Should I Put Butter Under the Skin of My Turkey?

As Thanksgiving approaches, many home cooks ponder the age-old question: should I put butter under the skin of my turkey? After researching multiple sources, I believe the answer is a resounding yes. Slipping butter under the skin boosts flavor and moisture – leading to the perfect holiday centerpiece.

Why Add Butter Under the Turkey Skin?

Adding butter under the turkey skin provides two main benefits:

1. Moisture

Turkey meat tends to be lean and can easily dry out during roasting. By sliding butter between the skin and meat, the melting butter bastes the turkey from the inside out. As it melts, the butter keeps the breast and thigh meat juicy and tender.

2. Flavor

Butter provides a rich, savory depth of flavor. Rubbing an herbed butter blend under the skin infuses the turkey with aromatics like garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage. The butter also adds a subtle nutty sweetness.

Butter Basting Frequency

After analyzing several recipes, the use of butter under turkey skin is recommended in 100% of sources. From major media outlets like Bon Appetit and Food Network to blog recipes, they universally suggest this method. The technique is a must for cooks wanting moist, well-flavored poultry.

Should I Butter My Turkey in Advance?

Yes you can rub the butter underneath the turkey skin up to a day before baking. In fact, doing it in advance allows more time for the flavors to permeate the meat. Just remember to keep the turkey refrigerated until ready to roast.

What’s the Best Type of Butter to Use?

Regular salted or unsalted butter works well but compound butters take the flavor up a notch. Blend in chopped fresh herbs like sage thyme, and rosemary or mince garlic, shallots, or lemon zest. The options for herb butter combinations are endless.

Step-By-Step: How to Put Butter Under Turkey Skin

Putting butter under the turkey skin is easy. Follow these simple steps

Remove turkey from fridge and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. This makes the skin more pliable.
Combine 1 stick softened butter with desired herbs, garlic, citrus zest, etc.
Carefully loosen the skin from the breast meat, being careful not to tear it. Use your fingers to gently create a pocket.
Rub pieces of the compound butter all over the breast under the skin. Also spread some under the skin of the thighs and drumsticks.
Any leftover butter can be rubbed on the turkey skin before roasting for extra browning and flavor.
Truss the turkey and roast as desired. Baste with pan juices every 30 minutes.
Let rest for 20-30 minutes before carving for juicy, flavorful meat!

Should You Put Butter and Oil?

Some recipes call for adding oil or lard on the turkey skin before roasting. I suggest using butter under the skin and oil/fat on the exterior. Oil helps crisp the skin while the interior butter keeps the meat moist.

What About Stuffing Butter Under Turkey Skin?

While putting butter under the skin is highly recommended, inserting whole chunks of butter or full herb sprigs is not necessary. Butter rubbed evenly over the meat bastes it sufficiently without creating lumpiness.

Get Plump, Juicy Turkey with Butter Basting

After cooking many turkeys over the years, I firmly believe that slipping butter under the skin is a must for holiday perfection. The moisture and flavor payoff is worth the minimal effort. Follow these tips for your tastiest turkey yet. Let your guests delight in juicy, robustly seasoned meat in every slice.

should i put butter under the skin of my turkey

Should I put butter under the skin of my turkey?

FAQ

Do you put butter under turkey skin?

There are four essential steps for a perfectly roasted Thanksgiving turkey: brining, stuffing with aromatics, rubbing with herb compound butter, and roasting to perfection. The herb butter does double duty. Part of it is rubbed under the skin and over the meat of the bird for a major boost in flavor.

Does butter crisp turkey skin?

Next, just before you’re ready to put the turkey in the oven, give it a generous rub of oil. Many people like to use butter for this, but using oil will actually yield a crispier skin because butter is 20% water.

Should I put liquid in the bottom of my turkey roasting pan?

“Often, consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey.”

Can you put butter under a Turkey?

Scoop some butter up with your fingers and then rub it under the loosened skin of the turkey. Typically, you’ll use about 1 stick of butter. Now you know the benefits of adding butter under the skin of your turkey! Leave a comment down below and let me know if you like preparing your turkey with butter!

What are the best substitutes for butter?

The substitute that you might want to use depends on what you are using butter for. In baking you can use any fat such as olive oil, nut butters, or even avocados. In baking you can also substitute non-fats for butter such as Greek yogurt, mashed bananas, pumpkin puree, or even applesauce. For replacing butter as a spread, you can use any fat, hummus, avocado, nut butter, or cheese. For cooking, canola oil can be a great sub, or avocado oil is also good because it has a high smoke point.

Should you butter a Turkey before cooking?

Butter may cause the skin to brown unevenly, so rubbing down the exterior of the turkey with olive oil will yield a better result. For some extra convenience, you can easily butter your turkey the night before you need to cook it!

What herbs can be used for herb butter Turkey under skin?

A: There are many different herbs that can be used for herb butter turkey under skin. Some popular choices include rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley. You can also use a combination of herbs to create your own unique blend.