It happens every single year. You’re scrolling through X (formerly Twitter), minding your own business, when a butterball turkey video twitter clip starts blowing up your feed. Usually, it’s one of two things: a hilarious cooking disaster that makes you feel better about your own kitchen skills, or a heavy, controversial investigative clip that’s been recirculating for nearly two decades.
Honestly, the internet has a long memory, but it’s also kinda terrible at keeping dates straight.
If you've seen a video lately and wondered if it's new, if you should be worried about a recall, or if people are actually microwaving 25-pound birds, you aren't alone. Let’s break down what’s actually happening with Butterball on social media right now and why these specific videos keep haunting our timelines.
The Recurring "Abuse Video" Controversy
Every November and December, a specific, disturbing video resurfaces. It usually shows undercover footage of animal mistreatment at a turkey facility. If you’ve seen this on your "For You" page lately, there is a massive piece of context you're probably missing.
The footage being shared in 2025 and 2026 actually dates back to 2006 and 2011.
Wait, really? Yeah. It’s nearly 20 years old.
In late 2024 and 2025, PETA and other animal rights groups began re-sharing this vintage footage. Because the internet is a giant game of telephone, many users assumed it was brand new. This led to frantic searches about a Butterball turkey recall, but the USDA and FDA have confirmed there is no current recall related to these old videos. Butterball themselves released a statement clarifying that the footage predates their current ownership and their 2013 American Humane Certification.
Social media algorithms don't care about "old news." They care about "engagement." Since people react strongly to these clips, they get pushed back to the top of the feed every single holiday season like clockwork.
The Viral "Microwave Challenge" That Won't Die
On a much lighter—and weirder—note, the "Microwave Your Turkey" prank still manages to trick parents every year. It started as a "text your mom" challenge where kids asked how to cook a massive turkey in the microwave.
Twitter absolutely lost it when the official Butterball account chimed in.
Instead of saying "that's impossible," they basically said, "Actually... you can do it." According to their experts, you can technically microwave a small turkey (around 12 pounds) if you're in a total pinch.
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How to (Technically) Microwave a Turkey
If you're brave (or desperate) enough to try the method that went viral on Twitter:
- Thaw it completely. Never, ever put a frozen bird in the microwave.
- Power levels matter. Start at full power for about 4 minutes per pound.
- The flip. You have to flip it breast-side down halfway through and drop to 50% power.
- The "Golden" problem. Microwaves don't brown food. You’ll need a browning sauce or a quick broil at the end, or it’ll look like a giant boiled potato.
The 2026 Slow Cooker Hack
Moving into the 2025-2026 holiday season, the butterball turkey video twitter trend has shifted toward "Crockpot Cranberry Turkey." This is the "lazy girl" version of Thanksgiving that’s currently winning over Gen Z.
Instead of a 20-pound bird, people are filming themselves tossing a Butterball turkey breast into a slow cooker with a can of jellied cranberry sauce and a packet of onion soup mix. It sounds chaotic. It looks kind of messy on camera. But according to the thousands of people sharing the recipe, it’s the juiciest turkey you’ll ever eat.
The "upside-down turkey" method is also gaining traction again. The idea is that the fat from the back of the bird drips down into the breast meat while it roasts, preventing that "eating a wool sweater" dryness we all dread.
The Turkey Talk-Line: Real People, Real Chaos
We can't talk about Butterball on social media without mentioning the Talk-Line. While the hotline is a legacy service, the "behind the scenes" videos are what go viral now.
Have you heard the "Chainsaw Story"? It’s a classic. A man once called because he used a chainsaw to cut his turkey in half and wanted to know if the chain oil would ruin the meat. (Spoiler: Yes, don't eat chainsaw turkey.)
Then there’s the "Bathtub Thaw." Every few years, a video or tweet goes viral about a caller who tried to thaw their turkey in a bathtub while their kids were taking a bath. The experts at Butterball have heard it all, and they’ve turned these horror stories into a goldmine for social media content.
Spotting Misinformation in Your Feed
When you see a butterball turkey video twitter post, check the timestamp and the source. If it’s a "hidden camera" video, look for a date. Usually, these are part of larger awareness campaigns using archival footage.
If it’s a cooking hack, check the comments. People are very quick to point out if a "hack" is actually a salmonella risk. For instance, "stuffing the turkey the night before" is a recurring viral tip that experts say is a huge no-no because it breeds bacteria.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Bird
- Check the Date: If you see a "scandal" video, verify the year before joining a boycott.
- Verify Recalls: Go straight to USDA.gov rather than trusting a random tweet.
- Use the Tech: If you're stressed, you don't have to call; you can text the Butterball experts or DM them on social media for real-time help.
- Try the Upside-Down Method: If you want to follow a Twitter trend that actually works, roast your turkey breast-side down for the first hour to lock in moisture.
Social media makes everything feel like an immediate crisis or a "must-try" miracle. In reality, most of these videos are just part of the long, strange history of America’s most famous bird.