You’re probably still buzzing after prepping a turkey and all the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner.
You’re looking forward to leftover turkey and considering how many various dishes you can make with it. But, there are instances when you just want to reheat a piece of turkey.
Contents
- How To Store Leftover Turkey
- How to Reheat a Whole Cooked Turkey
- How to Reheat Turkey
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
- How do you keep turkey from drying out when reheating?
- How do I make my turkey moist again?
- How do you cook a precooked turkey without drying it out?
- Can I cook a turkey the day before and reheat it?
- What temperature can you keep turkey warm without drying it out?
- How do you keep white turkey meat moist?
- Does butter moisten a turkey?
- How do you moisten cold turkey?
- How do you reheat a fully cooked Butterball turkey?
- How do you reheat turkey after Thanksgiving?
How To Store Leftover Turkey
To reheat turkey, it must be properly stored. Turkey has a fridge shelf life of 3-4 days and a freezer shelf life of 2-3 months.
It makes no difference whether you want to keep your turkey in the refrigerator or freezer; cut the bird off the bone before storing it.
You may either preserve the carcass and create homemade turkey stock with it or throw it away.
Moreover, you may chop the turkey breast into slices, shred it, or leave it whole.
If you’re keeping the turkey in the fridge, put it in an airtight container or resealable bag.
If you are freezing your turkey, put it in a freezer-safe resealable zip lock bag, label it, and set it in the freezer.
How to Reheat a Whole Cooked Turkey
If you have a whole turkey that you do not want to carve, put it in a roasting pan.
While you will not have to carve the chicken, it will take longer to reheat.
Over the turkey, pour 2-1 cup of chicken broth. The turkey will stay moist thanks to the broth. Pour 1
Cover the turkey with foil and bake at 325°F for 45-60 minutes, or until completely heated.
The precise reheating time will be determined on the size of the cooked turkey.
How to Reheat Turkey
It’s no more difficult to reheat turkey than it is to reheat brisket or crab legs. The goal is not to overcook the turkey, which results in dry, chewy meat.
How to Reheat Turkey in the Oven
The oven is ideal for reheating entire turkeys, turkey slices, or partly whole turkey pieces such as drumsticks, breasts, wings, and thighs.
Preheat your oven to 275°F to reheat the turkey.
Slowly reheating the turkey gradually warms the flesh and reduces the possibilities of it being overdone.
Wrap the remaining turkey in aluminum foil. While reheating turkey breast slices, stack them on top of one another.
Wrap the turkey tightly, leaving a tiny amount of space. This will assist to develop steam, which will add moisture and heat to the turkey.
Put the remaining turkey on a wire rack over a rimmed cookie sheet.
The wire rack uniformly distributes heat and avoids the bottom of the turkey from cooking before the top of the flesh.
Heat the turkey for 35-45 minutes, or until it reaches 165°F.
Also, depending on the size of the turkey parts, the actual cooking time may take longer. A complete bird, for example, will take longer to cook than a turkey breast.
How to Reheat Turkey by Steaming It
While it may seem unusual, you can reheat turkey by steaming it. Steaming works best for reheating turkey slices.
Fill a big kettle halfway with water to reheat the turkey pieces.
Place the steamer basket on top of the pot and heat it on medium-low.
Place the turkey breast, thigh, or leg meat into the steamer basket as the water begins to boil.
Cook the turkey for 5-6 minutes, monitoring it every 2 minutes, until it is heated and reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The purpose of covering the turkey is to create a steam chamber that infuses moisture into the flesh.
How to Reheat Turkey on the Stove
The stove, after the oven, is the best means to reheat most items. For slices of turkey, the stovetop approach is preferable.
This procedure may also be used to reheat skin on components such as turkey breast.
Add 2 cups chicken broth to the pan. 4-1To reheat your turkey on the stovetop, place it in a pan and add 1 cup of water.
Place the turkey, covered, over medium-high heat.
Sauté for 5-6 minutes, or until the turkey is well heated.
Remove the turkey legs or wings from the pan and pat dry using paper towels to re-crisp the skin.
Set the skillet over a high heat and add one teaspoon of olive oil.
