Spatchcocking, also known as butterflying, is a technique used to prepare a turkey for cooking that involves removing the backbone and flattening the bird. This method has gained popularity due to its several advantages, including reduced cooking time, more evenly distributed heat, and crispier skin. With its ease of preparation and superior results, spatchcocking has become a favorite among home cooks and professional chefs alike. In this article, we will delve into the world of spatchcocked turkey, providing you with essential tips, delicious recipes, and expert advice to help you create a succulent and flavorful dish that will impress your family and friends. Whether you prefer a classic roasted turkey or one infused with aromatic herbs and spices, we have curated a collection of recipes that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. So, get ready to embark on a culinary adventure and discover the secrets to cooking the perfect spatchcocked turkey.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
ROAST SPATCHCOCKED TURKEY
Cut down on your cook time with this simple, spatchcocked version of a Thanksgiving classic.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Turkey Recipes
Time 2h20m
Yield Serves 6 to 8
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Stir together oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rinse inside and outside of turkey; pat dry with paper towels. Spatchcock turkey (see our how-to). Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, breast side up. Let stand for 30 minutes.
- Brush or rub turkey all over with oil mixture. Roast, rotating sheet halfway through and basting twice, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let stand for 20 minutes before carving (see our how-to).
ROAST SPATCHCOCK TURKEY
This roasting method results in the juiciest, crispiest turkey cooked in a fraction of the time it usually takes. The secret is to remove the backbone and flatten out the bird. Carving is a whole lot easier, too. Once you try it, you might never go back.
Provided by foodelicious
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Turkey Whole Turkey Recipes
Time 2h10m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a roasting rack on a baking sheet.
- Turn the turkey over, breast-side down. Using a pair of sharp heavy-duty kitchen shears, cut along one side of the backbone. Repeat on the other side of the backbone. Reserve the backbone for making turkey stock for gravy. Press firmly down onto both sides of turkey to flatten.
- Tuck the wing tips under the turkey and place on the roasting rack. Pat skin dry and rub olive oil over the entire turkey; season with salt, sage, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, rotating baking sheet every 30 minutes. Increase temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and roast until skin is crisp, about 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove turkey from the oven, cover loosely with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 777.1 calories, Carbohydrate 0.3 g, Cholesterol 268.2 mg, Fat 42.7 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 92 g, SaturatedFat 10.8 g, Sodium 920.5 mg
SPATCHCOCK'D ROAST TURKEY
Before you begin, gather ingredients and equipment. Measure out ingredients.
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories main-dish
Time P4DT3h5m
Yield 12 to 16 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Four days before cooking, make the rub mixture and season the turkey: Coarsely grind the peppercorns and allspice berries by pulsing 3 to 4 times in a blade-style coffee/spice grinder. Add the dried thyme and pulse 3 more times. Combine the salt, rubbed sage and ground spices in a small bowl and set aside.
- Position the turkey, breast-side down with the tail facing you, on a silicone mat or other stable surface set inside a large sheet pan. Use heavy-duty kitchen shears to cut up one side of the backbone. Turn the bird and cut back down the other side of the spine. Reserve the backbone for stock or gravy. Discard any fat pockets or excess skin found inside the bird. Flip breast-side up and use the heel of your hands to press down on both breasts, until you hear a cracking sound and the bird flattens.
- Place the turkey breast-side up on a rack (I use a standard cooling or cake rack) set inside a sheet pan, and turn the wings backwards, tucking the tips under the forewings. Flip the turkey breast-side down and season with half of the rub mixture. Then flip the bird back breast-side up and season with the remaining mixture.
- Store, uncovered, on the lowest level of your refrigerator for 4 days.
- When ready to cook, allow the turkey to sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Place one oven rack in the center of the oven and a second one just below it. Place an empty roasting pan or large rimmed sheet pan on the lower rack. Crank the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place the turkey, still on the cooling rack, directly on the center oven rack. Add a cup of water to the pan below to prevent any drippings from smoking. Roast for 30 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue to roast the bird until a probe thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 155 degrees F, an additional 40 to 50 minutes.
- Remove the turkey and its rack and rest for 15 minutes before carving. Carryover heat will take the final temperature close to 165 degrees.
ROAST SPATCHCOCK TURKEY
In 2002, Mark Bittman published this revolutionary approach to roasting the Thanksgiving turkey, which allows you to cut the cooking time of the average turkey by about 75 percent while still presenting an attractive bird. Simply cut out the backbone - or ask your butcher to do it for you - and spread the bird out flat before roasting, a technique known as spatchcocking that is commonly used with chickens. Roasted at 450 degrees, a 10-pound bird will be done in about 45 minutes. Really. It will also be more evenly browned (all of the skin is exposed to the heat), more evenly cooked, and moister than birds cooked conventionally.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories dinner, easy, roasts, main course
Time 45m
Yield 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put turkey on a stable cutting board breast side down and cut out backbone. Turn turkey over, and press on it to flatten. Put it, breast side up, in a roasting pan. Wings should partly cover breasts, and legs should protrude a bit.
- Tuck garlic and tarragon under the bird and in the nooks of the wings and legs. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
- Roast for 20 minutes, undisturbed. Turkey should be browning. Remove from oven, baste with pan juices, and return to oven. Reduce heat to 400 degrees (if turkey browns too quickly, reduce temperature to 350 degrees).
- Begin to check turkey's temperature about 15 minutes later (10 minutes if bird is on the small side). It is done when thigh meat registers 165 degrees on an instant-read meat thermometer. Check it in a couple of places.
- Let turkey rest for a few minutes before carving, then serve with garlic cloves and pan juices.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 532, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 2 grams, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 70 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 1082 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Brine the Turkey: Brining enhances the flavor and moisture of the turkey. Use a brine solution made with water, salt, sugar, and spices for at least 12 hours.
- Spatchcock the Turkey: Spatchcocking involves removing the backbone and flattening the turkey. This method allows the turkey to cook more evenly and reduces the cooking time.
- Use a Dry Rub: A dry rub made with herbs, spices, and seasonings adds flavor to the turkey. Apply the rub under the skin and on the surface of the turkey.
- Roast the Turkey Breast Side Up: Place the spatchcocked turkey breast side up on a roasting rack in a baking pan. This ensures that the breast meat cooks evenly and stays moist.
- Baste the Turkey Regularly: Basting the turkey with butter, oil, or pan juices helps keep it moist and prevents it from drying out.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh to ensure that the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Let the Turkey Rest: After roasting, let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful turkey.
Conclusion:
Spatchcocking a turkey is a great way to achieve evenly cooked, flavorful, and succulent meat. By following these tips and using the provided recipes, you can create a delicious spatchcocked turkey that will impress your family and friends. Whether you prefer a classic roasted turkey with herbs and butter or a more adventurous flavor profile with spices and glazes, there is a spatchcocked turkey recipe out there to suit your taste. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to enjoy a perfectly cooked spatchcocked turkey for your next special occasion or holiday meal.
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