What Temperature to Cook Turkey in a Convection Oven

Convection oven roast turkey is the best way to get crispy, golden skin with the juiciest, most tender meat. It’s a fool-proof method for how to cook the perfect turkey every time, with no basting required. And, it takes less time than a conventional oven. It’s easy to prepare and is sure to impress!

A truly mouthwatering holiday turkey is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the table. You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to use your convection oven to make the most stunning and delicious, juicy, golden brown, crispy skin turkey.

Do you have a convection oven and tend to not use the convection feature? Me too. Well, that is until I tried it for a few recipes and now I use it with almost every recipe, especially baking whole roasted chicken and turkey. Once you roast your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey using convection, there’s no going back. Trust me.

Serve this with Sugar-Free Cranberry Jam as a cranberry sauce alternative, and low-carb and low-FODMAP sides including Brussels Sprouts with Maple and Rosemary, or some buttery Colcannon made with rutabagas as a low-carb potato replacement.

Cooking the perfect turkey can seem like a daunting task, but using a convection oven makes it much easier With a convection oven, you get juicy, tender meat and crispy, golden brown skin without needing to constantly baste. The key is understanding how to properly use the convection setting to get the best results. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about cooking turkey in a convection oven, including the ideal temperature and approximate cook times

What is a Convection Oven?

A convection oven has a built-in fan that circulates hot air around the food as it cooks This allows for more even heating than a standard oven The constant flow of dry air also prevents pockets of moisture from forming, which leads to crispier skin on meats and poultry. Convection ovens cook food faster, usually 25-30% less time compared to conventional ovens.

Benefits of Using a Convection Oven for Turkey

There are several advantages to using the convection setting for cooking turkey:

Shorter cook time – the circulating hot air cooks the turkey more quickly A 20 lb turkey may take only 2 – 2 1⁄2 hours compared to 3+ hours in a regular oven
Even browning – the fan eliminates hot and cold spots, so the turkey browns evenly all over.
Crispy skin – the constant air flow rapidly dehydrates the skin, so no basting is required.
Juicy meat – sealing in moisture quickly prevents the meat from drying out.
Multi-tasking – you can cook side dishes at the same time, thanks to the consistent temperatures.

What Temperature to Set a Convection Oven For Turkey

For optimal results, set your convection oven 25°F lower than you would for a regular oven when roasting turkey. The temperature should be:

Conventional oven: 325°F
Convection oven: 300°F

The hot air circulates so efficiently that the lower temp prevents the turkey from overcooking on the outside before the interior is done. If you use the standard turkey roasting temp (325°F), the skin may brown too quickly and become dried out.

How Long to Cook a Turkey in a Convection Oven

Cooking times will vary based on the size of your turkey. Below are general guidelines for whole turkeys:

12-15 lbs: 1.5 – 2 hours
15-20 lbs: 2 – 2.5 hours
20-25 lbs: 2.5 – 3 hours

Always use a meat thermometer to determine doneness rather than relying on cook times. Turkey is safe to eat once the thickest part of the breast and thigh reaches 165°F. If stuffed, the center of the stuffing must also reach 165°F.

Turkey Convection Oven Cooking Tips

Follow these tips for the best convection oven turkey results:

Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a pan to allow air flow all around.
Pat the skin dry before rubbing butter underneath and seasoning the skin.
Brush with butter halfway through cooking if the skin seems dry.
Tent with foil if the wings or legs brown too fast.
Check the temperature in multiple places – breast, thigh, stuffing.
Let the turkey rest 20-30 minutes before carving for juicy meat.

Convection Oven Turkey Recipe

This simple turkey recipe lets the convection oven work its magic:

Ingredients:

12-25 lb whole thawed turkey
Olive oil or melted butter
Dry poultry seasoning
Salt and pepper
Aromatics like onion, garlic, citrus, herbs (optional)

Instructions:

Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavities. Pat skin dry with paper towels.
Brush skin with olive oil or melted butter. Sprinkle generously with poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Place aromatics inside cavity if desired. Truss legs with twine.
Place breast side up on roasting rack in pan.
Roast at 300°F on convection setting until165°F in breast and thigh.
Cover with foil and let rest 20-30 minutes before carving.

This simple recipe lets the convection oven work its magic for tender, juicy turkey with crispy, golden skin. The poultry seasoning gives great flavor without much effort.

