When you’re planning a turkey dinner, it’s hard to get everything prepared and roasted on the same day. It’s less daunting if you spread your dinner preparations over several days. In fact, one of the most common questions about roasting a turkey is: ”Can I cook a turkey the day before and reheat it?” That’s easy.
Yes, you can roast your turkey ahead. Roasting your turkey ahead of time still retains its flavor, and tastes fresh and delicious when you reheat it. Follow the instructions for safely cooking your turkey to a minimum temperature of 165°F (73.8°C). Check it with an oven thermometer to ensure it’s safe for storing in your refrigerator until you’re ready to reheat it.
Cooking your turkey in advance and simply reheating it before dinner lets you relax and enjoy your family meal.
Here is a quick table where you can easily check which part of the turkey is best to cook ahead of time, depending on your desired meal.
| Can you cook turkey ahead of time | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey cut | Make it in advanced | Good to know | Best cooking method for precooked turkey |
| Whole turkey | Yes | The most important thing is to cut the turkey after cooking. You will be able to reheat the turkey better if cut it. Cuting it will allow better reheating, avoiding dry meat and thought legs. | Best roasted or deep fryed |
| Turkey breast | Yes | Not the best cut of turkey for cooking ahead of time. Better to use the breast in soup or stew to avoid dry meat. Reheating is essential if you want to avoid dry meat. | Best to use in stews, soups, or sauces |
| Thighs | Yes | Fantastic for cooking ahead of time. Turkey's thighs are tough. Cooking them ahead of time will make them softer because, you first cook them, in the cooling process, they soften even more, and when reheating, they soften even more. | Best roasted |
| Drumstick | Yes | Great for making ahead of time. You can pre-boil them in seasoned broth to soften them. When it's time to use them, bread them and fry them in oil. You could also rub them with your favorite rub and roast them in the oven. | Best roasted or fryed |
| Whole leg | Yes | Fantastic for cooking ahead of time. Whole turkey legs are tough. Cooking them ahead of time will make them softer, because you first cook them, in the cooling process, they soften even more, and when reheating, they soften even more. | Best roasted |
| Wings | Yes | Fantastic for cooking ahead of time. Turkey wings are not so tough as legs. Pre-roast them, but not fully. You should, though, get the correct inner temperature. Reheat them in a roasting pan in the oven and broil in the end. | Best roasted |
How do you cook a turkey ahead of time?
Just follow these 10 steps for a stress-free, safely-cooked whole turkey.
- Wash your hands, countertops, and sink with warm soap and water before handling your turkey. You want to ensure that anything that comes in contact with the raw turkey is clean.
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
- Take the giblets out of the turkey. They’re usually wrapped in paper or plastic.
- Wash the inside and outside of the turkey in cold water.
- Stuff your turkey, if desired. Make sure you follow safety guidelines. Mix your stuffing ingredients right before you’re ready to stuff the turkey. Fill the cavity loosely and roast the turkey immediately. You can also cook your stuffing in a casserole dish instead.
- Put your turkey with the breast side up, in a roasting pan.
- Cover your turkey loosely with aluminum foil unless you have a covered roasting pan. Leave the foil on for about one to two hours. This prevents your turkey from browning too much. Another method is to roast the turkey without a cover until it is golden brown. After it’s golden, cover it with aluminum foil to prevent further browning.
- Check a turkey roasting timetable for the weight of your bird. Also, use a food thermometer to check the temperature. If you stuffed your turkey, it will take longer to reach the safe 165°F (73.8°C) or higher internal temperature.
- Insert the food thermometer between the wing and thigh, and also at the thick part of the breast.
- Remove the turkey from the oven once it reaches a safe temperature.
Make-ahead turkey breast
If you want to make turkey breast ahead of time, follow the same steps and make sure you follow the timetable promptly. Cooking turkey breast for too long will end up in extra dry meat. And since you are preparing turkey breast ahead of time, reheating will be necessary.
Reheating dries out the meat even more; that is why it is essential not to overcook turkey breast if you are making them ahead of time, intending to reheat them the next day. You can achieve the best results and serve juicy turkey breast, by using a good food thermometer
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Now that you’ve cooked your turkey, it’s time to store it before reheating the next day.
How do you store cooked turkey to retain juiciness the next day?
Use an air-tight container or casserole dish to store your cooked turkey. I like to use a casserole dish and spread a little butter on the bottom. This way, I can pop the casserole dish in the oven to reheat the turkey the next day. The butter keeps it moist and prevents sticking.
Before storing your turkey in the refrigerator, cut it into large pieces, or carve it into slices. This helps it cool quicker. It’s important to store your turkey within two hours of roasting to prevent bacteria that can grow at room temperature.
Storing your cooked turkey in the refrigerator keeps the turkey safe for up to four days.
Can you partially cook a turkey and finish it the next day?
Partially cooking a turkey is not safe even if you refrigerate it. The problem is that a partially cooked turkey still has bacteria because the internal temperature doesn’t get high enough to destroy the bacteria.
Always completely cook your turkey before storing it to destroy any bacteria that can lead to food poisoning if eaten.
Is it best to cook turkey day before and reheat it?
Beyond a doubt, when I roast my turkey on the same day that I’m preparing a family meal, I’m so stressed and exhausted, I can’t enjoy the food I spent all day making. That’s why I try to make any food I can ahead of time. This includes roasting the turkey the day before.
Roast the turkey one to three days before you’re ready to serve it. Reheat it in a 325°F (163°C) oven or in a microwave.
Should I wash the turkey before I cook it?
My mother always rinsed the raw turkey inside and out before she cooked it. That’s the old school method and a common mistake even today.
A U.S. Department or Agriculture (USDA) study found that washing your turkey can cross-contaminate other areas of your kitchen with bacteria. This can cause food-borne illnesses if the bacteria lands on the other food you have near the turkey. It’s safe to cook your turkey without washing it.
The hours your turkey roasts in the hot oven takes care of any bacteria on your turkey.
How do you reheat a turkey without drying it out?
The key to keeping your cooked turkey juicy and tender when you reheat it is all in the method you use. Reheating the turkey in the microwave is fast, but it dries out the turkey and makes the skin rubbery.
The best method for reheating cooked turkey is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 300°F (149°C). Carve the turkey and place it in a baking pan or casserole dish. Add a small amount of turkey stock to the pan. Cover it tightly so the turkey can absorb the moisture. Reheat for about 30 minutes.
Reheating at a low temperature doesn’t draw the moisture out of your turkey. When you remove it from the oven, it will be as moist and tender as when you first roasted it.
How many times can you reheat cooked turkey?
When you have your leftover turkey stored in the refrigerator, you can reheat it several times.
Leftover turkey is safe to reheat multiple times, but the quality decreases each time you heat it. Freeze the turkey if you don’t use it within four days.
You’ll have the best flavor if you use your frozen cooked turkey within six months.
Conclusion
Cooking your turkey ahead of time can help you breathe easy on the day you’re planning to serve it. Reheat it about a half-hour before dinnertime and you’re all ready to share it with your family and friends. Are you ready to enjoy a relaxing dinner by roasting your turkey the day before?
“Thanksgiving Turkey [327/366]” by timsackton is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
