Save space in your oven this Christmas by cooking a Turkey Crown in the airfryer instead. Delicious juicy meat with a crispy skin in just 60 minutes!
Christmas dinner can be hard work. Yes it’s a lot of prep but my main problem is finding space for everything in the oven and getting the timings right.
So this year I’ve decided to cook my turkey in the airfryer instead. It’s quicker, more economical on energy usage and quite frankly a lot easier too.
Personally I much prefer turkey crowns over a full turkey. They’re cheaper to buy and there tends to be much less waste. Plus they’re quicker to cook which means less chance of some of the meat going dry.
Boneless or Bone In Turkey Crown?
For this recipe I’ve used a bone in turkey crown which means the breasts are still attached to the bone. This helps to keep the breast meat really succulent.
I also opted for a crown with the legs still attached but that’s optional.
What size Airfryer to cook a Turkey Crown
It’s important to choose a turkey crown that will fit your airfryer. I used a 2kg crown and my airfryer has a 6.5 litre capacity so it is quite big. If your airfryer is small then choose a small crown or one without the legs attached.
How To Cook a Turkey Crown in the Airfryer
The first step to cooking a turkey crown in the airfryer is to pat the turkey with kitchen roll to remove any moisture. This will help to get the skin super crispy.
Next, mix some oil with seasoning. I used oregano, paprika and garlic powder but any dry seasoning you like will be fine.
Use a pastry brush to coat the top of the crown with the oil mixture.
Turn the crown over and brush the remainder of the oil mixture onto the legs.
Add a halved clementine, garlic cloves and fresh herbs such as sage and rosemary into the cavity of the bird.
Next, place the crown into the airfryer upside down.
If the bones of the turkey are sticking up beyond the top of the airfryer then you can push them down, breaking them slightly so that the crown lies flatter.
Cook at 180c for 30 minutes.
Stop the airfryer and use two forks to turn the turkey crown over.
Cook for another 30 minutes.
About 15-20 minutes into this second half of cooking check the turkey to see how much the skin has browned.
If it has browned this much then I would recommend adding a layer of tin foil to the top to stop the skin from over-browning.
How to check the Temperature on a Turkey Crown
After a total cooking time of 1 hour check the temperature of the turkey at the thickest part of the bird.
The temperature should be a minimum of 72 degrees celsius for at least 2 minutes.
To be safe I check the temperature in this way at several parts throughout the crown.
If the meat hasn’t reached the correct temperature then continue to cook it for 5-6 minute intervals, checking the temperature as you go along.
Does a Turkey Crown need to rest?
Yes a turkey crown should be rested for a minimum of 20 minutes. The juices all migrate towards the skin when cooking. If you slice it straight away the breast meat will be dry.
Allow the turkey to rest and the juice will reabsorb into the rest of the meat.
After 20 minutes, carve and enjoy. The meat will still be warm inside.
How To Store Turkey Leftovers
Any leftover turkey meat should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Kitchens tend to be very hot on Christmas Day so personally I wouldn’t leave it out for more than 1 hour.
Add to an airtight container with a lid or wrap in foil and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Leftover Turkey Recipes
If you have leftovers try these recipes:
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Airfryer Turkey Crown
Prep Time: 8 minutes- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 8 minutes
Yield: 6 1x
Category: Christmas
Cuisine: Turkey
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Save space in your oven this Christmas by cooking a Turkey Crown in the airfryer instead. Delicious juicy meat with a crispy skin in just 60 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 kg turkey crown
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 clementine
- 2 garlic cloves
- fresh herbs such as rosemary and sage
Instructions
- Remove the turkey crown from the fridge 1 hour before cooking to bring it to room temperature.
- Pat the crown dry with kitchen roll to remove moisture from the skin.
- Mix the oil, oregano, paprika and garlic powder together in a small bowl.
- Use a pastry brush to brush this oil mixture all over the turkey crown.
- Turn the crown over and use the remainder on the legs.
- Cut the clementine in two and add this to the cavity of the bird.
- Peel the garlic cloves, crush them slightly with a knife and add them too along with the fresh herbs.
- Place the turkey crown in the airfryer upside down.
- Cook at 180c for 30 minutes.
- Stop the airfryer and use two forks to turn the crown the right way round.
- Cook for a further 30 minutes.
- About 15-20 minutes into this second half of cooking check the crown to see if the skin has browned. You can add a layer of tin foil to the top at this point to stop it over-browning for the remainder of the time.
- Check the temperature of the meat by sticking a meat thermometer into the thickest part. The temperature should be 72 degrees celsius for at least 2 minutes. Check several parts of the bird to ensure it is adequately cooked.
- If it hasn’t reached the correct temperature then continue to cook at 5-6 minute intervals.
- Allow the turkey crown to rest for at least 20 minutes before carving.
Notes
Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container or wrapped in foil in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen and defrosted in the fridge overnight. If freezing, use within 2 months.
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