Alternate Convection Oven Turkey Methods

While roasting whole is most common, you can also prepare turkey parts using the convection setting.

Turkey breast – Roast bone-in turkey breast at 300°F for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until 165°F.

Turkey legs – Cook at 300°F for 2-2.5 hours until deep golden brown and tender.

Turkey wings – Bake at 300°F for 60-90 minutes until crispy.

Ground turkey – Form into a loaf and convection bake at 300°F for 50-60 minutes until no longer pink.

Get Perfectly Cooked Turkey with Your Convection Oven

Understanding the ideal temperature setting is the key to succulent, flavorful turkey using a convection oven. Lower the temp by 25°F compared to a regular oven, and check the internal temperature to determine doneness. In no time, you’ll be serving juicy, golden turkey that looks and tastes like a pro prepared it. With the shorter cook time, you may even find yourself cooking turkey more often and enjoying leftovers throughout the week.

what temp to cook turkey in convection oven

Should I rinse a raw turkey?

No – you do not need to and should not rinse your raw turkey unless it has been sitting in a brine solution. Rinsing meat provides no benefits for food safety or cooking. In fact, rinsing the bird can spread bacteria (cross-contamination) to your kitchen through juices that may splash onto surfaces and utensils.

The only time you should rinse a turkey is if you have soaked it in a brine. Rinsing after brining helps to remove excess salt from the surface of the skin and meat.

If you’re unsure of what to stuff your bird with, I have the perfect solution for you. Aromatic herbs, fruits and vegetables are one of the best options to place in the cavity when roasting. They infuse the meat with so much flavor and make the best drippings for gravy.

My favorite fresh aromatics are:

Sage
Parsley
Thyme
Onion (or leek for low-FODMAP)
Garlic cloves (omit for low-FODMAP)
Apple or pear (omit for low-FODMAP)
Lemon or orange wedges – citrus pairs beautifully with poultry
Carrot
Celery

You can also stuff your bird with a savory stuffing mixture. It will take longer to cook and you must make sure the stuffing is at least 165°F before removing from the oven.

what temp to cook turkey in convection oven

Whole turkey – be sure it is fully thawed before cooking for best results
Butter – adds flavor, holds the seasonings onto the skin and helps create a golden brown, crispy skin
Turkey rub – I like to use my homemade all-purpose seasoning, or you can use your favorite poultry rub. If using single herbs, I suggest sage, basil, oregano, rosemary, garlic and onion powder (omit for low-FODMAP) salt and pepper.
Fresh aromatics – to put in the cavity during roasting. The flavors steam and infuse into the meat. See above for my favorite aromatics.

Temperature to cook a convection oven turkey

On the convection setting it should be cooked at a lower temperature (325°F), where roasting in a conventional oven is typically done at a higher temperature (350°F).

It’s best to place it on the lowest rack, where the bird itself will be centered in the oven.

Cooking & Kitchen Tips : How to Bake a Turkey in a Convection Oven

FAQ

Should turkey be 325 or 350 in a convection oven?

Since convection ovens cut down cooking time of turkey, you should set them for a lower temperature than you would a regular oven. A 300-325°F temperature is perfect for producing a delicious bird that maintains a moist exterior while also reaching an ideal interior temperature of 165°F.

How long does it take to cook turkey in a convection oven?

Convection Oven 325°

Weight	Cook Time (Unstuffed)	Cook Time (Stuffed)
6-10 lbs.	1½ -2 hrs.	1¾-2½ hrs.
10-18 lbs.	2-2½ hrs.	2½-3¼ hrs.
18-22 lbs.	2½-3 hrs.	3¼-3¾ hrs.
22-24 lbs.	3-3½ hrs.	3¾-4¼ hrs.

What temperature do you cook a turkey at in the oven?

Cook your turkey at 325 degrees F for most of the cook time; in the final 45 minutes, remove the cover or foil tent from the turkey, increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F and baste the bird with butter. The initial lower oven temperature cooks the turkey through evenly.

What is the difference between convection bake and convection roast?

Both top and bottom heating elements are found in convection ovens, but not all heating elements are used for all cooking settings. Convection baking uses the bottom heating element almost all of the time, whereas convection roasting uses both the upper and lower heating elements.