Discover our easy cooking techniques for reheating turkey and our professional advice on how to keep the meat as succulent as possible.
Learn how to reheat leftover roast turkey to make the most of its deliciousness and keep it moist. Advertisement.
Theres so much you can do with leftover turkey. It works well in nearly any recipe calling for chicken, but because it’s so lean, the meat—especially the breast meat—can occasionally get dry. Here, we’ll go over the best ways to prevent that from happening as well as how to reheat turkey so you can eat it again just the way it is or incorporate it into a different recipe.
See our infallible guide to turkey cooking for all the answers to your questions, and use our best-ever turkey recipes to plan the ultimate roast.
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Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are a time for family friends and of course, delicious food. But what about all those leftovers? Leftover turkey is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, but it’s important to reheat it properly so that it doesn’t dry out.
The Best Way to Reheat Turkey: In the Oven
The Pioneer Woman and Allrecipes both agree that the best way to reheat turkey is in the oven. This method helps to keep the turkey moist and flavorful. Here’s how to do it:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Let the turkey come to room temperature. This will help it reheat more evenly.
- Carve the turkey into smaller pieces. This will help it reheat faster and more evenly.
- Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish. Add a little bit of broth or stock to the dish to help keep the turkey moist.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil. This will help to trap the moisture and prevent the turkey from drying out.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the turkey is heated through.
Reheating Turkey in the Microwave
While the oven is the best way to reheat turkey, the microwave can be a quick and convenient option. However, it’s important to take some precautions to prevent the turkey from drying out. Here’s how to do it:
- Let the turkey come to room temperature. This will help it reheat more evenly.
- Slice the turkey into small, even pieces. This will help it reheat faster and more evenly.
- Place the turkey pieces on a microwave-safe plate. Add a little bit of broth or stock to the plate to help keep the turkey moist.
- Cover the plate with a paper towel or a microwave-safe lid. This will help to trap the moisture and prevent the turkey from drying out.
- Heat on low power for 2 to 5 minutes, or until the turkey is heated through.
How to Prevent Leftover Turkey from Drying Out
Turkey is a naturally dry meat, so it’s important to take steps to prevent it from drying out when you reheat it. Here are a few tips:
- Add moisture. As mentioned above, adding a little bit of broth or stock to the turkey before reheating it will help to keep it moist.
- Don’t overcook it. The longer you cook the turkey, the more likely it is to dry out. So be sure to check it regularly and stop cooking it as soon as it is heated through.
- Add butter or gravy. Butter and gravy can help to add moisture and flavor to dry turkey.
How to Use Leftover Turkey
Leftover turkey is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are a few ideas:
- Turkey sandwiches. This is a classic way to use leftover turkey. Add your favorite toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.
- Turkey salad. Turkey salad is a delicious and easy way to use leftover turkey. Just mix it with mayonnaise, celery, onion, and your favorite seasonings.
- Turkey soup. Turkey soup is a hearty and comforting meal that is perfect for a cold winter day. Just add your favorite vegetables and broth to leftover turkey.
- Turkey pot pie. Turkey pot pie is a classic comfort food that is perfect for a family meal. Just add your favorite vegetables and gravy to leftover turkey in a pie crust.
Reheating leftover turkey is easy, but it’s important to do it properly to prevent the turkey from drying out. By following the tips above, you can reheat your turkey so that it is moist, flavorful, and delicious. So go ahead and enjoy those Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers!
Don’t overcook the turkey
Overcooking is the main culprit to dry turkey meat. The best way to make sure you don’t overcook your turkey is to use a digital cooking probe. The turkey is done when the thickest part of its thigh reaches 75°C, or the thickest part of its breast reaches 65°C.
When you rest your turkey after it’s been roasted, the meat relaxes and reabsorbs its juices. Before carving, any type of turkey roast—from the entire bird to a boneless breast joint—should be well-rested. Just place the turkey on a cutting board or platter and store it in the kitchen while you take care of the rest of the preparations. A boneless breast joint can be kept for 20 to 30 minutes, but a crown or entire bird will remain warm for an hour and sit contentedly for 40 minutes.
How to keep your turkey succulent
If the turkey meat starts out dry, there won’t be much hope for it once it’s gone cold. But, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure the most succulent roast beforehand.
You can achieve a much more juicy roast by simply seasoning the raw turkey all over with salt up to two days prior to roasting. A boneless turkey breast should only be seasoned the night before, a whole bird up to two days in advance, and a crown up to one day beforehand.
See more details in our turkey brining guide.
Holiday Hotline Tip: How To Reheat Leftover Turkey
FAQ
How do you reheat leftover turkey without drying it out?
Can you reheat 2 day old turkey?
How do restaurants reheat turkey?
Can you reheat turkey in the microwave?
How do you reheat leftover Turkey?
Our testing found that the best way to reheat turkey leftovers is to use the low-and-slow oven method. Here’s how: 1. Preheat the oven Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). 2. Let the turkey come to room temperature Leave your turkey leftovers out on the counter for 10 to 30 minutes before reheating.
How long does it take to reheat a Turkey?
Top with a little broth or gravy, cover with foil or the Dutch oven lid then, bake at 350°F until the turkey reaches 165°F. (This usually takes about 30 minutes.) Test Kitchen Tip: Low and slow is your best bet when trying to master how to reheat turkey.
How do you reheat a carved turkey?
Simply roast your bird as usual, let it cool completely, then carve it into large pieces. Remove the wings, drumsticks, thighs, and breasts, keeping the pieces whole with some skin attached. Place the carved turkey pieces back into the roasting pan, cover well, and store in the fridge. To reheat, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
How do you reheat a turkey without drying it out?
To not dry out a turkey, you need to add moisture when you reheat the meat. You’ll see in our reheating methods that we add homemade gravy, chicken stock or butter to the turkey before heating it up low and slow. This ensures that juices in the turkey won’t escape as steam when they’re exposed to heat.