Crispy, Golden Turkey Skin: 4 Methods Put to the Test (and One Winner!)Cancel reply
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Clinton
I agree with seasoning the bird well with butter, kosher salt, pepper and thyme. I like butter better than olive oil. I make a paste with the seasonings spreading the mixture under the skin as well cover the outside. Then place in frig for 24 hours. Remove from frig and let warm up for an hour before baking in 425 deg oven to 150 deg temp. Let the bird rest for 30 minutes before carving. I love this method. Try it, you quite possibly will like it!
Jelena
Baked a chicken today, the 5th method and everyone loved it :) Thank you and Happy New Year!
Summer
Hi, Jelena! Happy New Year to you as well! I’m so glad your chicken was a success!
Sherie
The goal for us is always a crispy skin, flavorful meat and no dry white meat. A seemingly impossible task until you went and did all the work for me. I made the “Bonus” bird for Thanksgiving yesterday and followed your recipe exactly. I always do that the first time I make something a la James Beard and then make adjustments the next time I try to cook the recipe, adjusting for our taste. This was the most flavorful bird, with the best skin (which I’ve saved to make some cracklings to go on top of turkey Risotto as leftovers). The dark meat was cooked to a turn and the white meat was juicy, yet cooked through, and the flavor was superb. Used the pan drippings to make a great gravy. I didn’t have a lot of fat at the outset to baste, but I added a little turkey stock I had made the day before, and it was perfect. Another bonus, by airing the turkey, you can grab the neck, etc. and make your turkey stock the day before. Just an outstanding, five star recipe. Going to try it out on roast chicken next.
Hi, Sherie! I’m so glad this recipe worked for you! Thanks for letting me know! Turkey risotto sounds fantastic!
Cathee
Hi! I did #4 and can’t believe how great it looks. Haven’t tried it yet! Never did the air dry but I’m now hooked. Would love to post a pic but not sure how
Summer
Hi Cathee! I’m so glad the recipe worked for you! Thanks for letting me know!
Hi, Ellie! That’s still a great way to roast a turkey for great white and dark meat! This post is more about getting the crispy skin, which you can also apply to the upside-down turkey if you like. Enjoy!
Sharon Russell
In my many years of cooking turkeys, I’ve come to the same conclusion that basting is best! I’ve tried every trick in the book to speed up cooking time, make crispier skin, moister meat, etc, but I agree that Grandma knew best! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Marcy Chestnut
What about a boneless, skinless turkey breast? I have one, about 2 lbs, that I intent to butterfly, stuff and roll. Without a ksin to provide moisture, is there any point to dry brining or letting it air dry? I certainly appreciate any advice.
Hi, Marcy! I might skip the brine and air-drying and opt for wrapping it in bacon instead, similar to this recipe. Let us know how it turns out!
SHARYN
what do you think of trisha yearwood’s “no bother no baste” method of cooking turkey?
Summer
I’m not familiar with her recipe. I will have to check it out.
Stephanie
I’ve read that basting allows the oven to cool too much resulting in a drier bird. Your thoughts are appreciated!
Summer
Hi Stephanie! I read that too, which is why I tested the method. In my test, basting the chicken didn’t have any impact on the meat. It was still tender and full of flavor. Choosing to brine the bird (either wet or dry) has the most impact on the moisture content and flavor of the meat. I highly recommend using a brine. Lots of things are holding heat in the oven — the bird, the heavy roasting pan, etc., the small amount of air that comes out shouldn’t have much of an impact. For this test, basting created a crisp skin, with flavorful, tender meat. Good luck!
Thank you for all your work and testing (and to your family for hanging in there with all that chicken!) After much experimentation over the years, I found that the brining + 24 air drying works well. I just rub melted, seasoned butter over the skin before cooking then follow the Alton Brown method ) high heat for 30 minutes to brown, then lower heat and no basting. Although…I will say that basted chicken looks amazing!
Summer
Yum, butter. Maybe I will run a series of tests with butter next year!
Linda
I have been drying my chicken overnight oiled and seasoned for years. I “came up with” the idea when I made Peking Duck and thought I could probably get crisp chicken skin using this same method. I was so proud of myself and looked online and realized other people had already figured this method out. Boo as usual I wasn’t the first.
Summer
Great minds!
PHYLLIS KARL
WHEN I PUT THE CHICKEN IN THE OVEN IN 20 MIN.
THERE IS NO JUICE IN THE PAN TO BASTE.
Hi, Phyllis! Try tilting the bird to let the juices run out of the inside. If you still don’t have any juices, you can use chicken broth instead. Hope this helps!
Patricia
I plan to try this with the local turkey I pick up this afternoon. Thank you for an alternative to brining; I’ve never liked the saltiness or affect of brining on the texture of the meat.
J. Ed
You need to check out Alton Brown’s method of brining then roasting the turkey. A little different approach but I’ve found this to work wonderfully.
Summer
Thanks for your recommendation. I will have to check it out.
Bryce
This is so thorough and helpful for the home cook.
I have been hearing a lot of conversation regarding this lately. My question is, what about brining the bird? I wonder if you brine overnight and then let it air dry in the refrigerator the next night and then cook??
Excellent question, Karen! Brining ALSO seems to be a matter of some debate. Personally, I’m a big fan. I think you’re on the right track with brining and then air-drying overnight. Think you’ll try doing that this year?! Let us know how it turns out, if so!
I may try it if I get the turkey on time, depends on if my hub picks it up Tues or Wed…We also cook it on the weber and it is always delish. Happy Thanksgiving! I will post if I brine and then dry overnight
Summer
I’m a fan of brining (either wet or dry). Good luck with your bird. I’m eager to hear your results.
