How to Rub a Turkey for Maximum Flavor

Rubbing a turkey is one of the best ways to infuse flavor and moisture into the meat before roasting. A flavorful spice rub will give you a deliciously seasoned turkey with crispy, golden brown skin. Learning how to properly rub a turkey is easy and takes your holiday bird from bland to grand.

Why Rub a Turkey?

Rubbing a turkey serves multiple purposes

• Adds flavor – Spice rubs impart seasoning directly into the meat This permeates the turkey with herbs, spices, salt, pepper and other aromatics.

• Creates a crust – The salt and spices form a flavorful, textured crust on the outside of the turkey This crust keeps the turkey super moist

• Enhances browning – Salt, sugar and spices help the turkey skin brown faster in the oven which gives you both flavor and ideal aesthetics.

• Saves time – No need to brine, which takes hours or days. Rubbing takes just minutes.

How to Make a Turkey Rub

Making your own homemade turkey rub means you control the flavors. It takes just a few minutes to mix up a batch using common pantry spices.

Some of the most popular ingredients in turkey rub recipes include:

• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Smoked paprika
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Dried sage
• Dried thyme
• Dried rosemary
• Light brown sugar
• Chili powder
• Mustard powder
• Cayenne pepper

Play around with the proportions to create your own signature blend. Make it once and you’ll have enough to rub multiple turkeys.

![Spices for turkey rub][]

Store extra homemade turkey seasoning in an airtight container. It will keep for up to 6 months.

Turkey Rub vs. Dry Brine

A spice rub adds big flavor fast, whereas a dry brine needs to sit on the turkey overnight or longer. A basic turkey brine is just salt, herbs and spices.

If you don’t have time to brine, a last-minute rub is a great alternative.

How Much Spice Rub Per Pound

As a general rule of thumb, use about 1-1/2 tablespoons of spice rub per 3 pounds of turkey.

So for a 12-14 lb turkey, you’ll need about 5-6 tablespoons of seasoning blend. Make more if doing a big bird.

Adjusting for Less Sodium

To make a lower sodium turkey rub, simply use less kosher salt in your blend. The other flavors will still come through.

When to Apply Turkey Rub

For roasting – Apply your spice rub right before cooking. If the bird sits too long the salt will draw out moisture.

For smoking or grilling – Rub on up to 24 hours in advance. The drier exterior does better with these cooking methods.

For fried turkey – Pat the turkey completely dry then rub on the seasoning immediately before frying. Any moisture will cause splattering.

How to Apply Spice Rub to a Whole Turkey

Rubbing a whole turkey is simple but there are some techniques that will really maximize flavor:

• Pat the turkey skin extremely dry with paper towels. Any moisture will make the rub slide right off.
• Loosen the skin from the breast meat and rub some spice mix directly onto the meat under the skin. This helps the flavor permeate into the lean breast meat.
• Generously coat the outside of the entire turkey with the seasoning blend. Make sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
• Rub the seasoning into any cavities and on the underside of the bird.
• Gently lift the wings and legs and coat with spices.
• For roasted turkey, it’s nice to use a binder like olive oil or softened butter to help the rub adhere. Melted butter also bastes the turkey as it cooks.

Tip: Resist over-handling the turkey when rubbing as this can tear the skin. Be gentle for the best texture.![Rubbing spices under the skin][]

Seasoning Boneless Turkey Breast

Boneless turkey breast is quicker cooking and easier to rub. Simply pat dry, coat with olive oil or melted butter and generously season both sides with spice mix.

Let sit for 10-15 minutes for the flavor to meld before roasting or smoking per recipe instructions.

Cooking a Turkey with Rub

A pre-seasoned turkey can be cooked myriad ways. The most popular cooking methods are:

Oven roasted – Roast at 350°F until the breast reaches 165°F and thighs hit 175°F. Basting with butter or turkey stock helps keep it moist.

Grilled – Grill over indirect heat, turning to cook evenly. Use flavorful wood chips for extra smoke flavor.

Smoked – Keep temp between 220-275°F and smoke for approximately 15 minutes per pound, until fully cooked.

Fried – Fry at 350-375°F for about 3-4 minutes per pound until golden brown. Be sure turkey is fully thawed.

Sous vide – Vacuum seal seasoned turkey and cook 1-2 hours at 135°F before searing. This makes the meat incredibly moist.

No matter which cooking method you use, a rubbed turkey will have so much more flavor than a plain bird. The taste difference is significant.![Herb roasted turkey][]

Serving Seasoned Turkey

A well-rubbed turkey is delicious all on its own, but also pairs beautifully with traditional Thanksgiving favorites like:

• Fluffy dinner rolls
• Mashed potatoes
• Stuffing or dressing
• Green bean casserole
• Cranberry sauce
• Gravy
• Corn pudding
• Sweet potato casserole
• Pumpkin or pecan pie

Take your holiday meal from bland to beautiful by learning how to properly rub a turkey. This simple technique will become your go-to for deliciously seasoned poultry.