How can you speed up cooking a turkey?

What do I do if my turkey isn’t cooking fast enough?

The turkey is done too soon

If your turkey gets to 160 F and your guests have not arrived yet, don’t fret. The turkey needs to rest, covered loosely with foil, before carving, for at least 20 minutes. And it will stay hot for up to an hour.

How can I get my turkey a day early?

It’s easy: Simply cook it a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, then carve the bird into large pieces—breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks. Store in a container in the refrigerator until the big day. This method actually result in juicier meat—and an infinitely more relaxed host.

What do I do if my turkey isn’t done?

Recooking an Undercooked Turkey

1. We recommend slicing or carving the turkey. This is the quickest way to recook the turkey and get it finished before everything else is ridiculously cold. …
2. Place pieces on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees, checking the meat every 15 minutes until it’s done. …
3. Finish slicing and serve!

Should I start my turkey at a higher temperature?

Your turkey will cook more evenly and faster if you start it out at room temperature so remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. If you plan to stuff your turkey, wait until you’re ready to put it in the oven before putting the stuffing in the turkey.

Should I wrap my turkey in foil while baking?

Just make sure you uncover the lid about 30 minutes before the turkey’s done roasting so the skin has a chance to get crispy. … Covering the bird with foil mimics what a roaster lid would do — it traps steam and moistness so the turkey doesn’t dry out — all the while allowing the skin to crisp up.

Do you wrap a turkey in foil when baking?

Wrapping and cooking the entire turkey in aluminum foil requires increased oven temperature to ensure safety. … Insert the meat thermometer through the foil into the thickest part of the thigh. Place turkey in a shallow roasting pan and bring sides of foil up around turkey. Do not make an airtight seal.

Can I butter my turkey the night before?

The bird should be prepared the night before. Mix the butter with the salt and freshly ground black pepper, then season the cavity of the bird. Rub the butter mix all over the turkey. … Take the turkey out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature while the oven is heating up.

How do I keep my turkey from drying out?

“When roasting the whole bird, the key is to cook the legs longer than the breast,” Tommy says. “Once the breast is cooked, remove the legs and put them back in the oven. This stops the breasts drying out.”

Should I salt my turkey the night before?

It’s simple, really. Salt the turkey, cover it, then stick it in the fridge. Overnight the salt draws moisture from the interior of the bird to the surface, where it combines with the salt and other seasonings. Eventually, that flavorful salted liquid is reabsorbed by the meat, seasoning it throughout.

How do you keep a turkey moist when baking?

Here is a fantastic tip: to protect the turkey breast and keep it juicy: Fold a large square sheet of foil into a triangle. Rub one side of your triangle with olive oil and shape the foil (oil-side-down) over the turkey breast, then remove foil; it will shield your turkey breast and keep it from getting dry.

Do you have to flip a turkey in the oven?

If you’ve never heard of flipping and cooking turkey upside down, here’s the idea: For a juicier bird, roast your turkey breast-side down for the first 30–45 minutes of cooking and then flip it back over to crisp up the top.

Should turkey be slightly pink?

The color of cooked poultry is not always a sure sign of its safety. … Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. The meat of smoked turkey is always pink.

Can you cook a turkey in two stages?

Cook the meat in two phases, one to brown and crisp the skin and another to cook the bird to the exact state of doneness. Let the meat rest to preserve moisture.