How to Rest a Turkey After Cooking: A Culinary Masterclass

We have the basic instructions you need to know to make carving turkeys easy, whether you’re searching Google for “how to carve a turkey” or you just need a quick refresher.

The Mom 100’s creator, Katie Workman, created a guide to help you with this crucial task. Her advice? Don’t be intimidated, don’t rush and take it one step at a time.

This turkey tutorial, edited for clarity, comes courtesy of the National Turkey Federation. See more turkey recipes at www. eatturkey. org.

Resting a turkey after cooking is a crucial step that ensures a juicy and flavorful bird. It allows the turkey to reabsorb its juices resulting in a more tender and succulent final product.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to rest a turkey like a pro:

  1. Remove the turkey from the oven and let it sit for at least 45 minutes. This is the minimum resting time, but you can let it rest for up to a few hours if you’re short on time.
  2. Place the turkey on a carving board or platter in a warm place. You can cover it loosely with foil to keep it warm, but don’t wrap it tightly as this can trap moisture and make the skin soggy.
  3. While the turkey is resting, prepare your gravy and side dishes. This is a good time to get everything else ready so that you can serve your meal as soon as possible.
  4. Once the turkey has rested, carve it and serve it immediately. The longer you wait, the more the turkey will dry out.

Here are some additional tips for resting a turkey:

  • If you’re short on time, you can rest the turkey for a shorter period of time. However, the longer you rest it, the more tender and juicy it will be.
  • If you’re worried about the turkey getting cold, you can place it in a warm oven (around 200 degrees Fahrenheit) while it rests. However, don’t let it cook any further, as this can dry it out.
  • You can also rest the turkey in a cooler with a few ice packs. This will help to keep it cold and prevent it from drying out.

Resting a turkey is a simple but important step that can make a big difference in the final product. By following these tips, you can ensure that your turkey is juicy, flavorful, and tender

Here are some additional resources on how to rest a turkey:

  • AskCulinary subreddit: This subreddit is a great resource for culinary questions, including how to rest a turkey.
  • The Spruce Eats: This website has a comprehensive guide on how to cook a turkey, including how to rest it.
  • Allrecipes: This website has a variety of turkey recipes, including tips on how to rest a turkey.

Step 3: Remove the breasts.

Make sure the turkeys on its back. Use a sturdy fork to secure the breast. Make a deep horizontal incision through the skin and breast meat, towards the bone, just above the thigh and wing joints.

Starting at the neck joint, move your knife along the side of the breastbone on the same side as you made the horizontal cut. Slice downwards, following the ribs of the bird. Attempt to obtain the maximum amount of breast meat in a single piece by slicing through the ribs and breastbone until you reach the horizontal cut. You should be able to remove that side of the breast completely. Place the breast on the extra cutting board or platter, and repeat on the other side. Set aside the carcass for making stock if youd like.

Set up a carving station

Have these things on hand when carving:

  • Paper towels
  • Clean dishtowels
  • A large cutting board
  • A serving platter
  • An extra cutting board or platter to catch the pieces while you cut them from the turkey
  • A carving knife
  • A sturdy fork

How long do you let a turkey rest after cooking?

FAQ

Do you cover turkey when resting?

To do so, remove the turkey from the oven when it’s done cooking and let it cool down for about 20 minutes. If you cover it right away, the trapped heat will continue to cook your bird and will result in overcooked (aka dry) meat. After 20 minutes, cover the turkey with foil and then place a kitchen towel on top.

How long should turkey sit out after cooking?

Throw away turkey, stuffing, and gravy left out at room temperature longer than 2 hours (1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F). Divide leftovers into small portions. Refrigerate or freeze in covered shallow containers for quicker cooling. Use refrigerated turkey and stuffing within 3 to 4 days.

How do you keep turkey moist while resting?

At first I had difficulty believing that this process would actually work. How could a turkey cooked the prior day still be moist and tender? The key to keeping the turkey moist and tender was to pour enough chicken broth to cover the bottom ¼ inch of the pan and then tightly seal the entire pan with aluminum foil.

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