How to Carve a Turkey - Follow the tips and mini tutorial to get great results and impress all your friends and family
I love carving meat!
There are some main tips you need to make sure of before carving, which you will see in the video, one of the most important being to let the meat rest first. 30 - 60 minutes resting time for a large turkey, keep covered in foil, should be perfect.
That way, the juices will keep the bird moist and the meat will be nice and tender to carve. If you try and carve a turkey when it's too hot, the meat will fall apart and it will get messy!
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You can of course follow this guide for carving chicken too.
Instructions
- To remove the leg from the carcass, loosen it a little at the thigh socket with your hands, then carve into the natural joint – cutting through the socket of the bone.
- To split the drumstick and the thigh, again loosen then carve into the socket of the bone.
- To cut the breast meat, cut off the wing tip then make a horizontal incision underneath the breast towards the body of the bird.
- Then carve slices of meat in a downwards direction from the breast.
- Repeat the process on the other side.
- Alternatively, remove the breast altogether by making a horizontal incision under the breast, then cutting off the meat in one piece.
- Put the breast on the chopping board, then cut across the breast. This is an easier way as it goes along the grain of the meat and gives a smooth slice.
- Remove the wings in the same way as the leg, cutting through the socket where it attaches to the carcass.
- Place the carved meat on a serving plate.
Here's a great little video you can watch for some of the techniques to carve nicely.
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Recipe Card
How to Carve a Turkey
How to Carve a Turkey - Follow the tips and mini tutorial to get great results and impress all your friends and family
Ingredients
- 10 lb Turkey
Instructions
1. To remove the leg from the carcass, loosen it a little at the thigh socket with your hands, then carve into the natural joint – cutting through the socket of the bone.
2. To split the drumstick and the thigh, again loosen then carve into the socket of the bone.
3. To cut the breast meat, cut off the wing tip then make a horizontal incision underneath the breast towards the body of the bird.
4. Then carve slices of meat in a downwards direction from the breast.
5. Repeat the process on the other side.
6. Alternatively, remove the breast altogether by making a horizontal incision under the breast, then cutting off the meat in one piece.
7. Put the breast on the chopping board, then cut across the breast. This is an easier way as it goes along the grain of the meat and gives a smooth slice.
8. Remove the wings in the same way as the leg, cutting through the socket where it attaches to the carcass.
9. Place the carved meat on a serving plate.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 10 Lb turkeyAmount Per Serving: Calories: 8573Total Fat: 335gSaturated Fat: 98gTrans Fat: 5gUnsaturated Fat: 216gCholesterol: 4944mgSodium: 4672mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1295g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate
Recipes Using Leftover or Cooked Chicken
Here's a selection of recipes using leftover or pre - cooked chicken
Left Over Roast Chicken Pot Pie, a great way to use up left over roast chicken and vegetables! Great for leftover turkey and ham too!
Creamy Chicken Cottage Pie.
Delicious creamy chicken cottage pie recipe, using leftover chicken, oven baked in a creamy sauce and topped with fluffy mashed potato. Easy to make and perfect for a family dinner.
Nanny's Chicken Soup, is a homemade soup using homemade stock, leftover roast chicken, and fresh vegetables to give you a great meal to keep you warm during the cold weather
Hotel Style Club Sandwiches, toasted layers of bread filled with bacon, chicken, lettuce and tomato. A delicious classic sandwich recipe, perfect for brunch or lunch
Deluxe Chicken Salad Wraps. These little wraps are great for parties, lunches, suppers, or any time! It's a great way to use up left over chicken (or turkey), and the recipe is nice and easy, with no fuss. Delicious!
DELICIOUS Turkey Pot Pie, Look at that pie crust! I would also make this using chicken and ham together (great combo!) Oh my!
Mini Chicken Stroganoff Pot Pies with a to die for flaky buttery pie crust. Serve piping hot from the oven! So good!
Easy Mini Chicken Pot Pies. Delicious little pies with crisp pastry. Freezer friendly and great for parties too!
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is an easy recipe. Loaded with pieces of tender chicken, cranberries, crunchy pecans, and sweet apples. It’s great as a sandwich, as a salad, on crackers, and fantastic for parties and potlucks.
Bill's Chicken Salad is a great family recipe, very easy to make and great tasting. Serve in lettuce wraps, sandwiches, on it's own, the sky's the limit!
Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta Salad. A delicious, easy chicken salad with an easy honey mustard dressing. Great for using leftover chicken. Serve as a lunch or dinner, alongside a buffet or BBQ
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup.
This easy chicken noodle soup is made from scratch using fresh ingredients, full of flavor. Noodles, chicken, potatoes, carrots and celery cooked in a tasty broth