Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (2024)

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By Michelle Marine

on Sep 27, 2023, Updated Oct 27, 2023

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By doing everything wrong over the years, I’ve found the best way to cook a turkey is to toss out everything you may have heard about the “right” things to do. High heat, upside down, no basting. These are the step by step secrets to the best turkey you’ll ever eat whether you like white or dark meat. Keep reading to learn more!

Table of Contents

  • Benefits of Cooking a Turkey Upside Down
  • Why the Best Roast Turkey is Cooked Upside Down (High Heat Recipe)
  • Now that you’ve done that, here’s the best way to cook a turkey!
  • Best Way to Cook a Turkey Printable Directions
  • Best Way to Cook a Turkey – upside down, high heat, no basting! Recipe

Benefits of Cooking a Turkey Upside Down

If you want a delicious, crispy skinned turkey with divine meat, the best way to cook it is to start upside down, using high heat, and no basting. Bonus! Your turkey will cook quicker too.

In full disclosure, I learned this completely by accident. The first year I cooked the turkey for our huge family thanksgiving meal, I accidentally cooked it upside down. It was embarrassing at first because everyone laughed when they saw it. There are lots of benefits of upside cooking, but an instagram worthy looking turkey isn’t one of them!

However, when our crew tasted the meat, it was immediately clear that cooking the turkey upside resulted in a better product. Here are more benefits to cooking the turkey upside down:

  1. No basting! No cooking a turkey upside downs means it is a self-basting turkey! No more slaving a away all day basting your turkey.
  2. Turkeys cooked upside down using a high-heat recipe cook faster and also more evenly!
  3. The turkey from a turkey cooked upside is the moistest, juiciest turkey meat ever. I promise!
  4. There’s no need to brine. Absolutely none. This easy turkey recipe speaks for itself. Save yourself so much time by not brining your turkey!

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Why the Best Roast Turkey is Cooked Upside Down (High Heat Recipe)

I’m sharing all the embarrassing tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way about cooking turkeys. I know this information might be shocking, but the best way to cook a turkey is not low and slow, breast side up. It does not require basting. (It doesn’t even require washing and patting the turkey dry, you guys!)These out-of-date methods make a dry and yucky turkey for your beautiful Thanksgiving table.

This recipe is without a doubt, the best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe! Of course, it’s also a great recipe for any time you need the perfect roast turkey – Christmas, Easter, or any other time you would like to have leftover turkey to add to your freezer!

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (3)

1. COMPLETELY THAW your frozen turkey

  • 12-16 pounders need 3-4 days to thaw. (Put in fridge on Sunday or Monday BEFORE Thanksgiving.)
  • 16-20 pounders need 4-5 days to thaw. (Put in fridge on Saturday or Sunday BEFORE Thanksgiving.)
  • 20-24 pounders need 5-6 days to thaw. (Put in fridge on Friday or Saturday BEFORE Thanksgiving.)

2. Bring your turkey to room temperature.

Take the turkey out of the fridge an hour before you want to roast it. It should come to room temperature before cooking. That takes about an hour for most whole turkeys.

3. Do not rinse your turkey.

This goes counter to what many people think, but according to the USDA, “Wash your hands, but not the turkey!Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer.However, it’s virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.”

4. Remove all innards (neck & giblet)!! You might laugh… but not everyone knows to do this.

5. Cut off all plastic pieces on the bird – ties holding legs together and the pop up timer. That dumb plastic timer doesn’t work anyway so get rid of it before cooking your turkey.

Now that you’ve done that, here’s the best way to cook a turkey!

Remove all extra racks in the oven, leaving only one in the lowest position. Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees a half hour before cooking time. Double and triple check that you have removed the turkey neck and bag of giblets, cut off any plastic ties that may be holding the legs together, and removed the pop up thermometer, if there is one.

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (4)

Carefully, separate the skin from the turkey and spread melted butter inside the turkey under the skin. Then, brush the outside of the turkey with the remaining butter and season to taste with salt and black pepper. A silicone basting brush makes it easy to rub butter. If you don’t want to use butter, feel free to use oil. It’s your call.

You should also tie the legs together around the turkey with kitchen twine instead of inserting them in the skin as pictured above. That way all the skin comes out brown and lovely lovely. When you insert the legs into the skin as in the picture, the turkey skin portion that is covered turns out mushy and not that nice.

Place all vegetables and apple chunks in the cavity of the turkey.

Tips & Tricks – How to Bake a Turkey Upside Down

I promise, you will love the moist turkey you end up with when you follow this easy turkey recipe!

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (6)

Place turkey breast side DOWN in a large roasting pan. We use a roasting rack to keep the turkey up out of the drippings. I forget to take a picture after I put it in the pan, so refer to the picture above for proper breast side DOWN position.

