SaurabhWhen it comes to turkey we all associate it with Thanksgiving. There’s nothing better like those family gatherings and the delicious turkey meat.
Not just for that occasion, you can always use turkey to create a nice meal with the help of some side dishes. However, turkey takes quite some time to prepare. And you need to put some effort into the process of making it.
Even though the turkey meat is delicious and most of us enjoy it, it can be tricky to cook. The positive side of turkey is that you can prepare it whenever the season, you don’t need any particular excuse for it.
Further, you may bump into problems since it takes more time to prepare for them.
One of the common issues is the turkey not being done. So, if you didn’t put it on time or take it out before, the meat won’t be prepared. What to do in that case?
What should I do if the turkey is not fully cooked?
You can always re-cook to finish the cooking. All you have to do is place the meat back in the oven and cover it to prevent dryness.
Also, here you’ll find the best guideline on how to “save” the undercooked turkey and extra tips that will help you create the perfect turkey for your next family gathering.
Tips for Undercooked Turkey
There is no need to worry if you have taken out the turkey way too early and you thought it was already cooked. It may be tricky and it may take a while for the turkey to be cooked. But even if you take the turkey out earlier than it needs to be, we have the solution.
You can always re-cook the turkey and finish what you have started easy and simple. Even though you’ll be placing a cool/semi-cool turkey back into the oven, it needs to be cooked a bit longer so it’s safe to eat it.
Always be aware of the safety guidelines so you can avoid causing some serious health issues. Further, below we have created a list of some tips that will help you cook the turkey meat properly. Also, follow the steps and create the perfect dish that the whole family would enjoy.
- First of all, for the meat to cook better, slice the meat. You don’t have to. However, this can help you out because it will be faster for the meat to cook properly. All you have to do is slice the other parts of the turkey except the legs and breasts and keep on cooking.
- Your next step is to get the turkey back on the baking sheet and place it in the oven. Use a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. Check on every 30 minutes and cover the turkey with a foil so the moisture stays inside. Make sure that after time reduce the heat and check again the temperature.
- After you see the turkey turning brown and the temperature is enough, that means that the turkey is done. Afterward, leave the turkey to rest a bit and then serve it.
- Make sure not to over-dry it since the juices will run out. Otherwise, the meat won’t be as tender as it should be. This time the turkey will be good and ready to serve.
Tips for Cooking Turkey
Here you’ll also find some tips and tricks on how to create the perfect turkey and to avoid being undercooked. They will help you here to accomplish the perfect goal of making a nice meal with tender and juicy meat.
First of all, you need to establish how many guests you are having over in order to buy the right amount of turkey. You need to preheat the oven. Afterward, you can put the meat inside. You can add some stuffing, vegetables in the meantime.
At the start, you need to cook the turkey at a higher temperature of 450 degrees. After 15 minutes, reduce to 350 degrees and leave the turkey to cook.
Typically for a 15-pound turkey, you’ll need at least 4 hours to cook it. It is also important to leave the turkey to rest after cooking.
The safety guidelines also suggest that the meat is safe at room temperature for at least 2 hours or 1 hour if the temperature is higher. Otherwise, the turkey may dry out. You are also causing the meat to turn bad. You can always store it afterward in the fridge.
It is easy! All you need to do is just be careful to cook the meat properly. You can notice that by the internal temperature of the turkey, which should be around 80 degrees.
You should check it before removing the turkey from the oven. The meat should be tender, with many juices, and the top needs to be brown.
Related Questions
Is it bad if a turkey is a little pink?
It is safe to eat the turkey meat only if it is a little pink. The meat may remain like that which doesn’t mean it’s undercooked.
How can you tell if a turkey is undercooked?
The turkey is undercooked if the internal temperature can reach up to 80 degrees. Check it with a thermometer and also keep in mind the juices.
The meat doesn’t need to be dry and overcooked. Also, the color of the meat is important if it is pink then it still needs cooking.
What does undercooked turkey taste like?
You should never eat undercooked food, especially meat. This could lead to serious health problems and food poisoning. The taste of undercooked turkey meat is not pleasant.
Can you half cook turkey and finish later?
You should never partly cook the meat, refrigerate it and finish later.
Otherwise, you increase the chances of creating bacteria and you’ll make the meat unsafe. Make sure to cook the turkey properly.
