Marianne Martinez
Air fryers are a great way to cook a turkey, whether it's a whole turkey or just the breast. They are perfect for small gatherings and easy weeknight dinners. The air fryer method is also a great solution for small kitchens with minimal oven space. The controlled cooking environment of the air fryer helps to seal in juices, resulting in tender and juicy meat. The size of the turkey will determine the length of the cooking time, but a full turkey takes 3 hours or more, while an air fryer turkey breast cooks in just 1 hour.
Air Fryer for Cooking Turkey
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Turkey | Whole turkey or turkey breast |
| Turkey Weight | 3-5 pounds for turkey breast; 16 pounds for whole turkey |
| Air Fryer Type | Halogen or propane style |
| Air Fryer Capacity | 3-6 quarts |
| Temperature | 350-400°F |
| Cooking Time | 40-60 minutes |
| Internal Temperature | 155-165°F |
| Pre-Cooking Prep | Thawing, drying, seasoning |
| Post-Cooking Prep | Resting, carving |
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What You'll Learn
Air fryer turkey breast recipes
Air fryer turkey breast is a recipe that yields juicy, flavourful turkey in a fraction of the time it would take to roast a whole turkey in an oven. It is perfect for small gatherings and weeknight dinners.
Ingredients:
- Turkey breast (3-5 pounds)
- Olive or vegetable oil
- Salt, pepper, mixed herbs, garlic powder, sweet paprika, and/or rosemary, sage, thyme, and mustard for seasoning
- Butter (optional)
Steps:
First, remove the turkey from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Pat the turkey very dry with paper towels. Rub oil, butter, or an herb butter mixture all over the turkey breast. Season both sides liberally with salt and other seasonings.
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Place the turkey in the air fryer basket, skin-side down. Cook for 20 minutes, then carefully flip the turkey over. Continue cooking for 30 to 50 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 155-165°F.
Let the cooked turkey rest on a carving board for at least 10-30 minutes, loosely covered with foil, to allow the juices to redistribute. Then, carve the turkey and serve.
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Air fryer whole turkey recipes
Air-frying a whole turkey is a much safer and healthier alternative to deep-frying. It is also faster than roasting a turkey in the oven and saves oven space. You can cook a whole turkey in an air fryer, but you will need to check the capacity of your air fryer, as some indoor tabletop ones can only cook a turkey breast. You will need an extra-large air fryer to cook a whole turkey.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Whole turkey
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Herbs
- Olive or vegetable oil
- Garlic powder
- Sweet paprika
- Mixed herbs
- Mustard
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Tony Chachere's Injectable Butter Marinade (optional)
Method
- Thaw the turkey according to the instructions on the package. This can take a few days.
- Remove the neck and giblets.
- Combine softened butter, herbs, and salt and pepper.
- Gently loosen the skin away from the turkey breast and legs using your hands. Be careful not to rip the skin, as this helps keep the moisture in. You are creating pockets so that you can spread the butter all over the turkey.
- Spread the butter all over the turkey, using about one stick under the skin and the remainder on the outside of the turkey.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 10 minutes.
- Insert a turkey stand into the turkey cavity and place it on the frying basket.
- Lower the turkey into the air fryer and let it fry for 8–10 minutes per pound.
- When the turkey's internal temperature reaches 165°F, remove it from the air fryer using oven mitts and the hook that came with the fryer.
- Allow the turkey to rest for 20–30 minutes before carving and serving.
Tips
- You can add extra flavour to your turkey by injecting it with Tony Chachere's Injectable Butter Marinade. Inject the marinade into the thickest part of the turkey breasts several hours in advance or right before cooking.
- If you are cooking a turkey breast rather than a whole turkey, you can season it with salt and turkey seasoning and rub it with oil before cooking it in the air fryer.
- You can also add flavour by brining the turkey before cooking it.
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How to get juicy meat
Air fryers are a great way to cook a turkey that is juicy and flavourful. The air fryer can cook a sizeable turkey breast in less than an hour with minimal prep and fuss. Here are some tips to ensure you get juicy meat:
Firstly, choose a turkey breast that is relatively small (3-5 pounds) so that it fits easily into your air fryer basket. You can use a boneless or bone-in turkey breast, but it is easier to fit the breast in your air fryer if the ribs are removed as it can lay flatter, and the meat cooks more evenly.
Take the turkey out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking and let it stand at room temperature. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels and rub oil all over the breast. Season both sides with salt and turkey seasoning, and rub the remaining oil over the skin side. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and place the turkey in the basket, skin-side down. Cook for 20 minutes, then slide out the basket and flip the turkey over. Continue cooking for 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the size of your breast. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer; the turkey is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
Once cooked, let the turkey rest on a carving board for at least 15 minutes, loosely covered with foil. This allows the juices to redistribute. Then, carve the turkey and serve.
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How to get crispy skin
To get crispy skin on your air-fried turkey, there are several techniques you can use. Firstly, ensure that the skin is still attached and fully covers the turkey breast. Pat the turkey dry before cooking, as this helps the spices stick and the skin to crisp. You can also use a dry brine to achieve this. Then, rub oil or butter onto the skin. Some recipes recommend olive oil, while others suggest a neutral oil. You can also use butter, which will add flavour and help to crisp the skin. If you opt for butter, you can mix it with herbs and garlic and rub it all over the outside of the turkey. You can also add seasonings to your oil or butter rub. A simple combination of salt and pepper will work, or you can add poultry seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, or onion powder.
To further ensure crispy skin, you can add baking powder to the top of the turkey. This draws moisture to the surface of the skin, where it can evaporate. Make sure you use aluminium-free baking powder so that you don't taste it, and be sure to rub it gently into the skin so that there are no clumps.
When cooking your turkey, place it skin-side down in the air fryer basket and cook for 20 minutes. Then, flip the turkey and cook for another 20-30 minutes, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches at least 155°F.
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How to check if the turkey is cooked
There are several ways to check if your turkey is cooked through. One way is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey. Check the temperature 10 minutes ahead of the recommended cooking time. The recommended internal temperature for turkey is 165°F/74°C. Place the thermometer in the thickest parts of the thigh, wings and breast, making sure it is close to but not touching the bone.
If you don't have a thermometer, you can do a visual check. Poke the thickest parts of the turkey with a fork or thin knife. If the juices run clear and are no longer pink or reddish, then the turkey is cooked. If you are cooking ground turkey, it should be slightly browned and no longer pink inside.
It is important to make sure the turkey is fully thawed on the inside before air frying. If your turkey is frozen, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. A thawed turkey may be kept in the refrigerator (40 degrees F or below) for up to 4 days before cooking.
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Frequently asked questions
The size of the turkey you can cook in an air fryer depends on the size of the air fryer. A 3-6 quart air fryer is suitable for simple smaller dishes and meals. A 5-quart air fryer or larger can fit a 4-5 pound turkey breast. Halogen-style air fryers can fit a 16-pound turkey.
The cooking time depends on the size of the turkey and the air fryer model. A small turkey breast can be ready in 40 minutes, while a whole turkey can take 45-60 minutes, or about 7-10 minutes per pound.
The recommended cooking temperature for turkey is the same as for chicken or slightly lower (165°F / 74°C). However, some sources recommend cooking turkey breast at a lower temperature of 150°F/ 66°C to keep it juicy. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F before cooking.
