Cooking a turkey in a propane oven or grill closely resembles the way you cook in a stove fueled by natural gas. Often the main difference is that your propane appliance is much smaller. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooking a whole turkey with gas is a popular option. A propane-fueled oven can be used indoors and placed away from the main cooking area or on the counter near your other appliances.
Preparation
The process of preparing a turkey for a propane oven is similar to the steps you take prior to cooking it in your kitchen stove. A frozen turkey should be thawed before placing it in your grill or oven. Thaw the bird in the refrigerator and never at room temperature to prevent bacteria from forming. A frozen bird needs about five hours per pound to thaw completely. If you forgot or don’t have a couple days for your turkey to thaw, you can place it in cold water for about 30 minutes per pound. Change the water every 30 minutes to avoid contamination. Once the turkey is thawed, you need to cook it soon. Do not refreeze a thawed turkey.
Cooking
A propane-fueled oven or grill must be preheated prior to cooking. Turn the burners on high for about 15 minutes then adjust each burner to suit the size of the pan. You shouldn’t stuff a turkey when cooking over a propane grill or in an oven because it takes too long for the stuffing to reach the desired 160 F, resulting in overcooked meat, according to Nebraska Poultry and Eggs. Cook the bird until the inner meat reaches a temperature of 160 F as if you were cooking it in your regular stove. Ideally, your turkey should weigh between eight and 16 pounds for the best results. Expect to cook the turkey for 15 to 18 minutes per pound. Note that gas ovens don't produce the same even heating that electric ones do, so you should turn your food during cooking, according to the Camping World website.
Placement
You don’t want the meat and juice to drip onto the flame created by the propane, so always place the turkey in a roasting pan before setting it in the oven or on the grill. To keep your turkey from drying out, you should set a pan of water underneath the bird. The water also helps diffuse the heat so that the turkey cooks evenly. Keep the turkey away from the flames. If you have more than one burner, turn off one of the flames and set the pan over the area without the flame.
Alternatives
Instead of cooking a whole turkey in your small oven, consider using turkey parts that will cook more evenly in a propane stove and use less fuel. Turkey drumsticks, breasts and wings can be purchased separately or cut from you whole turkey for even easy placement in your small propane stove. In addition to easier cooking, you can reduce the amount of fat you eat. For example, a 3-ounce serving of turkey breast gives you about 10 grams of fat, while the same amount of turkey drumstick has closer to 40 grams of fat, according to the National Turkey Federation.
Warning
Cooking with propane can be dangerous, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. You can save your dinner and your family’s health by checking for leaks before you turn on the propane. Run soapy water over the outside of the hose that carries the propane to the oven to see if any bubbles appear. Air in the hose creates small bubbles if there is a leak. If you can’t stop a leak, you should call the fire department because fumes can easily cause a spark and subsequent fire. If you missed the leak and smell gas while you’re cooking, turn the stove off and call the fire department.
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