Why You Should Spatchcock Your Turkey This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is right around the corner which means it’s time to start preparing for the big meal. For many families the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner is a beautifully roasted turkey. But before you throw a whole bird in the oven, you may want to consider spatchcocking it first.

What Is Spatchcocking?

Spatchcocking also known as butterflying is a method of preparing a turkey by removing the backbone and flattening it out before cooking. This allows the turkey to cook faster and more evenly.

When you spatchcock a turkey, you are essentially turning it from a round, bulky shape into a flat and even rectangle By laying the bird flat, the meat is exposed equally to the heat, preventing the breast from drying out while the thighs finish cooking

Why Spatchcock Your Turkey?

There are several excellent reasons why you should spatchcock your Thanksgiving turkey:

1. Faster Cooking Time

Cooking a whole turkey can take several hours in the oven. Spatchcocking cuts the cooking time nearly in half, with some sources claiming it can be done in as little as 35-80 minutes.

The decreased cooking time is because flattening the turkey allows you to cook it at a higher temperature. Whole birds need to be roasted slowly at around 325°F to avoid burning the outer areas. With a spatchcocked turkey, you can increase the heat to 450°F or higher.

2. Crispier Skin and Juicier Meat

We all want a turkey with perfectly crisped, golden brown skin. Spatchcocking is the best way to achieve this, along with moist, delicious meat.

When the turkey is laid flat, the entirety of the skin gets maximum exposure to the hot, dry air in the oven. This allows it to get crispy and browned without the need to constantly baste.

Additionally, the exposed underside of the turkey essentially steams and braises in its own juices as it cooks. This keeps the breast and other meats deliciously juicy.

3. Better Flavor All Around

Along with a better textured turkey, spatchcocking also boosts the flavors. Roasting the flattened bird on top of celery, carrots, onions, and fresh herbs adds even more moisture and imparts flavor into the drippings.

This makes for the most delicious gravy and stuffing, boosted with all the rich, savory turkey essence. Even if you can’t stuff a spatchcocked turkey, cooking stuffing in a baking dish with turkey wings on top gets a similar effect.

4. Easier Carving

A whole cooked turkey is dramatic when presented at the table, but also difficult to carve neatly. Spatchcocking gives you tidy slices of white and dark meat that are ready to serve.

For the best presentation, you can separate the thighs and drumsticks, slice the breast meat, and artistically arrange everything on a platter. Serving already carved turkey means less work at the table.

5. Other Cooking Methods Work Too

While roasting it flat is most common, a spatchcocked turkey can be grilled, smoked, or cooked any way you want. Spatchcocking is simply the first step to prepare the bird into a more cook-friendly shape.

6. Overall Better Turkey

When you add up all the benefits – shorter cooking time, crispier skin, juicier meat, more flavor – it’s clear that spatchcocking is the best way to cook a turkey.

Preparing your turkey this way eliminates the frustrations of uneven cooking. Plus you get to enjoy more time with your guests instead of waiting for the bird to finish roasting.

How to Spatchcock a Turkey

Now that you know why spatchcocking your turkey is a smart choice, let’s look at how to do it:

What You Need:

• Turkey (12-14 pounds is ideal)
• Kitchen shears or sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Baking sheet
• Salt, pepper, oil/butter for seasoning

Steps:

1. Remove turkey from packaging and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Take out the giblets.

2. Place turkey breast-side down on the cutting board. Locate the backbone and cut along one side of it with shears or knife.

3. Repeat on the other side of the backbone to remove it completely. Save it for making stock.

4. Flip turkey over. Press firmly with your hands on the breast to flatten it completely until the breastbone cracks.

5. Place turkey on a baking sheet. Season all over with salt, pepper, and oil or butter. Refrigerate 8-24 hours.

6. Roast at 450°F for 60-80 minutes until thigh meat reaches 160°F. Let rest 30 minutes before carving.

And that’s all there is to it! With some good poultry shears and a little arm strength, you’ll have a flattened, crispy, and delicious turkey cooked to perfection in no time.

Cooking Your Spatchcocked Turkey

As mentioned above, roasting at a high temp of 450°F for about an hour is the most popular method. However, you can also grill or smoke your spatchcocked bird.

On a gas or charcoal grill, use moderate heat with the turkey skin-side up. Move it to indirect heat if it browns too quickly. Grill until the thighs reach 165°F, about 60-90 minutes.

For smoking, cook at 225-250°F for 2-3 hours until it reaches safe internal temperatures. Check often and move to indirect heat if skin gets too dark.

Delicious Recipes to Try

Now that you’re sold on spatchcocking your turkey, here are some tasty recipes to try this Thanksgiving:

• Spatchcocked Maple Bourbon Turkey – Bourbon, maple syrup, and spatchcocking are a flavorful trio.

• Citrus Herb Spatchcocked Turkey – Orange, lemon, thyme and sage brighten up this turkey.

• Spatchcocked Grilled Turkey with Chimichurri – Smoky grilled flavor and zesty chimichurri sauce.

• Spatchcocked Turkey with Gravy – Classic roasted turkey with rich homemade gravy.

• BBQ Spatchcocked Turkey – Your new favorite way to do turkey, with sweet and tangy barbecue sauce.

Make This Thanksgiving Your Best Turkey Yet

As you can see, spatchcocking your Thanksgiving turkey offers nothing but advantages. From reduced cook time to crispier skin, juicier meat, and better flavor, this method creates a better bird than roasting it whole.

If the idea of butchering your own turkey is intimidating, it’s easier than you think with the right tools. Grab some good poultry shears and try one of the delicious recipes above. Your guests will be impressed with your skills and love how moist and flavorful your holiday turkey turns out.