How Long To Microwave A Turkey

Here'due south How to (Really) Microwave a Turkey

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I beginning saw the viral "microwaving a turkey" meme on Instagram, where my friend had posted a screenshot of her hilarious chat with her mom. (If you aren't aware of the trend, people are texting their moms asking how long information technology would take to cook a 25-pound turkey in the microwave in hopes of getting a funny response, then posting a photo of the conversation on social media.)

To be honest, I was less concerned about the fact that she was planning on microwaving her turkey and more than upset that I thought I hadn't been invited to her (imitation) Friendsgiving. Just subsequently seeing a few more very similar posts, I quickly realized I had fallen prey to a meme.

I assumed it was all a joke. You can't actually cook a turkey in the microwave, right? Merely although people were playing a joke on their moms, the actual human activity of microwaving a turkey can be done successfully. According to the USDA, it's i of the many ways you lot tin can melt your Thanksgiving bird. Hither's how long it would really take.

How to Cook a Turkey in the Microwave

Commencement, a 25-pound bird won't fit in a standard-size microwave. Start with a 12- to 14-pound turkey, and, according to the USDA, plan on cooking information technology for nine to 10 minutes per pound on medium (50% power). That's about two hours for a 12-pound turkey. For comparison, roasting a turkey takes about xiii minutes per pound, making the microwave a slightly faster pick.

To ensure the bird cooks evenly throughout, the USDA recommends leaving three inches of clearance on top and around the sides of the turkey and to rotate it periodically during cooking. You can besides place it in an oven cooking pocketbook, which helps evenly distribute heat. Don't stuff the bird considering — like to roasting a blimp turkey — the stuffing might not cook to a safe internal temperature before the bird is washed.

Checking for doneness is as well the same as if you lot were roasting information technology: Insert a thermometer into the breast, outer thigh, and inside thigh. The meat should be at least 165°F in every case. And although y'all tin use the defrost setting on your microwave to thaw your turkey before roasting it, don't microwave a frozen turkey (it might not reach a safe internal temperature).

Just hither's the thing: Similar to cooking fish in your dishwasher, just because you tin cook a turkey in the microwave doesn't hateful you should. The skin won't crisp, the drippings will cause a mess, and you're running more of a run a risk that it won't melt evenly. Chances are, you just cook a turkey once or twice a year. It's worth it to do information technology right. Here'due south our foolproof method for roasting a turkey — and if you're brusk on time, you can roast information technology directly from frozen.

(Prototype credit: Emma Christensen)

Grace Elkus

Deputy Food Director

Grace Elkus is the Deputy Nutrient Managing director at Kitchn, where she writes a monthly vegetarian recipe column chosen Tonight We Veg. She received her culinary arts diploma from The Natural Gourmet Constitute.

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