Air-Frying A Turkey: The Nuwave Way

The NuWave oven is a countertop appliance that uses conduction, convection, and infrared heat to cook food up to 50% faster than a conventional oven. It can cook a whole turkey, fresh or frozen, in less time than a regular oven, and frees up space for cooking other dishes. The NuWave can cook a turkey of up to 10 pounds without an extender ring, and up to 16 pounds with one. Air fryers can also be used to cook turkey breasts, yielding moist and juicy meat with a golden-brown skin in under an hour.

Cooking times for a turkey breast in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook a turkey in a NuWave oven. The NuWave oven can cook a whole turkey, fresh or frozen, of up to 10 pounds without an extender ring. If your turkey is over 10 pounds, it is recommended to use an extender ring. The maximum-sized turkey the NuWave oven was made to cook is 16 pounds.

To cook a turkey in a NuWave oven, you should first rub the outside of the turkey generously with melted butter or olive oil. Season the turkey with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you would like. You should also salt the inside cavity with salt and remove the giblet packet if you don't plan to use it. Place the turkey breast-side down on the cooking rack of the NuWave oven, cover it with the lid, and set the power level to high. Set the timer based on the size of your turkey. Fresh turkey cooks in the NuWave for about 12 minutes per pound. Frozen turkey needs to be cooked for 15 minutes per pound.

Now, for cooking a turkey breast in an air fryer, the first step is to remove the turkey from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, with paper towels, pat the turkey very dry. When ready to cook, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F for at least 5 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, garlic, salt, rosemary, sage, thyme, black pepper, and mustard until evenly blended. Rub this all over the turkey.

Next, place the turkey in the air fryer basket, skin-side down. Cook for 20 minutes, then slide out the basket and carefully flip the turkey over. Continue cooking for 30 to 50 minutes more, until an instant-read thermometer inserted at the thickest part of the meat without touching the bone registers 155 degrees F. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F. The best way to check that it's done is by inserting a probe thermometer before you place the basket in the air fryer.

As a rule of thumb, air fry turkey breast for about 10-12 minutes per pound for boneless or 11-13 minutes per pound for bone-in. For a 5-pound turkey breast, that is approximately an hour. Cooking time will vary depending on the weight and shape of the meat.

How to season a turkey for a NuWave oven

To season a turkey for a NuWave oven, start by placing the turkey breast-side down on the cooking rack. If your turkey is more than 10 pounds, you will need to use an extender ring. Fit the extender ring into the base of the NuWave oven and then place the dome lid on top.

Next, rub the outside of the turkey generously with melted butter or olive oil. Make sure to get some inside the cavity too. Sprinkle salt inside the cavity and over the outside of the turkey. You can also add pepper and any other seasonings you like. If you're feeling creative, you can try adding onion, carrot, celery, and garlic inside the cavity of the turkey.

Cover the turkey with foil if it's browning too quickly and still has a while to go. For a stuffed turkey, you'll need to add 4 to 5 minutes of cooking time per pound. However, if you wait and stuff the turkey in the last 30 minutes of cooking, you won't need to add any extra cooking time.

The best size of turkey to cook in a NuWave oven

The NuWave oven is a handy countertop appliance that can cook a whole turkey, fresh or frozen, in less time than a traditional oven. It can also free up your main oven to cook other dishes simultaneously.

The NuWave oven can cook a turkey of up to 10 pounds without the extender ring. If you want to cook a larger turkey, you will need to purchase an extender ring, which allows the NuWave to cook a turkey of up to 16 pounds.

The size of the turkey will determine the cooking time. Fresh turkey cooks for about 12 minutes per pound, while frozen turkey needs about 15 minutes per pound. If you are cooking a stuffed turkey, you will need to add 4 to 5 minutes of cooking time per pound, unless you stuff the turkey in the last 30 minutes of cooking, in which case no additional time is needed.

When cooking a turkey in the NuWave oven, it is important to follow the correct procedure. First, place the turkey breast-side down on the cooking rack and cover it with the lid. Set the power level to high and the timer based on the size of your turkey. Press the "Start" button to begin cooking.

Halfway through the cooking time, press "Pause" and remove the lid. Using oven-proof gloves, flip the turkey over to ensure even cooking. Brush the outside of the turkey with melted butter or olive oil and season generously with salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Replace the lid and press "Start" to resume cooking for the remaining time.

How to prepare a turkey for cooking in a NuWave oven

Preparing a turkey for cooking in a NuWave oven is a straightforward process. Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to cook a whole turkey or just a turkey breast. If you opt for a whole turkey, it can be fresh or frozen. However, frozen turkeys take longer to cook, and if your turkey weighs more than 10 pounds, you will need an extender ring for the NuWave oven.

If you are cooking a whole turkey, start by generously rubbing the outside with melted butter or olive oil. Season the turkey with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings of your choice. You can also salt the inside cavity, and remember to remove the giblet packet if you don't plan to use it. Place the turkey breast-side down on the cooking rack and cover it with the lid. Set the power level to high, and the timer based on the size of your turkey. Fresh turkey cooks for about 12 minutes per pound, while frozen turkey needs 15 minutes per pound.

For a turkey breast, rinse it and pat it dry with paper towels. You can then rub it with canola oil or butter, and season with salt and pepper. Add other seasonings and herbs as desired, but be aware that some, like garlic, may burn during roasting. Place the breast on the rack inside the NuWave oven. If you have an extender ring, it is recommended to use it. If not, you may want to loosely tent the turkey with aluminium foil to prevent excessive browning.

When the turkey is done, use a meat thermometer to check that it has reached the desired temperature. For the breasts, it should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and for the legs, it should be 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Once done, set the turkey on a rack or plate and cover loosely with foil. Let it rest for about 20 to 30 minutes before carving and serving.

How to carve a turkey breast

Yes, you can cook a turkey in a NuWave air fryer. The NuWave oven can cook a turkey of up to 10 pounds without an extender ring, and a maximum of 16 pounds with one. It is recommended that you rub the outside of the turkey with butter or olive oil, and season it generously with salt, pepper, and other seasonings. You should also salt the inside cavity and remove the giblet packet if you don't plan on using it. Set the power level to high and adjust the timer based on the size of your turkey. Fresh turkey cooks for about 12 minutes per pound, while frozen turkey needs to be cooked for 15 minutes per pound.

Now, for carving a turkey breast, follow these steps:

First, ensure that the turkey has rested for at least 15 to 20 minutes before you begin carving to allow the juices to redistribute and be reabsorbed into the meat.

Next, locate the keel bone or breast bone, which runs down the center of the carcass, separating the two turkey breasts. Using a sharp knife, cut down the center on one side of the keel bone. Slice downward, following the curve of the breast bone, and separate the breast meat from the bone until the entire breast is free. Set the breast meat aside and repeat this process on the other side.

After that, you can gently pull the wings away from the body. Cut around the skin and meat and through the joint to remove the wings.

Finally, pull the meat away from the bone and slice it. You can also cut against the grain, which means cutting the meat in the opposite direction to the natural muscle fibers.

Frequently asked questions