How to Slow Cook a Turkey

Co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano

Last Updated: January 20, 2023 References

Turkey tends to dry out at high cooking temperatures, making it a challenge to get a perfectly cooked, juicy turkey. The key to moist turkey is to not overcook it, especially the breast and other "white meat." By slow-cooking your turkey on a lower temperature, you can help ensure that your bird roasts evenly without getting tough or dried out. Whether you cook the turkey in a slow cooker or slow roast it in a traditional oven, take care to start it on a higher temperature so you kill any bacteria and your slow-cooked feast is safe to eat.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Slow Cooked Crock Pot Turkey

1
Remove the giblets from the turkey. Take the turkey out of its packaging and check the body and neck cavities for any organs, or giblets. The giblets are typically in a small paper bag. You might also find a neck inside the turkey.
- You can discard the giblets or save them to make into a stock or incorporate into stuffing.
- If the turkey is frozen, you’ll need to thaw it first. If you thaw the turkey in the fridge, this could take up to 5 or 6 days for a larger bird.^{[3]
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Warning: Don’t rinse the turkey before cooking it. Rinsing raw turkey will only spread harmful bacteria around your kitchen.^{[2]
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2
Season the turkey to taste. If the turkey is moist, gently pat it dry with a paper towel. Set the turkey in a baking dish and rub the skin with softened butter or olive oil. Season the skin with salt and pepper, or add other seasonings, such as garlic powder, paprika, or thyme.^{[4]
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- If you like, you can add butter and seasoning under the skin or inside the body cavity.
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3
Cover the bottom of the crock pot with water. Put a little water or broth in the bottom of the crock pot. This will help keep the turkey from sticking to the crock pot or burning. If you like, you can also put some vegetables in the bottom of the pot, such as onions, carrots, or potatoes.
- There’s no need to add a lot of water or broth. The turkey will make its own juices as it cooks.
- Alternatively, you can use a slow-cooker liner to help keep the turkey juicy and prevent sticking. The liner also makes it easier to clean out the slow-cooker when you’re done.^{[5]
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4
Cook the turkey on high for 1 hour. Cooking the turkey on high for an hour will help speed up the process a little. It will also help quickly cook out any bacteria that might be in the turkey and make it safer to eat.^{[6]
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- Alternatively, put hot water or broth in the slow cooker and pre-heat it to the highest temperature setting before putting in the turkey and reducing it to low.
5
Reduce the heat to low and cook for another 8 hours. After the first hour, turn the crock pot down to low. Let the turkey cook for 8 more hours or until it’s done. You can tell the turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 °F (74 °C).^{[7]
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- Avoid opening the slow cooker frequently, since this will let out heat and slow down the cooking time.
- Take care not to overcook the turkey, since the white meat will become dry if it cooks too long.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Roasted Turkey

1
Remove the giblets from the turkey. Take your fresh or thawed turkey out of its packaging and check inside the neck and body cavities for a giblet bag. You can keep the giblets to use in stock or stuffing, or throw them away with the packaging.
- Some turkeys may contain a neck as well as giblets.
2
Rub the turkey with butter and add seasonings. If the turkey is damp, pat it dry with a paper towel, then set it in a roasting pan. The dryer the skin is, the more crispy it will be. Take some softened butter or olive oil and rub the entire surface of the turkey with it. Season the outside of the turkey with salt, pepper, or any other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic, thyme, or paprika.^{[8]
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- You can also put seasonings under the skin or in the inner cavity of the turkey.
- For example, you can use orange, lemon, clove, onion, and rosemary to stuff the cavity and infuse the turkey with flavor.
- Mix 1 cup of butter with chopped rosemary and thyme (1 tablespoon of each), 5 minced cloves of garlic, zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon, a pinch of salt and a dash of honey. Place it in the refrigerator until the butter is firm, then place slices of the compound butter between the meat and the skin of the turkey.
Warning: Don’t stuff your turkey if you plan to slow roast it. Stuffing may prevent your turkey from cooking properly and make it unsafe to eat.
3
Place the uncovered turkey in your refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Put the turkey on a rack inside a roasting pan. Place the turkey uncovered in its roasting pan in your refrigerator. Leave the turkey uncovered so that the skin can dry out, which will help it get crispy in the oven.^{[9]
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- Don’t let other items in the fridge touch the raw turkey.
4
Cook the turkey at 450 °F (232 °C) for 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450 °F (232 °C) and put the turkey in the oven in its roasting pan. Cooking the turkey on high heat for 45 minutes, or up to an hour, will help kill any bacteria and make the slow roasting process safer.^{[10]
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- You may need to remove 1 or more racks from your oven to make the turkey fit.
5
Pour 1 US quart (0.95 L) of apple cider over the turkey. Take the turkey out of the oven and drizzle it with some high-quality apple cider. This will mingle with your turkey’s natural juices to produce a flavorful jus gravy.^{[12]
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- If you like, you can sprinkle a few pinches of poultry seasoning in the liquid to add a hint of savory spice.
6
Reduce the heat to 170 °F (77 °C) and cook for 1 hour per 1 pound (0.45 kg). Put the turkey back into the oven and set the heat to 170 °F (77 °C). Depending on the size of the turkey, you may need to let it roast for up to 24 hours or slightly longer.^{[13]
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- To test for doneness, put a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh. When it reads 165 °F (74 °C), the turkey is done.
- Make sure your oven is correctly calibrated so the temperature doesn’t drop into the “danger zone” in which dangerous bacteria can grow, between 40 and 140 °F (4 and 60 °C).^{[14]
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  Research source} Use an oven thermometer to test the temperature of your oven and adjust the oven’s thermostat if necessary.^{[15]
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7
Carve the turkey and serve it as you like. Once the turkey is done, take it out of the oven and transfer it to a carving rack. Carve the turkey and serve it up with your choice of delicious sides, such as mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, or candied yams!^{[16]
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- Skim the fat off the liquid in the pan and serve it as a jus gravy.
- There’s no need to let the turkey rest after slow roasting it—it should be nice and juicy!

Community Q&A

Question

I need to roast a 22-pound turkey at 200 degrees. How much time will it take?

Community Answer

You could be looking at 20 hours. Check it at 14 hours for an internal temp of 160 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
Question

At what temperature do I roast a turkey slowly overnight?

Community Answer

You're trying to reach a temperature of about 160-170 degrees F, so if you put the bird in with the oven set on 200 degrees, it'll take about 8 hours to come up to that level. Use a meat thermometer, though, and check it after about 6 hours. Crank the oven up to 400 degrees F during the last 15 minutes to get a nice browning for the big finish.
Question

Does it stay uncovered the whole time?

Community Answer

If you are cooking at a low temp and slowly, don't cover it. If you are cooking high and fast, cover it with a large, loose sheet of tinfoil so the wings don't burn, then remove the tinfoil for the last 30 minutes so the turkey will brown and get a crispy skin.

Warnings

Do not overcrowd the crock pot or it may hinder cooking.

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Do not stuff a slow cooked turkey. The stuffing will not get hot enough to cook properly, which can increase the risk of bacteria.

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Don’t rinse a raw turkey unless you need to remove excess brine. Rinsing won’t get rid of bacteria, and it can actually spread bacteria around your kitchen work area and increase your risk of getting sick. The best way to kill germs is to cook your turkey thoroughly.^{[17]
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The USDA recommends cooking meat at no lower than 325 °F (163 °C) due to the higher risk of bacteria from slow cooking.^{[18]
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Research source} However, cooking the meat on high heat for an hour first can kill bacteria and reduce the risk.

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Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the raw turkey.

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