Tuck the wing tips under the bottom of the turkey so they don’t burn. Put cold water in the bottom of the roasting pan (around the bird but not over it). You don’t want to wash away the butter or seasoning.

Start the turkey roasting on the lowest oven rack in a preheated oven at 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Then, turn the oven down to 350 and cook for 1 1/2 more hours (without opening the oven). Turn the oven light on and check from time to time to make sure the turkey is not browning too much. If it is, loosely tent the turkey with foil.

Every time you open the oven door, your turkey dries out a little more. That’s why basting does more harm than good. So really resist opening that door if you can help it.

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (7)

How to Flip the Turkey

After the turkey has cooked for about 2 hours, take it out of the oven. Using silicone oven mittens, flip the bird breast side up so the breast can brown nicely. Now it’s time to insert the oven-safe remote thermometer in the thigh, without touching the bone.

How Long to Roast the Turkey

Make sure the wings are tucked underneath so they don’t burn.Cook the turkey for 45 minutes to one hour longer, or however long it takes for the internal temperature to reach 165 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh. Also check the thickest part of the breast meat too. (Just to reiterate, the turkey in the above picture is breast side UP).

The biggest question people have when roading a turkey is how long to cook it. The total cooking time ranges from 2 3/4 hours to 3 1/2 hours for a 12- 16 pound turkey. Add about 13 minutes more for each additional pound if your turkey is over 16 pounds.

If you don’t have an oven safe thermometer, you can use the stick variety too. Just realize that every time you open the oven to check the turkey, it’ll dry out the meat a little bit more. 🙁

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Finally, when the turkey is fully cooked, remove from oven. Loosely tent with foil and let turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. This is very important!! Don’t slice it on the cutting board for at least a half an hour.

While the turkey is resting, use the pan drippings in the bottom of the roasting pan and make a delicious turkey gravy. Homemade gravy is actually really easy. Here’s all you need:

  • 4 tablespoons meat drippings
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 cups stock, use a high quality stock – homemade is best
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Get the full recipe + troubleshooting tips: How to Make Gravy

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (9)

Kitchen tools that make cooking a turkey very easy

While you don’t have to have all of these kitchen tools to cook your Thanksgiving turkey, they will make the process easier. Here’s what we recommend to get the best roast turkey!

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (10)

Would you like a free printable Thanksgiving Planner?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed this year, let my printable Thanksgiving planner help you simplify Thanksgiving Day! Including checklists, menus, timelines and more, this free printable will help you organize for the most successful Thanksgiving Dinner ever!

What other Side Dishes to Serve for a Delicious Turkey Dinner?

How to Make Perfect Turkey Gravy

Sourdough Stuffing Recipe with Roasted Red Onion, Kale, and Sausage

Delicious Sourdough Dinner Rolls Made with Sourdough Discard

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Waste Not, Want Not – Recipes that Use Left-Over Turkey

In our opinion, turkey leftovers are one of the best parts of a holiday meal. Here are a few ways to make the most of your leftovers!

How to Make Turkey Pot Pie from Scratch

Make Homemade Turkey Stock

Where to Buy a Local Whole Turkey

Now that you know how to cook the turkey, you need to get that turkey! If you’re wondering where to buy a turkey, why not consider ordering a local turkey from an independent family farm?

Here are a few places to find a turkey from an independent family farm:

  1. 99 Counties – locally sourced, regeneratively farmed meat delivered to your door! Available in Chicagoland and anyone within 100 miles of Keystone, Iowa
  2. ChopLocal – support local farms and small butcher shops by buying meat grown and processed in the US
  3. Butcher Box – offers seasonal turkeys that are raised and processed in the US too.

Should you cook a turkey in a bag?

No, you should not cook a turkey in a plastic bag. Besides the fact that we think bags are unnecessary and toxic, they are also another type of single-use plastic you just don’t need. Proponents of cooking turkeys in bags think it’s the best way to cook faster and get moister meat, but this upside down, no-baste turkey recipe proves you don’t need one.

How to tuck the turkey wings?

If you’re wondering how to tuck the turkey wings, don’t worry! It’s easy to tuck turkey wings. In this recipe, you will tuck the wings underneath the turkey back after you flip your turkey over. Just hold the back up a bit so you can get the wings underneath it. Now you’re good to go!

How to freeze turkey?

It’s easy to freeze leftover turkey meat. Wrap turkey slices tightly in freezer paper, then put it all in an airtight container. We love reusable Stasher bags! Use a straw to get all the air out to prevent freezer burn. Label the bag and freeze for up to 6 months.

Best Way to Cook a Turkey Printable Directions

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (11)

Yield: 12-16 servings

Best Way to Cook a Turkey – upside down, high heat, no basting!

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (12)

The best way to cook a turkey! High heat, upside, no basting!

