Are you ready for the BEST way to cook your turkey evenly and in less time? A spatchcock turkey is the answer!
More commonly known as butterflying, spatchcocking is a quicker route to a beautiful, delicious turkey for the holidays – or really any time of year. Perfect for roasting, grilling or smoking, a spatchcock turkey is sure to please the whole crowd.
Don’t let that extra effort of spatchcocking (or the funny name) intimidate you. It’s easier than it sounds. We’ve answered some of the most pressing questions to walk you through the process below.
Spatchcocking is removing the backbone of a turkey and laying it flat on its cooking surface. Yep, it’s that simple!
Cooking a spatchcock turkey has become an increasingly popular preparation method for the big bird. By removing the backbone and flattening the bird, it cooks more evenly and quickly. However, you may be wondering what temperature is best to roast your spatchcocked turkey. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
What is a Spatchcock Turkey?
Spatchcocking is a technique where the backbone is removed from the turkey and the bird is flattened out This allows the turkey to cook more evenly since the breast and thighs are exposed to heat at the same time
The term “spatchcock” can also refer to a method of grilling or broiling poultry and game birds that have been prepared in this manner The spatchcocking process allows the birds to cook faster than cooking them whole,
Benefits of Cooking a Spatchcock Turkey
There are several benefits to spatchcocking your holiday turkey:
- Promotes even cooking between white and dark meat
- Reduces overall cooking time
- Exposes more skin to crisp up
- Easy access for seasoning between skin and meat
- Simplified carving process
Cooking a spatchcock turkey can reduce cooking time significantly compared to roasting a whole turkey. A 12 to 14 pound spatchcock turkey may only need 60-90 minutes in the oven, compared to over 3 hours for a traditionally roasted bird.
What Temperature to Cook a Spatchcock Turkey
Most recipes recommend roasting a spatchcock turkey at a high temperature, between 400°F and 450°F. The high heat helps render the fat under the skin to achieve a crispy exterior. It also reduces the cooking time.
Aim to cook your spatchcock turkey at 425°F for the best of both – a crispy skin and a moist interior. Place your turkey on a roasting rack set inside a sheet pan to allow air circulation.
You can rub the skin with oil or butter and season it with herbs, salt and pepper prior to roasting. Tuck the wings under to prevent burning.
Internal Temperature for Doneness
Regardless of the oven temperature, a spatchcock turkey should cook to an internal temperature of 165°F as measured in the thigh and breast to be considered safe to eat.
Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature in a few places before removing from the oven. The thigh and breast areas should read 165°F.
Let the turkey rest for 15-20 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute. The internal temperature will rise another 5-10 degrees during this time.
Cooking Times for Spatchcock Turkey
- 8-12 lbs: 60-75 minutes
- 12-15 lbs: 75-90 minutes
- 15-18 lbs: 90-105 minutes
- 18-20 lbs: 105-120 minutes
These cooking times are based on roasting at 425°F. Larger birds or higher oven temperatures may require slightly less time. Always rely on a meat thermometer over recipes times for doneness.
Plan on about 15 minutes per pound for an approximate roasting time, but verify at least 165°F in the breast and thighs before removing from the oven.
Monitoring Temperature
Keep an eye on the temperature as your turkey roasts. If the skin starts to get too brown before the interior is cooked, tent foil loosely over the turkey to slow down browning.
The pop-up timer inserted into some turkeys are not as reliable for gauging doneness. A meat thermometer is highly recommended, especially for spatchcocked turkeys.
Adding Crispiness
For extra crisp skin, turn your oven to broil for the last 5-10 minutes of roasting time after an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
Let It Rest
Allowing the turkey to rest after roasting is key to retaining moisture. The meat will continue to cook gently as it rests, while the juices redistribute through the turkey.
Rest spatchcock turkey on a cutting board loosely tented with foil for 15-20 minutes before carving. The temperature should rise about 5-10 degrees during this time.
Slice the breast meat and serve!
Turkey Safety
Proper handling and cooking of turkey is critical to prevent foodborne illness. Here are some tips:
- Defrost turkey thoroughly in the refrigerator
- Don’t rinse raw turkey, which can spread bacteria
- Use a meat thermometer to verify safe minimum internal temperature
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours; use within 3-4 days
Spatchcocking helps the turkey cook more quickly, which limits the amount of time it spends in the bacteria “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F. But food safety handling is still critical.
