Description
Learn how to carve a turkey like a pro with this step-by-step guide that ensures perfectly sliced, tender pieces for a stunning Thanksgiving platter.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 roasted turkey (about 14 pounds)
- Any garnishes like lemon slices, cranberries, fresh herbs, etc.
Instructions
- Remove the legs and thighs: Slice through the skin between the leg and the breast. Pull back on the leg, lay it flat outward, and push up on the joint from underneath until you hear a pop. Then cut around the joint to remove the leg and thigh completely. Repeat on the other side and set aside.
- Remove the breasts: Slice down on either side of the breast bone using long strokes. Gently pull the breasts outward with your thumb while slicing until the breast meat is removed. If needed, slice horizontally at the bottom of the breast from the outside to help remove it. Repeat on the other side and set aside.
- Remove the wings: Gently pull the wings away from the body and slice through the joint to remove them. Remove the wing tips if desired, then set aside.
- Separate drumstick from thigh: Flip the leg piece skin side down. Slice through the meat and gently pull back on the drumstick to expose the joint, then slice through it to separate the drumstick and thigh.
- Remove the bone from the thigh: Use your knife to carefully slice around the thigh bone, preserving as much meat as possible.
- Carve the final pieces: Slice the meat against the grain to create tender pieces, keeping the skin attached to each. Arrange all pieces on a platter.
- Add garnishes: Decorate the platter with lemon slices, cranberries, fresh herbs, or other desired garnishes.
Notes
- Practice makes perfect—don’t worry if your first attempts are not perfect.
- Use a sharp carving knife for clean, smooth cuts.
- Keep the skin attached to each piece for better presentation and flavor.
- Use the tips and extra meat for soups or sandwiches to minimize waste.
- Watch instructional videos for additional visual guidance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 96 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 168 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 26 mg
