What is the best way to reheat a Turkey? (frozen, diners, defrosting)
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I am going to get a market basket turkey dinner for thanksgiving. Does anyone know the best way to reheat it so it does not dry out? some use a cooking bag and poke holes in it. some say put water in the pan with the whole turkey. some say cut up the turkey and then reheat what you want.
every year I went over relatives house where they cooked the turkey that day so we did not have to reheat the turkey.
You basically want to steam it. I’d put microwaved chicken stock in the bottom of a roasting pan, do a foil tent over the turkey to trap the steam, preheat the oven hot... like 425, and turn it down to 325 to 350 after the stock in the bottom of the pain is close to boiling. A bag with some stock in it would achieve the same thing.
As a plan B, buy some instant turkey gravy to have on hand. If the turkey does end up dry, just serve it in the gravy.
Turkey is injected enough these days that it should be a posterchild for cosmetic plumping. When the packing says up to 15% solution, be more concerned about diners getting terminal zits from the cheap grease than the turkey being dry.
FWIW, a few years back I carefully weighed and calculated the price of a frozen turkey, cooked it and carefully weighed the usable meat (not the bones, giblets, drippings). I discovered that the ACTUAL cost of the meat (even at the unbelievable loss leader discount) was almost exactly what quality sliced deli turkey meat cost. The frozen turkey breast is even more costly, as they get away with adding a large gravy packet that is mostly water and charging the meat price for it.
Given the defrosting hassle and dangers if you don't spatchcock, I now skip cooking the common frozen turkeys. Good for you on not putting yourself through that.
OP, I'd put a small pan of water on a different shelf. NOT in the pan with the turkey.
Quote:
Originally Posted by justyouraveragetenant
why not in the pan itself?
Because you just want to reheat it, not cook it more.
With the water in a separate pan, the turkey will absorb some of the water and keep it moist while reheating. In the same pan, you will end up steam cooking it.
I may not be explaining this well. I realize that Geoff said to steam it, but I don't agree with that. The turkey is fully cooked; you don't want to cook it more. You also don't want to change the texture with steam. A small amount of water in a separate pan will keep it moist without changing it.
Because you just want to reheat it, not cook it more.
With the water in a separate pan, the turkey will absorb some of the water and keep it moist while reheating. In the same pan, you will end up steam cooking it.
I may not be explaining this well. I realize that Geoff said to steam it, but I don't agree with that. The turkey is fully cooked; you don't want to cook it more. You also don't want to change the texture with steam. A small amount of water in a separate pan will keep it moist without changing it.
ya I am reading you want to reheat heat it slow and low so it does not dry out.
what about cutting what I want to eat on thanksgiving and reheating that instead of reheating the whole turkey. i guess I can use your water method in a separate pan.
I would section it into breasts, thighs, legs, and then reheat just the portions that you want for that meal. They will cook faster, and you avoid having to reheat the leftovers a second time. I would be sure to tightly cover with foil or an oven bag to avoid drying it out.
I keep a couple of cans of chicken broth on the shelf. Sprinkle a little of that over the serving and warm in the microwave. Or use more for larger amounts, wrap lightly and warm in the oven.
I am going to get a market basket turkey dinner for thanksgiving. Does anyone know the best way to reheat it so it does not dry out? some use a cooking bag and poke holes in it. some say put water in the pan with the whole turkey. some say cut up the turkey and then reheat what you want.
every year I went over relatives house where they cooked the turkey that day so we did not have to reheat the turkey.
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