I regularly cook a whole chicken in one of the best air fryers; it not only saves me time but also leaves me with less mess to clean up. What’s more, I find the meat is perfectly moist, and doesn’t suffer from this different style of cooking.
So, with Thanksgiving and Christmas on the horizon, it got me thinking — can you cook a turkey in an air fryer? I know some traditionalists will instantly dismiss the suggestion, but I wanted to find out what the experts think and whether it’s a good idea.
Apart from whether an air fryer roasts a turkey as well as a conventional gas range or electric range, I’m also concerned by the size. Turkeys are a popular choice when hosting for a crowd because they provide plenty of servings, and let’s not forget about the leftovers, but this raises the issue of whether you can fit a turkey into an air fryer.
Is a turkey too big to air fry?
“The main problem you can run into when air frying a turkey is the size of the air fryer and the size of the turkey,” says Jessica Randhawa, chef and recipe developer at The Forked Spoon. “Finding a turkey small enough to fit in your air fryer basket can be a real challenge with American-sized turkeys. You don’t want to get home with a small turkey only to find it won’t fit on Thanksgiving morning.”
You also have to ensure that the turkey doesn’t touch the heating element," Ed McCormick, Founder and CEO at Cape Crystal Brands, says. "It’s not the case of stuffing the turkey into your air fryer, there needs to be some extra room. Common countertop air fryers only allow for small whole birds weighing four to six pounds to be cooked this way.”
And he adds, “This makes it unsafe to cook large turkeys, as large turkeys will create poor air circulation, which will produce uneven cooking results.”
As a compromise, Bridges says, most people prefer air-frying turkey parts, such as breasts, legs and wings, over making a whole turkey.
What’s the main problem of cooking a turkey in an air fryer?
Apart from fitting a turkey into your air fryer, another concern is that it’s harder to cook a moist turkey this way. And as the perfect host, you won’t want to serve dry meat to your guests.
“Air fryers cook faster, which actually helps preserve moisture, but because the airflow is strong, the surface can dry out if the turkey is not coated with oil or brined first,” explains Andreas Hansen, CEO at Fritaire.
However, the simple solution is to prepare your turkey correctly before cooking it in an air fryer.
Despite these concerns, when cooking a chicken, I’ve always found that the skin is crisp and the insides are moist and tender.
How to cook a turkey in an air fryer?
First of all, think size. If you’ve got a dual-drawer air fryer, such as the Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket model, which is $149 at Amazon, it’s not going to be roomy enough, even though it offers 9.5 quarts of capacity overall.
You’ll be better off sticking with a single-drawer air fryer, such as the Instant Pot Vortex Plus, $90 at Amazon, which offers 10 quarts of capacity in one space.
Then, once you’re ready to cook your turkey, prepare it so it doesn’t dry out.
“Rubbing the turkey under the skin with softened butter or your favorite cooking oil will help keep the turkey moist,” says Lynne Just, Chef and Consumer Test Kitchen Manager at Hamilton Beach.
The next step is to place the turkey in your air fryer. “Make sure it fits comfortably without touching the sides,” says Mimi Morley, Senior Recipe Development Manager at Hello Fresh. “It’s important to make sure your turkey isn’t too big for your air fryer because air needs to circulate to ensure it’s evenly cooked. If you have a rack, place the turkey on top of it to help create an even crisp throughout.”
Just recommends cooking the turkey, or turkey parts, skin-side down at 350°F. “This helps the bird to ‘baste’ itself as it is cooking,” she explains.
It will also help to flip the turkey to the skin side up about two-thirds of the way through the total cooking time, which should take between 8 to 10 minutes per pound.
Check the temperature
The safe internal temperature for a whole turkey or turkey parts is 165°F, advises Just. “Check the temperature in the thickest part of the breast and thigh. If that temperature is not reached, add time in 5 to 10 minute increments until it is safely cooked.”
I’d recommend using one of the best meat thermometers to check the internal temperature of your turkey. The CHEF iQ Sense Smart thermometer, $64 at Amazon, comes out best overall in our buying guide, and it’s the one I use at home. However, if you prefer an instant-read thermometer without the smart tech, you could try the ThermoWorks Thermapen One for $89 at Amazon.
Leave it to rest
Once your turkey is cooked, cover it in foil and leave it to rest for at least 30 minutes after carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring it's moist when you are ready to carve it.
What should you avoid?
While it’s common practice to use aluminum foil in an oven to cover your turkey, it’s not advised in an air fryer. “I am always careful not to block the airflow with foil or let the foil get too close to the heating elements or the fan,” says Randhawa.
It’s best to be cautious with how you use it. “Aluminum foil is only recommended directly under the bird to make clean up easier,” explains Just. “If you use foil, make sure to poke holes in it so air can flow around the turkey. Blocking the air flow will cause uneven cooking.”
Conventional oven vs air fryer
If you want to cook a large turkey, it won’t fit into an air fryer, so you'll have to resort to a conventional oven or one of the best turkey fryers. If you do want to cook a turkey in an air fryer, you'll have to size down, or chose a crown, or smaller sections, such as breasts or legs.
Both methods can produce a beautifully cooked turkey, so your decision is down to what’s practical for you and how many you're catering for.
“In my experience, air-fried turkey does not have to be drier than oven-roasted turkey, as long as you do not overcook it and give it a rest time after it comes out of the air fryer,” says Randhawa.
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