Can You Air Fry a Turkey in the Oven? Everything You Need to Know

Air frying turkeys has become increasingly popular in recent years as an alternative to traditional oven roasting Air frying provides faster cooking times, crispier skin, and juicier meat all while using little to no oil But can you get these same benefits by air frying a turkey in a regular oven?

The short answer is yes, you can absolutely air fry a turkey in a standard oven! While a dedicated air fryer appliance is specially designed for air frying, a regular oven can mimic air frying through some simple tweaks to your typical roasting method.

In this article, I’ll explain exactly how to “air fry” a turkey in your oven for a quick, healthy and delicious holiday centerpiece. Let’s get into the details!

What is Air Frying?

Before jumping into oven air frying methods, let’s first understand what exactly air frying is.

Air frying is a cooking technique that uses super heated air circulated at high speed to cook food The rapid airflow creates a crispy outer layer through maillard browning while keeping the interior moist

Dedicated air fryers have built-in fans and heating elements to generate this fast circulating hot air. But you can recreate it in your oven by cranking up the temperature and using convection settings if available.

Benefits of Air Frying a Turkey

Air frying turkey brings some excellent advantages over traditional oven roasting:

• Faster cooking – High heat airflow cuts down cooking time significantly. Expect up to 50% quicker cooking compared to oven roasting at lower temps.

• Crispier skin – The high heat airflow dehydrates and browns the skin for an ultra crispy exterior.

• Juicier meat – The quick cooking leads to less moisture loss, keeping the meat incredibly tender and juicy.

• Lower fat – Minimal oil is needed since the circulating air provides all the crisping. Much healthier than deep fried turkeys.

• Better flavor – Maillard reactions from the hot air bring out more roasted flavors.

How to Air Fry a Turkey in the Oven – Step by Step

Below are the simple steps to achieve perfect air fried turkey in your standard oven:

1. Select a Smaller Turkey

Since oven space is limited, opt for a smaller turkey around 10-14 lbs. Trying to air fry an 18+ lb giant won’t cook as evenly.

Make sure it fits comfortably in your oven without touching the sides.

2. Partially Thaw If Frozen

Only thaw the turkey halfway if working with a frozen one. The high heat will thaw the rest while cooking.

Fully thawing makes the skin soggy and less crisp. Let it thaw in the fridge 1-2 days before air frying.

3. Dry Brine the Turkey

Dry brining is key for both flavor and moisture. Sprinkle kosher salt generously all over and let sit overnight.

The salt will fully penetrate the meat, seasoning it and retaining juices. Pat dry before cooking.

4. Prep Aromatics

Chop up fresh herbs like thyme, sage, and rosemary. Mix with butter and stuff it under the skin along with garlic cloves and citrus.

The steam from the aromatics will really boost flavor and moisture.

5. Truss and Tie The Legs

Trussing brings the thighs inward against the breast to cook evenly. Tie the legs together to keep them tucked in.

You can also place the turkey directly on a roasting/cooling rack for air flow underneath.

6. Crank the Oven Temp Way Up

Preheat your oven as high as it can go, preferably 475°F – 500°F. This extreme heat is key for mimicking true air frying.

If you have a convection setting, use it to get the air blowing. Place turkey on lower racks.

7. Roast for a Short Time

Cook for around 15 minutes per pound, so a 12 lb turkey will need about 3 hours. Cook even quicker if you can go above 500°F.

Use a meat thermometer to confirm it reaches 165°F internally in the thighs when done.

8. Finish with a Quick Broil

Right at the end, broil the turkey for 3-5 minutes. This gives any pale spots a final blast of intense heat for extra crisping.

Keep a close watch to avoid burning. Consider covering the breast with foil if it browns too fast.

9. Let Rest Before Carving

Be sure to let the turkey rest for 15-20 minutes once out of the oven. This allows the juices to reabsorb for a moister carved turkey.

Slice into it and impress your guests with the incredibly juicy meat and crispy bronze skin!

Turkey Air Fry Oven Tips

Here are some additional tips to ensure turkey air frying success:

• Avoid basting or opening the oven which causes heat loss.

• Carefully rotate the pan once halfway through for even browning.

• Tent foil over any over-browning areas but avoid full coverage.

• Use a leave-in thermometer to monitor temp without opening door.

• Add smoked turkey wings or bacon over the breast for extra flavor.

• Injecting is unnecessary since dry brining provides enough moisture.

• Cook stuffing separately to ensure it gets done fully without drying out.

• Let the turkey rest before carving for the juices to redistribute.

• Carve across the grain of the breast meat for tenderness.

Get Crispy, Juicy Air Fried Turkey in Your Oven

While you may not achieve quite the same level of crispness as a dedicated air fryer, it’s certainly possible to air fry a deliciously juicy turkey with crispy skin in your trusty oven.

By utilizing high heat, convection mode, and strategic cooking techniques, you can enjoy noticeably faster roasting times along with all the flavor and moisture benefits of air frying. Give this method a try this holiday season and take your turkey game up a notch!