly on the Air Fry tray, using rack position 3 (the third rack position from the bottom of the oven). If your turkey is very large, you can use a lower rack position. Note: For models with twin cooking, single oven mode is required for Air Fry mode.
- Place your baking sheet on the rack just below the Air Fry tray to catch the drippings. Feel free to use these to baste your bird while air frying. You can also save some drippings to make the perfect gravy for some mashed potatoes!
- Use the dial knob to select Air Fry mode, and then set the temperature. Air Fry mode supports temperatures between 350-500°F.
- If desired, set the oven to Cook Time so it stops at a specific time. Or, tap START and push the knob to begin cooking.
- Keep an eye on your turkey as it cooks. When cooking is complete, tap OFF. Carefully remove your turkey using oven mitts.
- When you’re finished enjoying your Thanksgiving meal, make sure to clean your Air Fry tray so it’s ready for more holiday cooking.