Get Started with Spatchcocking
Spatchcocking takes a little work upfront, but delivers juicy, flavorful turkey in record roasting time. With an understanding of what oven temperature to use and the proper internal temperature for doneness, you can master this unique turkey roasting method. Give spatchcock turkey a try this holiday season!
How-to spatchcock a turkey
To spatchcock turkey, we recommend using heavy duty kitchen shears to remove the backbone. Alternatively, a sharp knife or meat cleaver can be used.
- Remove a completely thawed turkey from any packaging and remove the neck, giblets and/or leg lock.
- Pat the turkey dry.
- Place it breast-side down on a cutting surface.
- Starting at the tail, make an incision along one side of the backbone.
- Continue cutting along the backbone until you’ve snipped through the rib bones up to the neck.
- Use your hands the spread the turkey open slightly.
- Make an identical cut along the other side of the backbone. Watch your fingers!
- The backbone should now be freed – this may take some additional snipping. Remove.
- Flip the turkey over and, using two hands, press down hard on the breastbone. Listen for a couple of cracks. The turkey should now rest flatly.
- Now arrange your turkey for cooking. Splay the legs and tuck the wing tips under the breast (or remove entirely) to prevent burning.
- Separate the skin from the meat – this will allow any compound butter or seasoning to easily get under the skin.
Step-by-step with Emily Dingmann, My Everyday Table: Cut out the backbone, flatten the breast and arrange on a tray for cooking.
How long does it to cook a spatchcock turkey?
A spatchcocked whole turkey will cook more quickly than a standard turkey. While the spatchcock turkey cooking time will depend on the size and oven temperature, 6 minutes per pound is a good rule of thumb. Depending on the size of the turkey, cook times are estimated between 60-90 minutes.
To ensure doneness, we recommend verifying the internal temperature of the turkey has reached 165°F in three places: the innermost part of the thigh, breast and wing.
The Juiciest & Perfectly Cooked Spatchcock Turkey
FAQ
What temperature should you cook a spatchcock turkey at?
What Temperature Do You Cook a Spatchcock Turkey? I highly recommend starting at a high temperature of 450oF for the first 30 minutes to get the skin super crispy and juicy. Then, bring the temperature down to 400oF to finish cooking the turkey for 40 to 45 minutes.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.Nov 6, 2024
How long to smoke 16 lb spatchcock turkey at 250 degrees?
Smoke the turkey for approximately 12-15 minutes per pound. Try to keep the temperature at a consistent 250°F for an even smoke and to avoid flareups.Nov 7, 2024
What is the best temperature to cook a turkey?
An 8- to 12-pound unstuffed turkey typically takes 2 3/4 to 3 hours to roast in a 325 degrees F oven.Nov 12, 2024
What temperature should a Spatchcock Turkey be cooked at?
The best cooking temperature for a spatchcock turkey will vary depending on the size of the bird and the desired level of doneness. However, as a general rule, it is best to cook a spatchcock turkey at a moderate temperature, around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that the meat is cooked without being dry or overcooked.
How long do you cook a Spatchcock Turkey?
A spatchcock turkey is a whole turkey that has been butterflied and flattened. This allows for even cooking and browning of the skin. When cooking a spatchcock turkey in the oven, plan on cooking it for about 11 minutes per pound at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. How long to cook a 12 lb spatchcock turkey?
What temperature should a Turkey be cooked at?
The turkey should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh. Once this temperature is reached, remove the bird from the oven, cover it loosely with aluminum foil, and let it rest for about 15-20 minutes before carving. Spatchcocking a turkey also reduces the overall cooking time.
Should you Spatchcock a Turkey?
When you spatchcock a turkey you get the juiciest, crispiest roast turkey cooked in a fraction of the time it usually takes to cook a whole turkey. If you’ve never tried it, spatchcocking is easier than you might think! By removing the backbone and flattening out the bird, you’ll reduce cooking time and make carving a whole lot easier, too!
How do you season a Spatchcock Turkey?
Seasoning a spatchcock turkey can be as simple as rubbing it with olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add herbs and spices, such as rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, or paprika, to enhance its flavor. 6. Do I need to use a roasting rack when cooking a spatchcock turkey?
Can you cook a Spatchcock Turkey in a slow cooker?
Cooking a spatchcock turkey in the slow cooker differs from cooking it in the oven. The cook time will be longer, generally around 10 hours on the low setting. Additionally, you will need to baste the turkey periodically during cooking to prevent it from drying out.