How to cook a Turkey in the Microwave?
I wish to expedite the cooking process of my turkey this year.
How do I cook a full 25 lb. turkey in the microwave?
It must be edible - preferably delicious!
Best Answer
Ok, I‘ll bite.
While according to Today.com Butterball posted a recipe, my contradicting answer is
You don’t.
At least not when you want a whole bird with crisp skin. Like this:
(Source)
- The inner volume of your microwave is most likely not big enough - for the experiment, I checked my freestanding 25l model: inner space is 215.0 x 337.0 x 354.0 mm, and the turntable has a diameter of 315mm. No 25-pound bird will fit in that.
- Cooking can therefore be done only in batches and you need to cut and portion the bird prior to any cooking attempt. The time needed to sufficiently heat the different batches (and reheating etc, so that you can serve your party) means you will not save any time.
- Microwaves cook, they don’t bake or grill and they are notorious for uneven heating. So to get a food safe bird, you need to plan a lot of extra time to ensure heat distribution which will almost certainly mean you need to overcook parts to get the whole entity to a safe temperature. Plus you don’t get the coveted crisp skin (at least not without a few tricks and even then the results are more dry than crisp, believe me, I tried). This means that it will barely meet the “edible” requirement and “delicious” only to those with rather uncommon preferences or expectations.
So if you have only a turkey and a microwave, I see these options or a combination thereof:
- Forget about the classic thanksgiving turkey dinner with the whole bird a showstopper on the table.
- Find someone who has a suitably large oven, for a 25 lb bird, you will need one that can hold a 16 inch roasting pan and don’t underestimate the needed height. Alternatively, a grill or barbecue, a turkey fryer or other suitable equipment should do.
- Cut the bird in parts, ideally separating various kinds of meat (breast, thigh...), find microwave recipes for the different types and prepare multiple turkey dishes.
- Get a significantly smaller bird and follow the USDA’s instructions or the ones from Butterball.
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Quick Answer about "How to cook a Turkey in the Microwave?"
Place the bagged turkey onto a microwave safe plate. Place your turkey into the microwave, making sure that it does not touch the top or sides. Cook it on 50 percent power for about 10 minutes per each pound. We used a 12-pound turkey, and it took about two hours to cook.How long does it take to cook a turkey in the microwave?
First, 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 it for nine to 10 minutes per pound on medium (50% power). That's about two hours for a 12-pound turkey.Can you cook a turkey from raw in the microwave?
Cooking Techniques - The Good Method A whole turkey takes 7 to 9 minutes per pound at 50 percent power and rotating the dish every 15 minutes. Consider using an oven-cooking bag to ensure even cooking. A turkey roll or boneless turkey breast can be cooked using the microwave probe.How long does it take to cook a turkey leg in the microwave?
Cover with plastic wrap, vented. Microwave on high (100 percent power) to start cooking, 5 to 7 minutes. Continue cooking on medium (50 percent power) 10 to 12 minutes. Turn drumsticks over.How long do you put a 25lb turkey in the microwave for?
Thanksgiving joke about 25-pound turkey goes viral - al.com....Butterball told the people at \u201cToday\u201d just how to do it:How to Microwave a Turkey
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.