Here’s How To Microwave Your Thanksgiving Turkey

By Joey Tack on November 26, 2019

New York, UNITED STATES: Turkeys weighing about 11 pounds (5 kg) sit on a table before being eaten in the Thanksgiving Invitational Turkey-Eating Championship, 22 November 2006, at Artie’s Delicatessen in New York. Pat Bertoletti of Chicago won by eating 4.8 pounds (2.177 kg) of turkey in 12 minutes. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)

Yes, seriously! These are Butterball’s instructions to cooking your bird in the microwave!

How to microwave a turkey 

(These instructions are for a 9-pound bird)

1. Thaw your turkey first – don’t put a frozen turkey in the microwave! 

2. Place turkey breast side down on a microwave-safe dish/plate.

3. Microwave it for 4 minutes per pound on full power (so 36 minutes for this 9lb turkey).

4. Remove drippings.

5. Flip it over on its breast and cook at 50 percent power for 8 minutes per pound, with 4 intervals (about every 18 minutes, while checking the turkey temp at each interval.

6. Don’t forget to baste and add a browning sauce for a golden brown look that you are used to.