What is it called when you smash a turkey?

Spatchcocking (or butterflying) your turkey is a non-gimmicky way to get you to turkey perfection, fast. The technique involves removing the backbone and flattening the bird for cooking.

Is Spatchcocking a turkey better?

One of the biggest benefits of spatchcocking your turkey is that it keeps the meat moist while providing you with crispy skin. According to López-Alt, this has to do with how the flattened turkey sits in the pan—all of the skin faces upward in open air, while the exposed meat is on the bottom.

What is it called when you cut a turkey down the middle?

Spatchcocking is a super simple & super effective technique of breaking down your turkey. Basically, to spatchcock a turkey simply means that you remove its backbone, which helps the turkey sit flat as it roasts.

What is it called when you break the breast bone of a turkey?

—Spatchcocking or Butterflying the Turkey is basically cutting out the backbone & breastbone and laying it out flat skin side up to roast in the oven or cook on the grill.

How do you spatchcock a turkey breast?

How to Spatchcock a Turkey

What is the difference between butterfly and Spatchcock turkey?

Poultry is often butterflied. Butterflying makes poultry easier to grill or pan-broil. The more specific term spatchcocking refers to a variation on butterflying that also removes the backbone and possibly the sternum, typically from a smaller bird. Removing the sternum allows the bird to be flattened more fully.

Is butterfly and spatchcock the same?

To butterfly a chicken simply means to slice a boneless chicken breast horizontally almost three-quarters of the way and then opening it out like a book. On the other hand, spatchcocking a chicken refers to cutting the chicken's back lengthwise down the spine and then flattening it by pressing on the chest.

How long to smoke a 15 lb spatchcock turkey?

Smoke the turkey over low heat 225° - 275° F for approximately 11-13 minutes a pound.

How do you break a breastbone spatchcock?

What is butterflying a turkey?

28, 2022. by Rootstock Editor. One of the benefits of spatchcocking, otherwise known as butterflying, a Thanksgiving turkey is how much time you will save. What is it to spatchcock a turkey? Basically, it's a way of cutting a turkey (or any fowl) to remove the backbone and lay it flat.

Does Spatchcock turkey cook faster?

Spatchcocking turkey cooks more evenly and more quickly than non-butterflied versions, for stunningly crisp skin and perfectly cooked white and dark meat.

What is a clutch of turkeys called?

A turkey hen lays one clutch of eggs per year, these clutches can as small as four to as large as 17 eggs per nest (that's a big clutch and that's cool fact #1)! The hen lays only one egg each day, so if she lays 14 eggs it takes two full weeks to lay the entire clutch.

What is the downside of spatchcock?

As an added bonus, now that your turkey is flat, you have room to put other dishes on the racks below it in the oven if you so desire. The only downside to the spatchcock? You can't stuff your turkey.

What are the disadvantages of spatchcock?

The only downside is aesthetic; you don't get to present the Normal Rockwell turkey at tableside. Other than that, it is the best way to cook a turkey: Flat shape = even cooking. All skin on top = juicier meat and crisper skin.

Can you ask the butcher to spatchcock a turkey?

Taking the back bone out of a bird and flattening it, aka spatchcocking or butterflying, helps it cook more evenly and quickly. You can certainly do it at home, but if you're short on time or not up for tackling the task, you can ask the butcher to do it for you.

Do you flip a spatchcock?

It's important to flip your spatchcock chicken on the grill so it cooks evenly and chars on both sides. Use a good pair of tongs or even this large spatula that's so worth it!

Do you flip a Spatchcock turkey?

The Spatchcock

Remove the backbone and either discard or save for another use. Locate the breast bone and snip an inch or so in with the shears. Flip the turkey over so it is skin side up.

What is splayed vs spatchcocked turkey?

Unlike spatchcocking a turkey, which requires a certain amount of skill and strength, splaying is a cinch. You can use a paring knife to cut through the skin that connects the legs to the body, then just press down and pull on the thighs until you hear them pop out of their sockets and lie flat. Easy.

How long to smoke a 24 lb spatchcocked turkey?

Place the spatchcocked turkey skin side up and let it smoke cook for about 4 hours at 240°F. Monitor the temperature of the breast at it's thickest part and when it reaches about 158-160 it's time to move it from the heat.

How long to smoke a spatchcock turkey at 350?

If you are cooking your spatchcock turkey at around 350 degrees F. or so you will want to cook it for approximately 6 minutes per pound. Ensure your turkey is fully thawed before cooking or your cook time will be impacted.

Is a 20 lb turkey too big to smoke?

The ideal weight for smoked meat would be around 12lbs, no larger. As mentioned, you absolutely can smoke a 20 pound turkey, but it is going to require effort on your part.

Why is spatchcock better?

Why spatchcock chicken? Spatchcock chicken cooks more evenly as it's on a level surface, so the breast and thigh meat are done at the same time. The chicken also cooks 25% faster when butterflied, and because it's on a flat surface, there is maximum exposure to heat, which results in more crispy, golden brown skin.

Who invented spatchcocking?

"Spatchcock, a culinary term, met in cookery books of the 18th and 19th centuries, and revived towards the end of the 20th century, which is said to be of Irish origin.