Crispy, Golden Turkey Skin: 4 Methods Put to the Test (and One Winner!)
I agree with seasoning the bird well with butter, kosher salt, pepper and thyme. I like butter better than olive oil. I make a paste with the seasonings spreading the mixture under the skin as well cover the outside. Then place in frig for 24 hours. Remove from frig and let warm up for an hour before baking in 425 deg oven to 150 deg temp. Let the bird rest for 30 minutes before carving. I love this method. Try it, you quite possibly will like it!
Baked a chicken today, the 5th method and everyone loved it :) Thank you and Happy New Year!
Hi, Jelena! Happy New Year to you as well! I’m so glad your chicken was a success!
The goal for us is always a crispy skin, flavorful meat and no dry white meat. A seemingly impossible task until you went and did all the work for me. I made the “Bonus” bird for Thanksgiving yesterday and followed your recipe exactly. I always do that the first time I make something a la James Beard and then make adjustments the next time I try to cook the recipe, adjusting for our taste. This was the most flavorful bird, with the best skin (which I’ve saved to make some cracklings to go on top of turkey Risotto as leftovers). The dark meat was cooked to a turn and the white meat was juicy, yet cooked through, and the flavor was superb. Used the pan drippings to make a great gravy. I didn’t have a lot of fat at the outset to baste, but I added a little turkey stock I had made the day before, and it was perfect. Another bonus, by airing the turkey, you can grab the neck, etc. and make your turkey stock the day before. Just an outstanding, five star recipe. Going to try it out on roast chicken next.
Hooray! Hearing this makes me so happy, Sherie!
Hi, Sherie! I’m so glad this recipe worked for you! Thanks for letting me know! Turkey risotto sounds fantastic!
Hi! I did #4 and can’t believe how great it looks. Haven’t tried it yet! Never did the air dry but I’m now hooked. Would love to post a pic but not sure how
Hi Cathee! I’m so glad the recipe worked for you! Thanks for letting me know!
Great Cathee! Best way to share a pic is in Instagram, just tag it #simplyrecipes
I thought that I had learned from you guys – to roast the bird upside down- ? Has that gone out the window?
Hi, Ellie! That’s still a great way to roast a turkey for great white and dark meat! This post is more about getting the crispy skin, which you can also apply to the upside-down turkey if you like. Enjoy!
In my many years of cooking turkeys, I’ve come to the same conclusion that basting is best! I’ve tried every trick in the book to speed up cooking time, make crispier skin, moister meat, etc, but I agree that Grandma knew best! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
What about a boneless, skinless turkey breast? I have one, about 2 lbs, that I intent to butterfly, stuff and roll. Without a ksin to provide moisture, is there any point to dry brining or letting it air dry? I certainly appreciate any advice.
Hi, Marcy! I might skip the brine and air-drying and opt for wrapping it in bacon instead, similar to this recipe. Let us know how it turns out!
what do you think of trisha yearwood’s “no bother no baste” method of cooking turkey?
I’m not familiar with her recipe. I will have to check it out.
I’ve read that basting allows the oven to cool too much resulting in a drier bird. Your thoughts are appreciated!
Hi Stephanie! I read that too, which is why I tested the method. In my test, basting the chicken didn’t have any impact on the meat. It was still tender and full of flavor. Choosing to brine the bird (either wet or dry) has the most impact on the moisture content and flavor of the meat. I highly recommend using a brine. Lots of things are holding heat in the oven — the bird, the heavy roasting pan, etc., the small amount of air that comes out shouldn’t have much of an impact. For this test, basting created a crisp skin, with flavorful, tender meat. Good luck!
Thank you for all your work and testing (and to your family for hanging in there with all that chicken!) After much experimentation over the years, I found that the brining + 24 air drying works well. I just rub melted, seasoned butter over the skin before cooking then follow the Alton Brown method ) high heat for 30 minutes to brown, then lower heat and no basting. Although…I will say that basted chicken looks amazing!
Yum, butter. Maybe I will run a series of tests with butter next year!
I have been drying my chicken overnight oiled and seasoned for years. I “came up with” the idea when I made Peking Duck and thought I could probably get crisp chicken skin using this same method. I was so proud of myself and looked online and realized other people had already figured this method out. Boo as usual I wasn’t the first.
Great minds!
WHEN I PUT THE CHICKEN IN THE OVEN IN 20 MIN.
THERE IS NO JUICE IN THE PAN TO BASTE.
Hi, Phyllis! Try tilting the bird to let the juices run out of the inside. If you still don’t have any juices, you can use chicken broth instead. Hope this helps!
I plan to try this with the local turkey I pick up this afternoon. Thank you for an alternative to brining; I’ve never liked the saltiness or affect of brining on the texture of the meat.
You need to check out Alton Brown’s method of brining then roasting the turkey. A little different approach but I’ve found this to work wonderfully.
Thanks for your recommendation. I will have to check it out.
This is so thorough and helpful for the home cook.
Thanks, Bryce!
This looks great! Thanks for the great tips especially the one of the dry skin. These photos make me hungry!
I have been hearing a lot of conversation regarding this lately. My question is, what about brining the bird? I wonder if you brine overnight and then let it air dry in the refrigerator the next night and then cook??
Excellent question, Karen! Brining ALSO seems to be a matter of some debate. Personally, I’m a big fan. I think you’re on the right track with brining and then air-drying overnight. Think you’ll try doing that this year?! Let us know how it turns out, if so!
I may try it if I get the turkey on time, depends on if my hub picks it up Tues or Wed…We also cook it on the weber and it is always delish. Happy Thanksgiving! I will post if I brine and then dry overnight
I’m a fan of brining (either wet or dry). Good luck with your bird. I’m eager to hear your results.