How To Carve a Turkey
Carve your holiday turkey like a pro using this easy step-by-step tutorial and video. It’s easier than you think to carve a showstopping turkey platter in just minutes.
How to Carve a Turkey
Now that you roasted your perfect holiday turkey, it’s time to serve it to your guests. Carving a turkey isn’t as difficult as you think and you can have it presented at the table in just minutes with a few easy tips.
First, Rest Your Turkey
When you pull your roast turkey from the oven, all the juices want to escape and if you carve your turkey too soon all those juices will run out all over your cutting board. This will leave you with a dry turkey and even a gallon of gravy won’t be able to save it.
To eliminate that from happening, be sure to rest your turkey for at least 30 minutes covered with foil to keep it warm. I have even rested my turkey for an hour and it’s still warm when we serve it. Resting your turkey gives the juices time to redistribute through your bird leaving you with tender, juicy turkey.
Carving Your Turkey
Start by carving one side at a time for the best results.
Place the turkey on a large cutting board with the cavity facing you.
Be sure to let your turkey rest for 30 minutes to an hour before carving.
First, remove the leg but cutting down in between the left and the body of the turkey until you see the joint. Carefully bend the leg at the joint until the two bones separate.
Remove the wing the same way.
Remove the breast by cutting along the breast bone and then making a separate cut along the bottom of the breast to remove the whole breast in one piece.
Lay the turkey breast on a cutting board and slice.
Repeat with the opposite side.
Arrange on a serving platter.
Serve immediately or cover and store in a warm oven.
Plating Your Carved Turkey
Arranging your sliced turkey on a platter isn’t that difficult and there’s really no right or wrong way. I like to fan out the turkey breast slices with the skin still on and then arrange the legs, thighs and wings around it.
Fill in any gaps with garnishes like rosemary, sage, cranberries, sliced oranges and apples cut in half. Try to use garnishes that you used in the turkey recipe, this will also save you money because you’re sure to have leftovers in the kitchen.
Favorite Turkey Recipes
- Roasted Turkey Recipe
- Maple Butter Roasted Turkey Legs
- Easy Roasted Sage Pesto Turkey
- Cornbread Sausage Stuffed Turkey Roulade
What To Do With Leftover Turkey
Here are a few of our favorite ways to use up leftover turkey!
- Ross Geller’s Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sandwich
- Cheesy Turkey Sliders with Cranberry
- Croque Madame Recipe
- Monte Cristo Sandwich with Cranberry Jam
For more Thanksgiving recipe ideas, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
Get the Recipe: How To Carve A Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 Fully Roasted Turkey
Equipment
- electric knife
- carving knife
Instructions
- Start by carving one side at a time for the best results.
- Place the turkey on a large cutting board with the cavity facing you.
- Be sure to let your turkey rest for 30 minutes to an hour before carving.
- First, remove the leg but cutting down in between the left and the body of the turkey until you see the joint. Carefully bend the leg at the joint until the two bones separate.
- Remove the wing the same way.
- Remove the breast by cutting along the breast bone and then making a separate cut along the bottom of the breast to remove the whole breast in one piece.
- Lay the turkey breast on a cutting board and slice.
- Repeat with the opposite side.
- Serve immediately or cover and store in a warm oven.
Video