Sear the turkey skin-side down for 3-5 minutes, or until the skin is brown and crispy.
How to Reheat Turkey in the Microwave
There are various reasons why you should not microwave turkey. Microwaves, for example, heat food unevenly.
The microwave is so powerful that even if you choose the lowest setting, your turkey will be dry if it is cooked for one second too long.
Also, when reheating a complete turkey breast, the skin of the flesh will warm quicker than the inside.
Additionally, some microwaves cook quicker than others, so exercise caution while reheating turkey in the microwave.
But, if you need to reheat your turkey quickly, the microwave is your best bet.
When reheating turkey in the microwave, however, you must exercise considerable caution.
Slice your turkey into slices and place it in a microwave-safe dish.
Cover the turkey with the lid and pour 1-2 tablespoons of gravy, chicken stock, or water over it.
Cook the turkey in the microwave in 30-second increments until completely heated.
Final Thoughts
The greatest part of Thanksgiving for most home cooks is the leftovers. Undoubtedly, a well cooked turkey is the highlight of the day.
Yet, a platter of leftover turkey with all the trimmings is the finest way to unwind after the chaos of Thanksgiving.
Fortunately, you know how to properly reheat turkey.
You may also be interested in the following:
- Reheating Rotisserie Chicken
- How to Cook a Whole Turkey
- Reheating Chicken Wings
FAQs
How do you keep turkey from drying out when reheating?
Cover the pan closely with foil to enable the turkey to steam and keep moist, then reheat until heated, approximately 20 to 30 minutes at 300 degrees.
How do I make my turkey moist again?
In addition to gravy, you may add moisture to the sliced turkey by brushing it with warmed chicken stock or broth. Melted unsalted butter will also work, but don’t use too much—a little goes a long way.
How do you cook a precooked turkey without drying it out?
To begin, preheat your oven to 325° F. Place the turkey in a roasting pan after removing it from its aluminum foil wrapper. Cover the turkey with a tented layer of aluminum foil and 1 cup of water in the bottom of the pan. Bake for one hour, or until the turkey reaches 125° F, for a 10-12 pound cooked turkey.
Can I cook a turkey the day before and reheat it?
Did you know you can roast a turkey for Thanksgiving the day before, carve it, refrigerate it overnight, then reheat it to juicy perfection on Thanksgiving Day? This fantastic approach insures a juicy and tasty turkey while also being considerably simpler on the chef.
What temperature can you keep turkey warm without drying it out?
If you need to keep the turkey warm for more than half an hour before serving, place it in a 150°F (66°C) oven. As you wait, leave your alarm thermometer probe in place and monitor the inside temperature.
How do you keep white turkey meat moist?
Prepare the baste during the final hour of turkey cooking.
Melt 14 cup butter in a saucepan and stir in 14 cup maple syrup.
During the final hour of cooking, baste the bird every 15 minutes.
Let for 20 to 30 minutes of rest before cutting and serving.
Sep 24, 2019
Does butter moisten a turkey?
Putting butter under the skin of your turkey is a terrific technique to provide moisture and reduce the possibility of the flesh drying out during cooking. It also offers a rich and wonderful taste as an extra bonus!
How do you moisten cold turkey?
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center.
Slice the turkey and place it in a baking dish.
Dot the turkey with butter and cover with broth.
Reheat for 30 to 35 minutes in the oven.
Serving.
Nov 14, 2020
How do you reheat a fully cooked Butterball turkey?
Preheat the conventional oven to 350°F.
Pull the turkey breast from its wrapping.
Put the turkey breast, skin side up, in a 2-inch open roasting pan with a flat roasting rack.
Apply vegetable oil to the skin using a brush or spray.
Heat the turkey breast in a 350° oven until heated.
Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
More to come…
How do you reheat turkey after Thanksgiving?
“The oven is the finest technique to reheat turkey,” explains chef José Garces. “Slice the turkey, set it in a small pan, cover firmly with foil, and add some chicken or turkey stock.” Heat the turkey at 300°F or 325°F until it reaches 165°F. The turkey should be able to steam without drying out in the stock.”