Do You Cook Turkey on the Bottom Rack?

Here you will find all the tips and tricks you need for roasting a tasty turkey. I promise it’s not the daunting task you may think it is.

Yes, you are asking yourself, “How do I cook this thing?” as you look at the whole turkey. If this is your first turkey, let’s take the mystery out of the turkey roasting process for you. You don’t want any more stress before Thanksgiving dinner!.

Cooking the perfect turkey can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to deciding what oven rack to use. Many recipes call for roasting the turkey on the bottom rack, while others suggest using a higher rack So what’s the best approach? Let’s break it down

Why Some Recipes Recommend the Bottom Rack

Placing the turkey on the very bottom rack, with no rack underneath, allows the bird to absorb the most direct heat from the oven elements or gas burners on the floor of the oven. The intense bottom heat helps ensure even cooking and crisp, browned skin. It also mimics the results you would get from deep frying a turkey, resulting in ultra moist and tender meat.

America’s Test Kitchen and renowned New York Times food writer Melissa Clark are among the reputable sources recommending turkey on the bottom rack. The key is having an oven with a durable, flame-resistant bottom. Older gas or electric ovens with exposed elements are not suitable.

Potential Drawbacks of the Bottom Rack

While bottom rack turkey can yield delicious results in the right oven, there are some potential pitfalls:

It may violate your oven manufacturer’s recommendations, possibly voiding the warranty. Always check with the manufacturer before putting anything directly on the bottom of the oven.
The turkey may block vents or air circulation, preventing proper movement of hot air
Juices and drippings could bake onto the oven bottom, creating a mess and smoke. Be sure to tent the turkey with foil to minimize this.
The large roasting pan so close to the bottom elements may alter the overall oven temperature and affect cooking of other dishes.

Safer Alternatives to the Bottom Rack

If the bottom rack doesn’t seem right for your oven, there are a couple safer options:

Use the lowest rack height, but place the turkey on a roasting rack inside the pan. This lifts the turkey up an inch or two from direct contact with the oven floor.
For ovens with durable, stone bottoms, place a preheated pizza stone or baking steel on the very bottom rack. Set the roasting pan on the stone to mimic the intense bottom heat.
Opt for the lowest or middle rack height, ensuring the turkey is centered within the oven.

Key Tips for Oven Rack Placement

Always position racks prior to preheating the oven.
Arrange racks so that no pans are directly under each other. Allow at least 1-2 inches between pans for proper air circulation.
When using multiple racks, stagger pans in opposite corners to maximize air circulation.
For optimal heat circulation, allow 2-3 inches of clearance around pans and oven walls. Avoid letting pans touch walls.
Monitor oven temperature with an independent thermometer placed at the center. Adjust rack positions as needed if the temperature is off.
For stuffed turkeys, use a lower rack position to protect stuffing from drying out.
Tent turkey with foil to prevent over-browning if needed, especially on lower racks.
Turn turkey periodically during roasting for even cooking.

How to Tell When the Turkey is Done

Since oven rack placement affects cook times, rely on a meat thermometer to determine doneness, not the clock. Insert the probe into the thickest part of a thigh without touching bone. Turkey should register 165°F. The breast should register 160°F. Let the turkey rest 20 minutes before carving for juicier meat.

Bottom Line

While the bottom oven rack can work wonderfully for roasting turkey, it’s not necessarily the right choice for all ovens or cooks. Be sure to evaluate your specific oven’s construction and capabilities before committing to the bottom. And as always, use a thermometer and trust your senses – beautifully browned, aromatically irresistible turkey can be achieved on any rack with careful attention.

do you cook turkey on bottom rack

Turkey Cooking Basics: Tips and Tricks

You can thaw a frozen turkey in two different ways. The first way is to put it in the fridge for two to three days. You can put the turkey in a sink full of cold water while it’s still in its plastic wrap if you need it to defrost faster. The turkey will be defrosted in a few hours with this cold water method.
When you roast the turkey, make sure the breast side is facing up. Tuck the wings under and use kitchen twine to make the legs stand up straight. Putting the turkey breast side up and tucking the wings in to let the most air flow will give it beautiful golden skin.
Trussing the legs helps the turkey to cook evenly.
A tent made of aluminum foil is the best place for the turkey to rest for 20 to 30 minutes. The juices will soak into the meat, making sure the turkey stays moist.
While the turkey rests, you can bake any sides that need it.
Don’t worry if you don’t finish your sides in that 20 to 30 minute break. It will stay warm as long as you keep the aluminum foil over the turkey.

Convection versus Conventional Oven

A convection oven has a fan and exhaust system that circulates hot air within the oven itself. This is helpful if you cook on more than one rack at a time because it keeps the oven from having hot and cold spots, which makes the cooking more even.

Since most conventional ovens have their heating elements on the bottom, foods on the bottom rack cook faster than those on the top rack.

