Frying Turkey In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can cook a turkey in an air fryer. It's a much safer and healthier alternative to deep-frying a turkey and it's quicker than cooking it in an oven. You can cook a whole turkey or just a turkey breast in an air fryer, but you'll need to check the capacity of your air fryer first.

Turkey preparation

Choosing the Right Turkey

Before you start preparing your turkey, you need to make sure it's the right size for your air fryer. A standard 3-6 quart air fryer can only fit a smaller turkey, but if you have a larger air fryer, you can cook a whole turkey of up to 14-16 pounds.

Thawing the Turkey

It's important to fully thaw your turkey before air frying it. This can take a few days, so make sure to plan ahead. Place the frozen turkey in the refrigerator to thaw.

Removing the Giblets

Once the turkey is thawed, remove the neck bone, giblets, and any other packaging from the turkey cavity. Rinse the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels.

Preparing the Turkey

To ensure a moist and juicy turkey, create pockets between the skin and breast by gently loosening the skin with your hands. Be careful not to rip the skin. Then, rub softened butter under the skin and on the outside of the turkey. You can also add your choice of seasonings, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, or a blend of herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage.

Cooking the Turkey

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place the turkey in the air fryer basket, breast side down for the first half of the cooking time, and then flip it over to breast side up for the second half. The cooking time will depend on the size of your turkey, but a good rule of thumb is to cook it for 8-10 minutes per pound. Use a meat thermometer to check if the turkey is done; it should reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest parts of the thigh, wings, and breast.

Resting and Carving the Turkey

Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute and results in a juicier turkey. To carve the turkey, use a sharp knife to run along the side of the breast bone, following the bone down to the bottom. Then, pull the meat away from the bone and slice it.

Air fryer settings

To cook a turkey in an air fryer, you will need to preheat your air fryer to a high temperature—either 350°F or 400°F—and cook the turkey for 45-60 minutes, or until a food thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165°F.

Preheating the Air Fryer

Before you begin cooking the turkey, you will need to preheat your air fryer. Different recipes recommend different temperatures, but they are all within the same range:

• 350°F
• 400°F
• 350°F for 20 minutes, then 300°F

Cooking the Turkey

Place the turkey breast in the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook for 20 minutes, then flip the turkey so that it is skin side up.

Cook for a further 20 minutes, or until a food thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast (avoiding any bone) registers 165°F. The time will depend on the size of your turkey breast, so it is recommended to use a thermometer to check that the turkey is cooked through.

Resting the Turkey

Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for 10-30 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to be reabsorbed into the meat, ensuring the turkey is juicy and tender.

Cooking time

The cooking time for an air-fried turkey depends on the weight of the bird and the model of the air fryer. A good rule of thumb is to cook the turkey for 8-10 minutes per pound. For example, a 15-pound turkey will take around 2 hours to cook in an outdoor air fryer, while a 3-pound boneless turkey breast will take around 1 hour to cook in an air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the weather if using an outdoor air fryer. If cooking in colder temperatures, it may take a little longer, so it's a good idea to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the estimated cooking time.

To ensure that the turkey is cooked through, it's recommended to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the breast, avoiding any bone. However, it's important not to overcook the turkey as it can dry out the meat. Remove the turkey from the air fryer when the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees Fahrenheit and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. The carryover cooking will bring the internal temperature up to the recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Internal temperature

Achieving the correct internal temperature is crucial to cooking a turkey in an air fryer. The safe temperature for cooked turkey is 165°F, but if you wait until the turkey reaches this temperature before removing it from the air fryer, the meat will be dry. Instead, aim for an internal temperature of 155°F, as the temperature will continue to rise while the meat rests, a process known as carryover cooking.

Checking the internal temperature of your turkey is simple: insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, ensuring that it does not touch the bone. Remove the turkey from the air fryer when it reaches 155°F, and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. If you do not have a meat thermometer, you can check that the turkey is cooked by piercing the thickest parts of the thigh, wings, and breast with a fork or thin knife. If the juices run clear and are no longer pink or reddish, the turkey is cooked.

The time it takes to cook a turkey in an air fryer will depend on the size of the bird and whether it is boneless or bone-in. A boneless turkey breast weighing 3 pounds will take around 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes to cook at 350°F. A bone-in turkey breast weighing 4 to 6 pounds will take 40 to 50 minutes at the same temperature. A whole turkey will take around 15 minutes per pound, or 2 to 3 hours for a 15-pound bird.

Resting the turkey

• Remove the cooked turkey from the air fryer and place it on a carving board or a large disposable aluminium pan or roasting pan.
• Cover the turkey loosely with foil. This will help keep the heat in without making the skin soggy.
• Let the turkey rest for at least 10 minutes, and preferably 15 to 20 minutes. This will give the juices time to settle, preventing them from dribbling out when you slice the turkey.
• If you need to keep the turkey warm for a longer period before serving, you can wrap it in a few layers of aluminium foil and then in a couple of layers of blanket or place it in a sealed cooler. This should keep the turkey warm for up to 5 hours.
• If you want to keep the skin crispy, pat the turkey with a paper towel before serving to remove surface moisture, and then place it in a preheated oven at 500-550 degrees Fahrenheit for 4-10 minutes. Alternatively, you can put it back into the air fryer for a few minutes.

By following these steps, you will ensure that your fried turkey is juicy, flavourful, and has a beautiful crispy skin.

Frequently asked questions