You've bought it, stuffed it, cooked it to perfection, and now you have to carve your Thanksgiving turkey. If you're daunted by the task―some of the best cooks are―just remember that carving a turkey comes down to a simple technique.
How to Carve a Turkey
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Carving board
- Chef's knife or slicing knife
- Long, flexible knife (or boning knife)
- Tongs
Materials
- Paper towels
- Platter
Instructions
Remove the string
Place the turkey on a carving board. Remove the string tying the legs together using the tip of your chef's knife from your knife set.
Remove the legs and thighs
Cut through the skin that connects the breast and the drumstick. Slice down until you reach the joint. Using a paper towel, grab the leg and push down, separating the leg and thigh from the bird. Use your chef's knife to slice through the joint. Repeat steps with the other leg.
Remove the wings
Using the chef's knife, slice through the joint to remove a wing and transfer to the platter. Repeat this step on the other side.
Using the tongs to steady the breast, position the meat so you'll cut it at its shorter length. Slice against the grain, taking care to keep the skin attached. Transfer pieces neatly to a platter.
Remove turkey breasts
Find the breastbone. Position a long, flexible knife (or a boning knife) on one side of it, and slice downward, as close to the bone as possible. As you slice, use your other hand to pull the meat away from the breastbone, until you've cut the breast off the carcass in one piece. Transfer to the cutting board and repeat on the other side.
Separate the drumstick and thigh
Separate the drumstick and the thigh by cutting through the joint that connects them. Transfer the drumstick to a platter and set aside the thigh meat on a cutting board to slice later. Repeat with the other leg.
Slice the thigh meat
Work on the cutting board. Holding the thigh bone with tongs or a paper towel, remove the meat from the bone with the edge of the chef's knife. Transfer the meat to the platter.
Slice the breast meat
Using the tongs to steady the breast, position the meat so you'll cut it at its shorter length. Slice against the grain, taking care to keep the skin attached. Transfer pieces neatly to a platter.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You can find the wishbone at the front end of the breast. Use your fingers to pull it out. Removing the wishbone makes it easier to carve off the breast meat.
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Most experts recommend letting the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving to allow the meat to reabsorb the juices, ensuring your turkey stays tender and juicy. (Another bonus: You won't burn your hands trying to handle the meat.)
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Slice turkey against the grain (i.e. in the opposite direction of how the muscle fibers run) to ensure each turkey slice is tender and easy to chew.