How To Carve A Turkey The Easy Way

Carving a turkey looks like a job for an expert, but it is really a few simple cuts done in the right order: the legs and thighs come off first, then the wings, and the breast comes off in one piece so it can be sliced neatly across the grain. Do it that way and every plate gets tidy slices instead of shredded meat.

The short video below, from The New York Times, shows the whole method on a Thanksgiving bird. Watch it once before the big day and the job will feel far less stressful at the table.

Video: “Carving a Thanksgiving Turkey” by The New York Times. For a longer walk-through, see their video How to Carve a Turkey.

Turkey carving tips that make it easier

• Let it rest first. A turkey straight out of the oven is too hot to handle and loses its juices when cut. Resting it under loose foil while you make the gravy gives you time and juicier meat.
• Use a sharp knife and a big board. A sharp carving or chef’s knife does the work for you. A board with a juice groove keeps the counter clean, and a damp towel underneath stops it sliding.
• Find the joints, don’t saw through bone. Pull the leg away from the body and the hip joint shows itself; cut through the joint, not the bone. The same goes for separating the drumstick from the thigh and taking off the wings.
• Take the breast off whole. Cut down along the breastbone and ease the meat off in one piece, then slice it across the grain on the board. Those slices hold together and look much better than meat carved straight off the bird.
• Keep the carcass. The bones and scraps make a good stock for soup the next day.
• Warm the platter. Carved meat cools fast. A warm platter and a spoonful of hot gravy keep it from drying out.

Planning the rest of the turkey

Not sure how long your bird needs? Our turkey cooking time per pound chart has the times by weight, and this guide on how to brine and cook a turkey covers the step before carving.

Once dinner is over, check how long leftover turkey lasts in the fridge and freezer, then turn it into something new with these easy leftover turkey recipes.

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