Yes, You Can Air Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey – Here’s How

It’s the kitchen appliance that keeps on giving.

The air fryer is gearing up to be the star of Thanksgiving dinner this year as the mini convection oven becomes a must-have holiday hack for cooking up a juicy, delicious turkey in a timely manner. Butterball’s hotline attendants have been inundated with inquiries about how to cook air fryer turkeys in recent years, so they were asked to answer cooking questions by phone call or text.

This is a sign of practical cooking times. The use of air fryers has increased by more than 60% in the past two years, according to data from market research firm NPD Group. And the popular countertop staple is also taking off on social media with the “air fryer” hashtag being searched over 5 billion times on TikTok alone, and #AirFryerTurkey garnering over 925,000 views on the sharing app. of videos.

“Anything you make in the oven can be done in the air fryer — it just makes it faster,” said Aly Walansky, a New York-based food writer who recently experimented with air frying a turkey breast, told the Post, advising readers to invest in a large air fryer if they want to cook whole poultry.

“Because air fryers work with a basket that drains grease and drippings, it’s easy to use that basket to make sauce after you’re done,” she added.

For smaller air fryers, Butterball gave the Post instructions for making an air-fried turkey breast. The company recommends home cooks thaw the bird first, then remove the ribcage with kitchen shears and prep the breast with preferred seasonings and cooking spray.

Then, with the temperature set at 400 degrees, place the breast in the air fryer basket, skin side up and prepare to cook for 45-60 minutes until the bird’s temperature is at 165. Let the turkey rest for 10 minutes before carving. , advises Butterball.

“This new trend gives you a quick, crispy turkey in no time. Use this technique for smaller turkeys,” Butterball captioned a YouTube video tutorial for air fried turkeys.

Donatella Arpaia, chef and Noma Beach partner at Redfish in Miami, says the bird should be cooked seven to 10 minutes per pound and suggests adding butter under the skin.

“Use lots of olive oil, butter, and your favorite seasoning for air fryer turkeys that are juicy inside with crispy skin,” Arpaia says, explaining, “Remember to cook and flip. When it’s done, let it sit in the air fryer for 10 minutes before slicing.

The sides also play a supporting role in the air fryer, Arpaia said, encouraging home cooks to add Brussels sprouts, green beans and potatoes for crispy turkey sides.

“I love roasting sweet potatoes or root vegetables — Brussels sprouts are perfectly crispy,” Arpaia told The Post. “Remember, less is more. Too much oil in the fryer makes vegetables soggy.