Get the most from your leftover roast turkey by learning how to reheat it so it stays succulent and delicious. Show
There's so much you can do with leftover turkey. It works in almost any dish that would use chicken, but as it’s such a lean meat, it can sometimes become dry, especially the breast meat. Here, we’ll talk you through the best ways to stop that happening and how to reheat turkey to enjoy again as it is or use in a new dish altogether. Check out the foolproof turkey guide to answer all your cooking queries and plan the ultimate roast with our best ever turkey recipes. For more inspiration, see our turkey crown recipes and how to use leftover turkey. Discover even more ideas with our favourite Christmas dinner recipes, and answer all your festive queries with the help of our Christmas kitchen. How to keep your turkey succulentIf the turkey meat starts out dry, there won’t be much hope for it once it’s gone cold. But, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure the most succulent roast beforehand. Dry-brining your turkeyBy simply seasoning the raw turkey all over with salt up to two days before roasting, you’ll end up with a much juicier roast. A whole bird can be seasoned two days before, a crown up to a day before and a boneless turkey breast should be seasoned no earlier than the night before. See more details in our turkey brining guide. Don’t overcook the turkeyOvercooking is the main culprit to dry turkey meat. The best way to make sure you don’t overcook your turkey is to use a digital cooking probe. Once the turkey has reached 75C on the thickest part of the thigh or 65C on the thickest part of the breast, it’s done. Resting the turkeyWhen you rest your turkey after it’s been roasted, the meat relaxes and reabsorbs its juices. Any form of turkey roast, from the whole bird to a boneless breast joint, should be well-rested before carving. Simply sit the turkey on a board or platter and leave it in the kitchen while you get on with everything else. A boneless breast joint can be left for 20-30 mins, while a crown or whole bird will sit happily for 40 mins and still be warm through after an hour. Adding the juices backServing the turkey carved on a platter is a lot less fiddly than carving at the table, as the turkey loses its juices while you're carving. The best thing to do before serving is pour the collected juices back over the carved turkey – this also keeps it succulent as it cools down. Covering the cooked meatThere’s always lots going on, so it’s very easy to accidentally leave your turkey uncovered in the fridge or turned-off oven for the night, but this will just dry it out more. Cover and chill the turkey or carve it and chill in an airtight container no more than 2 hrs after eating for safety, and to help keep it at its juiciest. Safety tips for reheating turkey
When you want to reheat leftover turkey to eat as is, these are the best options. How to reheat turkey in the ovenIf you’re reheating a lot of turkey at once, the oven is your best option.
How to reheat turkey in the microwaveIf you’re reheating one or two portions and don’t want to turn the oven on, a microwave it perfect.
Need more essential turkey advice? Read our expert guides...How to brine a turkey What's your favourite turkey recipe? Leave a comment below... Can I cook a turkey the day before and reheat it?Did you know that you can roast a turkey for Thanksgiving a day ahead of time, carve it, refrigerate it overnight, and then reheat it to juicy perfection on Thanksgiving Day? This wonderful method ensures a moist and flavorful bird and is much easier on the cook.
How do you reheat turkey without drying it out?Cover the pan tightly with foil—this will allow the turkey to steam and stay moist—then reheat at a low temperature until hot, about 20 to 30 minutes at 300 degrees.
How do you reheat a fully cooked turkey?Arrange the slices in a single layer in shallow pans or baking dishes and drape a clean dish towel over the top. Bring some chicken broth to a simmer, then gently pour the chicken broth over the towel just until it is wet. Wrap the dish in foil and warm in a 300°F to 325°F oven until the turkey reaches 165°F.
Can you reheat a whole turkey the next day?Can you cook a turkey the day before and reheat it? Absolutely! If you're looking for a stress-free Thanksgiving, go ahead and roast the turkey and let it rest like normal, or use our flavorful method for grilling turkey.
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