The meat of slow-roasted turkey literally falls off the bone, and the skin is a rich, golden-brown color. It is a simple, hands-off method of cooking turkey that consistently produces excellent results.
Why roast a turkey overnight?
In order to slow roast a turkey, you’ll bake it for a number of hours, usually 8 to 12, depending on the size of the bird. And this lengthy, slow process yields a golden, deep flavor, crisp brown skin, and impossibly tender meat that practically falls off the bone.
Its relatively hands-off approach is even better because it gives you more time to spend with friends and family. Additionally, you’ll have plenty of time to prepare the sides, complete the dessert, and set the table.
It only takes a short amount of active time in the kitchen to slow roast. You must carefully plan when you first place the turkey in the oven, though, as it takes so long to cook through.
Allow about 6 hours total for a medium-sized bird. If you have a large bird and want to eat early in the day, you might need to get up very early to prepare it in time. Alternatively, if you want to serve it later in the day, start the bird by noon.
Turkey should be roasted at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, but slow roasting of poultry used to be common practice. And until recently, it was a well-liked method of preparing turkey. Many members of earlier generations grew up roasting turkeys in the oven all night.
The majority of bacteria on your bird will be found near its surface, not deep inside the meat. Keep in mind that food-borne illness “danger zone” ranges from 41 to 130 F. Therefore, ensure that your turkey reaches 135°F in about 4 hours and 165°F before serving. Researchers discovered that eating slow-roasted poultry was safe in 2008 (1).
Small to medium birds are ideal for keeping your bird safely within those temperature ranges. For very large birds, I advise employing different methods and a higher temperature. This maple-brined turkey recipe works well.
Tips for a perfect bird
Slow-roasted Turkey RecipeSlathered with butter, dressed with thyme and stuffed with onions and lemons, this slow-roasted turkey is rich with flavor, succulent and wonderfully easy to make. Slow roasting is a long process with a rewarding result, make sure to plan in advance.
After preparing the basic recipe, you can experiment with different ingredients and flavors. If you adhere to the fundamental techniques and methods, you’ll have a delicious bird.
Try a spice rub instead of herb butter. While the herb butter in this recipe is delicious, you can also brush on spices by combining them with olive oil.
Instead of using lemons and onions when stuffing the turkey, try using oranges and spices. As the bird cooks, citrus and onions keep it moist, and oranges are a great replacement for lemons.
Before serving, a turkey should be cooked for about 30 minutes per pound at 250 degrees, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. I recommend slow-roasting only small to medium birds.
While slow-roasted birds may reach internal temperatures as high as 180 F or even 190 F, turkey is safe to eat once it reaches a temperature of 165 F. Keep in mind that when cooking turkey beyond the recommended safe-to-eat temperature of 165 F, the meat may seize before eventually becoming tender. You can lower the oven temperature to 225 F if you notice that your turkey is cooking too quickly.
When cooking a turkey, you can loosely tent the bird with foil if you notice that it is browning too quickly and keep cooking it until it reaches a safe temperature.
Although studies have shown that stuffed slow-roasted birds are safe (1), I advise cooking your stuffing separately from the turkey as a precaution when slow-roasting.
Yes. A brined turkey can be cooked slowly; the method is the same.
FAQ
How long do you cook a turkey at 200?
The low temperature and moisture are basting your turkey while you sleep as you slowly roast it at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for roughly 10 hours. No need to baste your turkey.
Is it safe to cook a turkey at 200 degrees?
This method, which involves roasting the turkey for 12 to 13 hours at 190 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, is hazardous. Because the turkey will take longer to heat up in a low oven temperature, there is a greater chance that harmful bacteria will grow there and that poisons will be produced, which may not be destroyed by additional cooking.
How long does it take to cook a bone-in turkey breast at 250 degrees?
Smoked bone-in turkey breast is a relatively easy endeavor. The basics are very simple. And it just gets simpler to get that smoked, juicy turkey breast if you have an electric smoker like a pellet grill or gravity-fed smoker. Place the turkey breast in a grill or smoker and cook it for 3 to 4 hours at 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
How many minutes per pound do you cook a turkey breast?
How long should a turkey breast be cooked per pound? The answer is straightforward: 20 minutes per pound at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. For instance, I roasted my 3-pound turkey breast at 350°F for a total of 60 minutes.