Cooking Turkey in a Toaster Oven (All You Need to Know)

Turkey is one of the meats that everyone cooks on special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since it’s a large bird, turkeys are often cooked in giant ovens. Now, if you don’t have such, you may wonder if you can still cook this bird in a toaster oven.

In this article, we’ll answer most of the frequently asked questions about cooking turkey in a toaster oven. This way, you can understand its downsides and know the proper way to do it if you pursue the idea.

Without further ado, let’s start!

Can you cook a turkey in a toaster oven?

Yes, you can cook a turkey in a toaster oven. However, you can have problems if you’re putting a whole turkey in a small toaster oven. Now, if you have a large toaster oven or only have turkey cut in parts, it will be alright.

Can you cook a whole turkey in a toaster oven?

No, you cannot cook a whole turkey in a toaster oven, and it’s for many reasons. For instance, a whole turkey may not fit in your oven.

Now, even if you have a large toaster oven that a whole turkey can fit, some parts of the turkey would be too close to the heating bar. Due to such, you may end up overcooking or burning those parts while leaving the rest uncooked.

For this reason, you cannot cook a whole turkey in a toaster oven. You can still do so if you want, but you need to cut the turkey in half. This way, the turkey would be cooked thoroughly, and that you can be sure that no parts will get burnt or undercooked.

Will a turkey fit in a toaster oven?

No, a turkey will not fit in a toaster oven unless you cut it in half or in parts. A whole turkey can be too large for typical over-the-counter toaster ovens. Even if the turkey can fit, some of its parts will be too close to the wall of the toaster oven.

Also Read: Cooking Meat in a Toaster Oven

How to cook a turkey in a toaster oven?

If you want to cook a turkey in a toaster oven, you can do it with the following steps.

1. The first thing you’ll need is to cut your turkey in half. If you have a whole turkey, you won’t be able to put it in your toaster oven.
2. Once you cut it in half, you can then start washing it and patting it dry. You can also use some marinade if you want and leave it overnight. 
3. If you’re ready to cook, at least leave the turkey at room temperature for around 30 minutes, especially if you just took it out of the freezer. 
4. Put some seasonings like barbecue rub if you want.
5. Preheat your toaster oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. If you have around 7 lbs of turkey, the cooking should be around 2-3 hours. To make sure you have a cooked turkey, use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the thickest part should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Once you’re done cooking, let the turkey rest for around 20-30 minutes. Such a time will allow the juices to return to the meat.

How long does a turkey take to cook in a toaster oven?

If you have your toaster oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, you can cook a turkey breast for around 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours. It should be enough to cook 2 or 3 pounds of turkey breast.

Can you cook turkey bacon in a toaster oven?

Yes, you can cook turkey bacon in a toaster oven. It’s excellent bacon if you cook it in a toaster oven. The extreme heat will give it that crispy and delicious texture. 

Further, you can enjoy uniformly cooked bacon compared to cooking it in a skillet. Lastly, it can be easy to do, and you won’t need to clean too much from all the grease that it may splatter from cooking.

How to cook turkey bacon in a toaster oven?

If you want to cook your turkey bacon in a toaster oven, you can do it through the following steps:

1. Preheat the toaster oven to 400°F. If it has no temperature setting, just let it heat up for around 5-10 minutes.
2. To make cleanup easier, line your baking pan with aluminum foil or baking paper.
3. Place the turkey bacon on the baking sheet in a single layer. It is OK for edges to slightly overlap.
4. Cook for 10 minutes before flipping the turkey bacon. (Turning the bacon is optional, but it makes the bacon crunchier.)
5. Cook for 5-10 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp to your liking. (Keep an eye on the bacon to ensure it doesn’t burn.)

Can you cook turkey breast in a toaster oven?

Yes, you can cook a turkey breast in a toaster oven. For example, if you have 2-3 pounds of turkey breast, you can cook it for around 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours with a temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to cook turkey breasts in a toaster oven?

If you want to cook your turkey breasts in a toaster oven, you can do it with the following steps.

1. Preheat your toaster oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Be mindful of the cooking time depending on the size of your turkey breast.
   1. 1 ½ to 2 hours for 2-3 lbs of turkey breast
   2. 1 ½ to 2 ¼ hours for 4-6 lbs of turkey breast
   3. 2 ¼ to 3 ¼ hours for 7-8 lbs of turkey breast
3. Prepare your turkey by washing it in water and patting it dry.
4. Use a large bag that can seal the turkey well. Put your marinade in the bag along with the breast. Flip the marinade from time to time to make sure that the whole turkey breast gets the marinade.
5. Once you are about to cook, remove the breast from the bag and boil it in the marinade. This process will allow better penetration and make sure no bacteria will remain.
6. Then, place it in your toaster oven while basting it every 15 minutes. You should have it cooked once you reach an internal temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Afterward, cover the breast in tin foil and let it rest for 15 minutes. The resting period will allow the juices to come back to the meat.

Can you cook turkey burgers in a toaster oven?

Yes, you can cook turkey burgers in a toaster oven. These burgers are healthier than regular burgers, although it has a lighter flavor. For example, if you want to make some, you can always do it, even with your typical toaster oven.

How to cook turkey burgers in a toaster oven?

If you want to cook turkey burgers in a toaster oven, you can use these steps as your guide.

1. Prepare your turkey patty by combining your ground turkey, egg, and your choice of seasoning and spices. Then, knead it so the seasonings and spices would incorporate well with the meat.
2. Preheat your toaster oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If your oven doesn’t have that setting, just turn it on and preheat for 5-10 minutes.
3. Form the patties and line them up in parchment paper. Afterward, place them in the oven.
4. Start baking your patties at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around 30 minutes or until your meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Remove it from the toaster oven and set it aside. Then, build your burger by adding your preferred ingredients. 

Can you reheat turkey in a toaster oven?

Yes, you can reheat turkey in a toaster oven. Since turkey is a big bird, you’ll likely finish it in a single meal, meaning you’ll have leftovers. The great thing about it is that you can reheat it in your toaster oven. 

How to reheat turkey in a toaster oven?

If you want to reheat your turkey in a toaster oven, you can follow these steps to get the best out of your leftover turkey.

Set your toaster oven’s temperature.

When reheating the turkey, you shouldn’t turn the oven up as high as when you cooked it. Thus, you should set your temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature would be low enough to stop the heat from taking away the moisture of your turkey. Further, it is high enough to reheat the turkey quickly.

Prepare your turkey.

The best way to prepare your turkey is to use foil to keep it close and add some stock or gravy to add moisture. Wrap it in aluminum foil and top with a couple spoonfuls of gravy or chicken stock. Close the foil securely after adding a pat of butter. You may also use a casserole dish, but closely cover it with aluminum foil to prevent the steam from escaping.

Start reheating.

Heat the turkey for 30 to 45 minutes or until well warmed. When reheating big slices of turkey, use a meat thermometer to ensure that each piece reaches the correct internal temperature. The temperature you’re looking for is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Summary

In a nutshell, you can cook a turkey in a toaster oven. However, it will not be ideal for cooking it whole. Rather than such, you can cook it by cutting it in half or in pieces. At the same time, you can also reheat turkey in your toaster oven if you have any leftovers.

And if you want to learn what frozen foods you can cook in a toaster oven, you can read that here.

Related:

• Bacon in Toaster Oven
• Cooking Eggs in a Toaster Oven
• Cooking Fish in a Toaster Oven
• Chicken in Toaster Oven

Resources

Image credits – Canva