The Secret Technique for Cooking Tender, Juicy Turkey (2024)

Updated: Feb. 18, 2024

Finally! A juicy, perfectly roasted turkey is possible with this easy step-by-step guide to the spatchco*cking technique.

Looking to cook the frozen turkey in a way that it turns out tender on the inside and crispy on the outside? The Taste of Home Test Kitchen has discovered the secret to a perfectly cooked bird: spatchco*cking.

What is a spatchco*ck turkey?

To spatchco*ck, you remove the backbone of a whole bird and lay it flat to cook.

Why spatchock your turkey?

Though the presentation isn’t traditional, there are a few reasons we prefer to spatchco*ck turkey:

It’s quick. Because the bird is flattened, the cooking time is cut almost in half.
The bird cooks evenly. With a whole bird, the breast meat often dries out before the dark meat is done. By flattening the turkey, the legs and thighs (dark meat) are more exposed to the heat, and so they cook in the same time as the breast.
The skin gets nice and crispy. Since the whole bird is equally exposed to heat, every inch of its skin will evenly brown and develop that crave-worthy crispiness.

Convinced? Us too. Follow along as the Test Kitchen walks us through the easy steps of a spatchco*ck turkey recipe. Apply it to your Thanksgiving dinner—or any dinner this year.

**How to Spatchco*ck a Turkey**

Ingredients

1 turkey (12 to 14 pounds)
3 tablespoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 tablespoon minced fresh sage

Tools

The Secret Technique for Cooking Tender, Juicy Turkey (1)

Heavy-Duty Kitchen Scissors

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The Secret Technique for Cooking Tender, Juicy Turkey (2)

Turkey-Size Cutting Board

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The Secret Technique for Cooking Tender, Juicy Turkey (3)

Baking Sheet and Rack

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Kitchen shears: You’ll use a pair of these heavy-duty kitchen scissors to flatten the turkey.
Large cutting board: This task requires a turkey-size cutting board, ideally one with a trough to collect juices. Make sure to wash it between spatchco*cking and carving!
Baking sheet with rack: Using a baking sheet and rack will allow air to circulate for even drying and roasting.

Directions

Step 1: Pat the bird dry

Using paper towels, dry your turkey to remove any extra moisture from its skin. The less moisture, the more crispy the skin will get as it cooks.

Test Kitchen Tip: Lay a damp cloth beneath your cutting board. This will keep it from sliding while you work.

Step 2: Cut along the side of the backbone

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Place the whole turkey on a cutting board with the breast-side down. Then, locate the backbone along the center of the bird. Starting at the tail, use a sharp pair of kitchen shears to cut alongside the spine. Try to cut as close as you can to the backbone so you don’t risk cutting any other joints. You may feel a little resistance as you cut through certain rib bones of the bird—in this case, press down on the shears with both hands.

Test Kitchen Tip: Finding it difficult to cut? Stand on a stool for extra leverage.

Step 3: Remove the backbone

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Rotate the turkey 180° so that the uncut side is closer to your dominant hand. Cut along the bone again and remove the backbone from the turkey.

Test Kitchen Tip: Don’t throw away that backbone! Place it in a resealable plastic bag and save it in the freezer for your next batch of homemade stock or gravy.

Step 4: Flatten the bird

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Back to the bird: Flip it over so the breast side is facing upward. With two hands (and a little bit of hulk-strength), press down firmly on the center of the bird until you hear a crack. This is the wishbone breaking! Voila. Your turkey is successfully spatchco*cked.

One last thing. See how those wings are splayed out? Give them a quick twist and tuck them underneath the body of the bird.This helps keep the wingtips from burning and allows your bird to lie nice and flat.

Step 5: Add herbs and seasonings

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Transfer the turkey to a rack on a foil-lined rimmed baking pan. Mix the salt, pepper and minced herbs, and rub (with gusto!) all over the turkey.

Test Kitchen Tip: Adding salt to the skin now will help remove extra moisture so the skin can get extra crispy.

Step 6: Refrigerate overnight

Pop it in the fridge, uncovered, overnight. Trust us: A little patience makes a big difference.

Test Kitchen Tip: Don’t be tempted to cover the turkey with plastic wrap or foil before chilling. You want it to air out. The more the skin is exposed to air drying in the fridge, the crispier it will be after roasting.

Step 7: Get cooking

Ready to roast? Dial up the oven to 450°F and remove the spatchco*ck turkey from the refrigerator. Let your turkey come to room temperature while the oven gets toasty. (It’ll cook more quickly and evenly this way.)

At last! It’s time to cook. Send the bird into the oven and roast for about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours. You’ll know that it’s cooked to perfection when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 170°-175°.

Test Kitchen Tip: If your oven is filled with Thanksgiving sides or pie, consider smoking or grilling the turkey instead.

Step 8: Let your turkey rest

Don’t grab that carving knife just yet! Once out of the oven, let the turkey stand for 15 minutes before carving. This will help the meat retain its juices.

Step 9: Carve and eat!

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Follow our step-by-step guide for how to carve a turkey: In short, start with the legs, move on to the breast and finally plate up the wings. The end result is a gorgeous spread everyone will be grateful for.

Wondering what to serve on the side? Try superstar sides like Triple Cranberry Sauce, Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes and Sweet Potato Crescents. But be warned, they just might steal the spotlight!

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