Butterball experts say you can microwave a Thanksgiving turkey, even if it'll horrify your elders

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Millennials have taken to the internet to prank their parents and grandparents by ask them, "How long does it take to microwave a 25-pound turkey?" and posting the responses.

And, although the responses are filled with all the confusion and outrage that you'd expect, Butterball, the company known for its Turkey Talk Line has weighed in in defense of microwaving your holiday bird.

The whole debate began with the #25LBTurkeyChallenge, a viral challenge that started making waves during the Christmas season in 2016, but has returned to social media ahead of Turkey Day. Young people pose the burning cooking question via text, and snicker among each other at their family member's inability to comprehend which is more ludicrous: Cooking bird that weighs 25 pounds or doing so in a microwave.

Thankfully, North Carolina-based turkey empire, Butterball, took a definitive stance on the issue. According to their turkey experts, microwaving your turkey simply isn't as kooky as we all might think.

The company even gave the TODAY Show specific instructions on nuking your turkey to perfection, just in case your oven is too full or you're running out of time on prep:

  1. Thaw the turkey first. Never put a frozen turkey in the microwave!
  2. Place the turkey breast side down on a microwave-safe dish or plate.
  3. First, microwave it for 4 minutes per pound on full power (for example, 36 minutes for a 9-pound turkey) to get the cooking process started. After this initial cook time, the rest of the cooking needs to be on a lower power setting.
  4. Remove the drippings and baste the partially-cooked turkey so it begins to get that golden-brown skin.
  5. Flip the turkey over and cook it at 50 percent power for 8 minutes per pound (72 minutes total). Stop cooking every 18 minutes to check the turkey's temperature with a meat thermometer and baste it with the natural juices or a browning sauce.
  6. When the turkey reaches a temperature of 180 to 185 degrees in the thigh and 170 to 175 degrees in the breast, it is ready and safe to eat.
  7. Baste the turkey once more before serving.
But, in the meantime, no matter how you plan to prep your turkey, you can always laugh at these hilarious responses to the #25LBTurkeyChallenge on Twitter. Or you could find even more right here on It's a Southern Thing!



It might not be Thanksgiving yet, but that doesn't mean you can't start thinking about Christmas and all the shopping that comes with it.

If finding the perfect gift for everyone in your life feels a bit daunting, the good news is that the internet can make it a whole lot easier. Of course, you still have to come up with an idea or two of what your family and friends might like this Christmas, but we can help with that.

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