Rotisserie cooking a turkey produces a beautifully browned and juicy bird. The rotating action allows the turkey to baste itself in its own juices. While rotisserie cooking does require some special equipment it can be done using either a countertop rotisserie oven or an outdoor grill with a rotisserie attachment. If you’re planning on rotisserie cooking a 10 pound turkey you’ll need to know how long it takes to fully cook it.
What is Rotisserie Cooking?
Rotisserie cooking uses a rotating spit to turn meat during the cooking process. The spit is motorized to rotate at a slow constant speed. As the turkey rotates the meat self-bastes in its own juices. The juices drip over the surface to keep it moist and promote browning.
Rotisserie cooking allows for even doneness and thorough cooking with less risk of drying out the meat. The rotating movement brings the turkey into close contact with the heat source on all sides. This exposes the entire surface of the turkey to high heat for excellent browning.
Benefits of Rotisserie Cooking a Turkey
There are several advantages to cooking a turkey on a rotisserie:
- Promotes self-basting for moist, flavorful meat
- Achieves an evenly browned exterior
- Delivers even doneness from the exterior to the interior
- Infuses smoke flavor when cooked over a live fire
- Frees up oven space for side dishes
- Great for smaller turkeys up to 12 pounds
- Fun alternative to traditional roasting methods
How Long Does it Take to Rotisserie a 10 Pound Turkey?
Cooking times for a rotisserie turkey depend on several factors:
- Weight of the turkey
- Type of rotisserie used – countertop oven or outdoor grill
- Temperature maintained during rotisserie cooking
Here are some general timelines for rotisserie cooking a 10 pound turkey:
Countertop Rotisserie Oven:
- 10 pounds: 2 1/2 to 3 hours
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific countertop rotisserie oven model. Cook until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in the breast and 180°F in the thigh.
Outdoor Grill Rotisserie:
- 10 pounds: 3 1/2 to 4 hours
For an outdoor grill, place the rotisserie turkey over indirect medium heat around 325°F. Cook until it reaches the safe internal temperatures above. Use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness.
Turkey Rotisserie Cooking Tips
Follow these tips for the best results when rotisserie cooking your turkey:
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Properly thaw – Thaw frozen turkey completely in the refrigerator before rotisserie cooking. This promotes even cooking.
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Truss tightly – Truss legs and wings securely to body. This prevents flopping and promotes even roasting.
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Use a drip pan – Place a drip pan under turkey to catch drippings for making gravy.
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Maintain heat – Keep temperature steady at 300-350°F for even cooking.
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Baste with care – Baste occasionally with pan drippings to prevent drying out.
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Let rest – Allow turkey to rest 15-20 minutes before carving for juicier meat.
Get Perfectly Cooked Turkey Every Time
When cooked properly, rotisserie turkey is moist, full of flavor, and sports a beautifully browned exterior. For a 10 pound turkey, plan on a total cook time ranging from 3 1/2 to 4 hours depending on your specific method. As always, use a meat thermometer to confirm the turkey reaches a safe minimum internal temperature before serving. With the right technique, your rotisserie turkey will be a big hit at dinner!
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Putting a chicken on the rotisserie is second nature, turkeys, however, do not seem to get as much spinning love. I find this a missed opportunity, as a rotisserie turkey is one of my favorite preparations. The self basting action of the rotisserie’s spin makes for an almost foolproof dinner. I’ve never had a dry and disappointing turkey. Ever.
Maybe the thought of spinning a 14 pound bird seems daunting. Don’t worry, it’s not. As the saying goes, if you can spin a chicken, you can spin a turkey. It’s that easy.
While I have grilled rotisserie turkeys on both my Summit Grill Center and Performer, the kettle is my grill of choice. Turkey’s are big, obviously, and the Kettle Rotisserie ring provides more than enough vertical space for such a big piece of poultry.
If you are planning to wow your guests at your next holiday gathering, look no further than the rotisserie. There is nothing more tasty than a dizzy turkey.
What you need : 1 fresh or thawed turkey, 12-16 pounds olive oil salt and pepper butcher twine
Prepare the grill for indirect medium high heat, 350-400 F.
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When using the rotisserie, I mound all of my charcoal to one side of the grill.
Use a Char-Basket Charcoal Fuel Holder and an aluminum drip pan to help out.
With a pair of kitchen shears, remove the wing tips.
Wing tips do not have a lot of meat and worse, they are apt to burning if they stick out from the body. They are worth losing.
Generously salt and pepper both the inside and outside of the turkey.
Lightly rub olive oil all over the skin.
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For a rotisserie turkey, I up my trussing.
Not only do I tie the legs together and wrap the body, I also add additional trussing up over the wings. The last thing we want after hours of spinning is a wing to break loose and burn.
Mount the turkey on the spit.
Push the forks together before tightening the set screws, so that the turkey is compact and secured.
Place the spit on the grill.
If grilling with the rotisserie ring, be sure to set the counterweight to the side opposite of the breast meat. This helps balance out the turkey and reduces stress on the rotisserie motor.
For a 14 pound turkey, figure about 2 to 2 ¼ hours of grilling, when the deepest part of the thigh reads 170 F with an instant read thermometer or iGrill to easily monitor your turkeys temperature.
How to Rotisserie a Turkey Breast
FAQ
How long does it take a 10 lb turkey to get done?
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Weight
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Cook Time (Unstuffed)
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Cook Time (Stuffed)
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7-10 lbs.
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2½-3 hrs.
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2¾-3½ hrs.
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10-18 lbs.
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3-3½ hrs.
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3¾-4½ hrs.
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18-22 lbs.
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3½-4 hrs.
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4½-5 hrs.
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22-24 lbs.
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4-4½ hrs.
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5-5½ hrs.
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How long does it take to cook a turkey on a Weber rotisserie?
How many minutes should you roast an unstuffed turkey that weighs 10 pounds?
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How Long To Cook Your Turkey
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Turkey Size
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Unstuffed Cooking Time
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8 – 12 pounds
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2 hours, 45 minutes – 3 hours
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12 – 14 pounds
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3 hours – 3 hours, 45 minutes
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14 – 18 pounds
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3 hours, 45 minutes – 4 hours, 15 minutes
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