Prep Time20 minutes

Cook Time3 hours

Total Time3 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 12-16 pound turkey
  • 1 carrot, chunked
  • 1 stalk celery, chunked
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1 green apple, quartered
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • ½ C. water

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 500 degrees.
  2. Remove the turkey neck and bag of giblets. Cut off any plastic ties that may be holding the legs together. Remove the pop up thermometer, if there is one.
  3. Place all your vegetables in the turkey cavity.
  4. Carefully, separate the skin from the turkey and rub half the butter under the skin.
  5. Rub the outside of the turkey with the remaining butter.
  6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  7. Place turkey breast side DOWN in a roasting pan.
  8. Put water in pan around the bird but not over it.
  9. Cook turkey at 500 degrees for 30 minutes, turn oven down to 350 and cook for 1 1/2 more hours.
  10. After the turkey has cooked for about 2 hours, remove from oven, carefully flip over so the turkey is now breast side UP. Insert a remote safe oven thermometer in the thigh, without touching the bone and continue cooking until the meat thermometer reads 165 degrees.
  11. Remove turkey from oven, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 30 minutes before serving.
  12. Carve & Enjoy!

Notes

Add about 13 minutes cooking time per additional pound of turkey over 16 pounds.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

32

Serving Size:

1/2 pound per person

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 446Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 251mgSodium: 256mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 65g

Nutritional data is not always correct.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram tagging @simplifylivelove! I love to see your photos!

Why the Best Way to Cook a Turkey is Upside Down (High Heat Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Why cook a turkey upside down? ›

Cooking a turkey upside down allows the juices to trickle down during the roasting process for extra moist and juicy breast meat. Plus, since the dark meat is closer to the heat source, it cooks faster than it does with the traditional method. It's a win-win!

Is it better to cook a turkey on low heat or high heat? ›

I find it is best to start the turkey at a fairly high temperature (400°F), roast for about twenty minutes and then lower the heat to 350°F for the remainder of the cooking time. Sometimes I forget to lower the oven, though, and the turkey still comes out fine, just perhaps a little darker than I would like!

Why cook turkey at high temperature first? ›

Roasting a turkey by starting at a high temperature then turning it down yields crisp skin and moist meat. The total cooking time should be 2 to 21/2 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird, but it can vary, depending on your oven. To be sure, rely on the internal temperature.

Should I flip my turkey halfway through cooking? ›

This will help you monitor the turkey and make sure it is not over cooked! Cook the bird upside down, meaning the breast meat down, then flip it halfway through based on your estimation.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

Oven-Roasted Turkey

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

Is it safe to cook a turkey overnight at 200 degrees? ›

When you're starting to think about going to bed, preheat your oven to somewhere between 170-180ºF. If your oven temperature does not go this low, set it to its coolest setting; anything up to 200ºF is fine. Pull the turkey out of the refrigerator, season it with salt and aromatics, and rub the outside with butter.

Should you bake a turkey covered or uncovered? ›

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

Is it better to cook a roast at 325 or 350? ›

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher. Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

Should I start my turkey at 450? ›

Brush your turkey with olive oil, salt and pepper (if desired). Roast at 450˚F for approximately 70 minutes for a 12 pound turkey. Your turkey is safe to eat when the thermometer registers 165˚F in the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing and the thickest part of the breast.

What temp is turkey the most tender? ›

But despite what they all say, you absolutely should NOT cook your turkey breast meat to 165°F (74°C) or to—heaven forbid—180°F (82°C)! Our answer? Cook the breast meat to 157°F (69°C) for moist, juicy turkey.

Does cooking a turkey upside down make it more moist? ›

Roasting a turkey upside down guarantees moist and tender white and dark meat every time.

Why do you flip turkey? ›

The idea is that by roasting your bird breast side down, it's further away from the heat source and the juices from the dark meat can trickle down to the white meat, resulting in juicier white meat that won't dry out. Then you flip the turkey right side up so the skin on the breast can crisp up in the oven.

Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey? ›

Place roast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in 2-inch deep roasting pan. Do not add water to pan. Roast uncovered according to Cooking Schedule or until meat thermometer in center of breast roast reaches 170° F and in center of turkey roast reaches 175° F.

How do you position a turkey when cooking? ›

Place turkey breast-side-up on a flat rack in a shallow roasting pan 2 to 2½ inches deep. Turn the wings back to hold the neck skin in place. (Tucking the wings will help stabilize the turkey in the pan and when carving) Brush or spray skin lightly with vegetable or cooking oil for best appearance.

Why pour boiling water over turkey? ›

Separating the skin from the meat, doing the hot water pour over to help tighten the skin and start rendering some fat, the drying, etc.

Why does a turkey fan its tail? ›

Males puff out their feathers, fan their tails, and strut while gobbling and making other vocalizations. This behavior is common during the breeding season and other times of year when turkeys are establishing social dominance or status within the flock.

Should I cover turkey with foil when cooking? ›

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

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