For this reason, you don’t need to heat a convection oven as high as you would any other oven. When I use a convection oven, I like to cook turkey at 325 degrees. When I use a regular oven, I like to cook turkey at 350 degrees.

It doesn’t matter what kind of oven you use as long as the turkey is the only thing in there while it roasts. For this turkey recipe, I used a conventional oven. For my Rosemary Orange Roast Turkey recipe, I used a convection oven. Both turned out fantastic!.

For people who have never cooked a turkey before, I get a lot of questions about how long to cook it. What if your turkey isn’t 10 to 12 pounds like the one in this recipe? That can also be hard to understand.

A good rule of thumb for a cook time is around 15 minutes per pound. This might be a little different if your turkey is very small or very big, but for the most part, it works well.

How do you know when the turkey is done? First of all, a meat thermometer is a must.

An old-school meat thermometer that has a dial works well. It just takes some time to register the temperature.

These days, you can find an instant-read thermometer that takes just a second or two to measure. The instant-read thermometer is all I use anymore.

When 165 degrees are read in the thickest part of the breast and 175 degrees are read in the thickest part of the thigh, your turkey is done. Some people will take the turkey out about 5 degrees below these temperatures.

For some reason, they think the bird will be more juicy in the end because it will cook about 5 degrees more while it rests. I would start with the temperatures I suggested, but as you get better at roasting turkey, you can try different things to see what works best for you.

Still not the perfect turkey after taking it out of the oven! You need to let the juices settle back into the turkey to make sure the meat stays moist.

I typically tent with aluminum foil and let it rest for 20-30 minutes. I’ve let it sit longer while I finish all the side dishes, and it still turns out juicy and flavorful.

Once the time has passed, you are ready to slice your turkey. There are lots of great videos on YouTube that show you both simple and fancy ways to carve and serve your fresh turkey.

And now it’s time to dig into the fruits of your labor!

A Beginner’s Guide to an Easy Roast Turkey | Food Wishes

FAQ

Should I put the turkey on the bottom rack in the oven?

The bottom or lowest oven rack is best for roasting larger cuts of meat or whole turkeys. These thick cuts of meat can be cooked at higher temperatures at the bottom of the oven. The top of a turkey will end up positioned in the center of the oven, helping to add a savory brown and crisp outer layer.

Is it better to cook turkey on rack or pan?

The point of using a rack is to let the heat of the oven circulate around the turkey. You don’t need a specially designed rack for your roasting pan, but you need something to lift the bird above the bottom of the pan. Balls of aluminum foil work perfectly well; you can also use upside-down ramekins.

Should I cook on top or bottom rack?

When a recipe doesn’t specify which rack to use, it’s generally best to bake on the middle rack. This allows for more even heat distribution, ensuring that your dish cooks uniformly. The bottom rack can lead to over-browning on the bottom or uneven cooking, especially for baked goods like cakes and cookies.

Should I put anything in the bottom of my roasting pan?

To answer your specific question, the pan will be better for drippings and gravy. You can add enough liquid to the bottom that it won’t all evaporate, and the handles and Dept of the pan make it easier to remove without splashing.

Which rack should a Turkey be cooked on?

A turkey should be cooked on the lowest rack in the oven that you will place it in. You should put the turkey on the bottom rack of your oven because the top of the turkey should be around the middle of the oven. This will ensure that the entire turkey can cook evenly (Source).

Can you cook a Turkey on a top oven rack?

If you can avoid it, do not cook your turkey on the top oven rack, even if it is a very small turkey. Your turkey will likely not fit into the oven if you do try to cook it on the top oven rack, but even if you do manage to fit it in, the top of the turkey will likely burn because it is too close to the coils and the fan.

Where should a Turkey be placed in the oven?

You should put the turkey on the bottom rack of your oven because the top of the turkey should be around the middle of the oven. This will ensure that the entire turkey can cook evenly (Source). Where you place the lowest oven rack will vary depending on the size of the turkey you are going to cook.

What happens if you put a Turkey on a top rack?

This will also cause the meat underneath the burned part to be drier than the rest of the turkey. If you put the turkey on the top oven rack, the middle of the turkey will not cook as quickly as it would if the turkey was placed on the middle or lower oven rack, so you will have to keep the turkey in the oven for a longer period than you expect.

Should a Turkey rack be moved to the bottom?

Since a turkey is much taller than a casserole dish, in order for the bird to be the center of attention, the rack may need to be moved to the bottom. Additionally, Simply Recipes notes that if the turkey is too close to the top of the oven, you can end up with a burnt bird.

What happens if you cook a Turkey on an oven rack?

If you cook the turkey on an oven rack that is close to the heat coils and does not protect the turkey from the direct heat in some way, then the top will likely burn. This will also cause the meat underneath the burned part to be drier than the rest of the turkey.