Description
Learn how to carve a turkey step-by-step with this simple guide and video, including the basic cuts, how to slice against the grain, and tips for creating a beautiful serving platter.
Ingredients
- 1 cooked whole turkey
- optional garnishes: fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley and/or bay leaves), citrus wedges (lemon or oranges), fresh cranberries
Instructions
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Remove the legs and thighs. Place the turkey breast-side up on the cutting board. Using your knife, cut along the natural line where the leg/thigh meets the body. Pull the leg outward to expose the joint, then cut through the joint to separate the leg and thigh from the body. Repeat on the other side. (Tip: Always look for the joints — you should never need to cut through bone.)
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Remove the wings. Cut along the natural line where the wing meets the body while gently pulling the wing outward to reveal the joint. Use your knife (or kitchen shears) to cut through the joint where the wing meets the body. If desired, trim off the end of each wing for a cleaner presentation. Set wings aside for serving.
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Carve the breast meat. Find the breastbone in the center and make a long vertical cut down one side of it, slicing along the rib cage to free one breast half from the carcass, ideally in one big piece. Place that breast piece skin-side up on the board. Slice across the grain (horizontal slices) at about ¼-inch thickness or as desired. Repeat on the other breast: cut along the breastbone to remove it, then lay flat and slice. Arrange the slices on the serving platter.
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Separate the thigh from the drumstick. Lay each leg-and-thigh piece skin-side down (or whichever way is comfortable). Feel for the joint between the thigh and the drumstick. Slice through the joint to separate them. For the thigh, slice the meat parallel to the bone for neat pieces. The drumstick can be served whole or you can carve the meat off the bone.
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Arrange on the platter. Lay slices of breast meat neatly, overlapping slightly. Place thighs, drumsticks, and wings around or beside the breast slices. Drizzle with pan juices or gravy, if desired. Add any garnishes you like, then serve and enjoy!