How to Reheat a Whole Turkey Without Overcooking It

Turkey season may be exhausting. It’s no surprise that you’re considering buying a pre-made turkey or preparing your turkey a day ahead of time.

It will not only save you time and give you more room to prepare other things, but it will also help ease some of your Christmas tension.

Nevertheless, before you go out and buy a pre-made turkey, you need know how to properly reheat it.

Tips for Reheating a Whole Turkey

Sadly, reheating a whole turkey is more complicated than just putting it in the oven. Follow these guidelines to ensure a juicy, moist chicken.

Let your meat to come to room temperature before searing Denver steaks or cooking 3-2-1 ribs in an electric smoker.

The same rules apply for reheating a whole turkey.

Take the turkey from the refrigerator at least an hour before reheating.

There are certain safety worries about keeping a turkey at room temperature, but there is no reason to be concerned.

Since the turkey has already been cooked and will not be at room temperature for more than 2 hours, it is perfectly fine to leave it out.

Moreover, allowing the chicken to get to room temperature allows the bird to come to room temperature, making it easier to reheat.

If you reheat the turkey as soon as it comes out of the fridge, it will most likely be dry.

In addition, before putting your turkey in the oven, cover it with foil. The foil will contain moisture, allowing the meat to stay juicy when reheated.

When it comes to cooking or reheating any meat, temperature is crucial. The turkey may dry out if your oven is too hot.

Although though it will take longer to reheat, it is recommended to set the oven temperature lower.

The ideal temperature for reheating a full turkey is 250 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are pressed for time, you may set your oven to 325F.

If you heat your oven over 325 degrees Fahrenheit, your turkey will be dry.

In addition to the temperature at which the turkey is reheated, you must also consider the bird’s inside temperature.

Watching the temperature of the bird will enable you to remove it from the oven at the appropriate moment and avoid the turkey from drying out.

Again, an infrared thermometer or a probe thermometer will enable you to monitor the progress of your bird.

Since the turkey is already cooked, you want it to become hot enough to raise the temperature over the danger zone and kill any germs.

As a result, after your turkey has reached a temperature of 140F-150F, remove it from the oven.

Indeed, 165F is the recommended temperature for reheating meats. But, if you cook the turkey over 150°F, it will dry out.

Also, the temperature of the turkey will continue to raise while it rests, so there is no need to be concerned about dangerous flesh.

How Long Does Reheating a Whole Turkey Take?

The time required to reheat a turkey varies.

Even if you anticipate cooking time, some birds are larger than others and may take longer to reach the appropriate temperature.

Still, it is a good idea to estimate a preliminary reheating time so that you may prepare properly. If you reheat your turkey at 275 degrees Fahrenheit, it may take 3-4 hours.

2 hours. In comparison, reheating your turkey at 325F will take 2 12 hours.

You should also allow an extra 30 minutes for the turkey to rest before slicing it.

Allowing the turkey to rest will allow the fluids to reabsorb into the flesh and allow it to reach 165°F.

How to Reheat a Whole Turkey

If you don’t know what you’re doing while reheating rotisserie chicken, prime rib, salmon, or an entire turkey, you’ll wind up with dry meat. When reheating turkey, the golden rule is to cook it evenly.

As a result, warming a whole turkey in the oven is the best alternative.

But, you must ensure that the oven is at the proper temperature.

Note that if your oven is too hot, the outside of the chicken will cook too rapidly while the interior will stay chilly.

In addition, you must ensure that the turkey will fit inside the oven.

Remove the entire turkey from the refrigerator and let it remain at room temperature for one hour before reheating it in the oven.

Preheat the oven to 325°F and arrange the turkey breast-side down in a roasting pan.

When the turkey reheats, the fat will drip down and form a soft, moist breast.

Cover the turkey in foil and bake it in the oven. For every pound of turkey, the normal warming time is 13-15 minutes.

A 10 pound turkey, for example, will take between 130 and 150 minutes to reheat (2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes).

Remove the turkey from the oven when it reaches a temperature of 140-150F.

Let the warmed turkey to rest for 30 minutes before carving and serving.

Can I make gravy if I use a pre-made turkey?

Some people believe that there is no turkey without gravy. There’s no need to worry if you’re one of those people.

You can prepare gravy even if you use a frozen turkey.

Just fill the roasting pan with 1 cup of water or chicken stock before placing the turkey in the oven.

The turkey drippings will flavor the liquid while also providing liquid for making gravy.

Final Thoughts

Turkey is a traditional Christmas dish. It is often the centerpiece that draws guests and family to the meal.

But, there is no disputing that roasting a turkey is a time-consuming task.

As a result, you should prepare it a day ahead of time or buy a pre-cooked turkey.

You won’t have to worry about preparing a turkey on the day of the gathering now that you know how to reheat turkey properly. You just need to reheat it!

You may also be interested in the following:

• Reheating Rotisserie Chicken
• How to Cook Turkey
• Reheating Chicken Wings