How to spatchcock a turkey for quick, even and crisp results

How to spatchcock a turkey for quick, even and well-baked results

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Knowing how to spatchcock a turkey is the latest method in poultry preparation; this question is arguably as popular as asking how to season a turkey. In doing this, your bird will melt more than quickly and evenly, with delicious results to boot. The pare will exist crispier than usual and the meat will be moist, and so it'southward well worth the endeavor.

If you're new to spatchcocking a turkey, (or butterflied turkey as information technology's also known), worry not — hither we will take yous through exactly what to do pace-by-step to get your bird set for the table. Ameliorate yet, this same technique tin can be used with chickens and other birds. So sharpen your knives, and get ready for the all-time turkey you've ever tasted. (And when the turkey's done, exist sure to check out our guide on how to set a dinner table that volition impress your guests.)

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How to spatchcock a turkey

What y'all'll need

Poultry shears or dent pocketknife

Paper towels

Notation that for the purposes of this how-to, we used a chicken rather than a turkey, but the principles are the aforementioned.

i. Kickoff, pat your turkey dry in the sink using paper towels. Pick it upwardly and agree it vertically to allow any residual fluid bleed out every bit well.

patting chicken dry on countertop — (Image credit: Future)

2. Adjacent, identify it breast-side downward on a cutting board.

three. Information technology's going to rock because of its shape, so y'all need to concord it firmly in place for the next stride.

cutting a chicken using a pair of kitchen shears — (Image credit: Futurity)

iv. Using a pair of poultry shears, cut along one side of the backbone, working your style from the opening near the thighs to the cervix. Yous're essentially cutting the turkey in half, so don't be shy. If you find it difficult to cut through, stick to the tip of the shears and make small cuts.

If you don't ain a pair of poultry shears, y'all can as well utilise a pocketknife, but information technology's a lot easier with the shears. We recommend the OXO Good Grips Spring-Loaded Poultry Shears ($23.75, Amazon).

Cutting the backbone out of a chicken using poultry shears — (Prototype credit: Future)

v. Using your hands, pry open up the turkey slightly where you've merely cut.

six. Now, cut forth the the other side of the backbone. Take your time, watch your fingers don't make it the style, and make sure yous have a good grip.

seven. Once you've done this, remove the backbone completely and go on it, and the giblets, for stock.

8. Yous tin can likewise remove anything else abrasive at this phase as well, such as the wishbone or any large bits of fatty. You can use a dent knife to trim around information technology before removing.

two hands flattening chicken on cutting board — (Image credit: Futurity)

ix. Flip your turkey and printing it flat on the chest bone and so that the legs splay outwards, or if you lot adopt, similar a butterfly. It's not pleasant, but if you press information technology hard enough, you should hear a bone or ii scissure, then it volition sit flat more easily.

10. Flavor and baste your turkey. For chickens, we similar to use a combination of table salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian spices, but be sure to cheque out our guide on how to season a turkey for other options.

a chicken on a baking sheet with potatoes and onions — (Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

11. Place your turkey on a wire rack, and place it on a baking sheet. If yous don't have a wire rack, you lot tin use carrot and celery stalks, which tin can also impart some flavor. If there'southward actress room around the sides, yous can besides cutting up some onions and potatoes and spread them around.

12. Constrict the wings nether the breast for a finishing touch — information technology will look much neater as it cooks like this.

A carved turkey breast — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

What are the benefits to spatchcocking a turkey?

More even cooking — By spreading out the turkey, you're giving it a wider surface area, meaning information technology will melt much more evenly. This also makes the meat more moist on the whole.
Faster to cook — Every bit the bird is ameliorate spread out, it will cook faster likewise. This will save you hours in cooking time compared to the traditional method.
More crispy — More skin is exposed with none tucked underneath, and so there's more crispy pickings.
Tasty gravy — You lot can also use the backbone to better season your gravy; yous'd exist surprised how much of a divergence this can brand, and so accept advantage.
More room in the oven — By flattening out your turkey, there will be more vertical infinite for actress shelves in the oven also.

To ensure your bird is cooked properly, you'll need i of the best meat thermometers to make sure information technology's done. If information technology's taking too long to melt, it might be time to check out the all-time gas ranges or the best electric ranges for a replacement.

Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart habitation products as well, so is the all-time point of contact for whatever household communication! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over 6 years, so she knows what to await for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to exam has to exist stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare fourth dimension.