Our easy-to-follow cooking instructions will teach you how to reheat turkey, and our expert tips will help you keep the meat as juicy as possible.
Learn how to reheat your leftover roast turkey so that it stays juicy and tasty to get the most out of it. Advertisement.
Theres so much you can do with leftover turkey. In almost any recipe that calls for chicken, it works, but because it’s so lean, the breast meat can get dry at times. That won’t happen this time, and we’ll show you how to reheat turkey so you can eat it again as is or use it in a different dish.
There is a foolproof turkey guide that will answer all of your cooking questions. Our best ever turkey recipes will help you plan the largest roast ever.
Take a look at our favorite Christmas dinner recipes for more ideas. Our Christmas kitchen can answer all of your holiday questions.
When it comes to leftover turkey, proper storage and reheating is key to prevent foodborne illness. Leftover turkey should be refrigerated within 2 hours and reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F before eating. Reheating to this temperature helps kill any harmful bacteria that may have multiplied during storage.
As a general food safety rule leftovers should be reheated to 165°F the recommended safe minimum internal temperature for poultry. This high temperature helps destroy bacteria and pathogens that can cause food poisoning.
Why 165°F for turkey?
The USDA recommends reheating turkey and all leftovers containing poultry to an internal temp of 165°F. This high temperature destroys bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter, common causes of food poisoning from undercooked poultry.
At 165°F, these bacteria are instantaneously killed and rendered harmless. Temperatures below this can allow bacteria to survive and multiply to unsafe levels.
Checking the internal temperature
The only way to ensure turkey reaches 165°F internally is to use a food thermometer. You can’t accurately judge temperature by look or feel.
Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey, avoiding bone, to get an accurate reading. Different cuts of turkey may require different reheating times to reach 165°F.
For thin slices, the temperature can be checked after a minute or two. For thicker pieces, especially bone-in cuts, it may take 10-15 minutes or more of reheating.
Safest reheating methods
The oven and stovetop are considered the safest methods for reheating turkey to 165°F. Microwaving can also be effective but care must be taken to heat the turkey thoroughly and avoid cold spots.
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Oven: Preheat oven to 325°F. Place turkey pieces in a baking dish, cover with broth or gravy. Reheat until 165°F, about 15-20 minutes.
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Stovetop: Heat turkey pieces with a small amount of broth or turkey drippings in a skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently and heat to 165°F.
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Microwave: Heat turkey pieces on a microwave-safe dish, covered, at 50% power in 1-minute intervals until 165°F. Rotate dish and check internal temp between intervals to ensure even heating.
Food safety tips
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Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Divide into shallow containers for quick cooling.
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Reheat leftovers within 3-4 days. Do not eat turkey stored longer even if reheated to 165°F.
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When reheating, bring all parts of turkey to 165°F. Check in multiple spots with a food thermometer.
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Do not microwave turkey straight from the fridge. Let it sit at room temp for 10-15 minutes first for more even heating.
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Discard any turkey that smells bad or is moldy. Do not taste questionable leftovers.
Following proper food safety guidelines when storing and reheating leftover turkey can prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing foodborne illness. Use a food thermometer and heat all turkey to the recommended safe internal temperature of 165°F before enjoying your leftovers.
How to reheat turkey
When you want to reheat leftover turkey to eat as is, these are the best options.
How to keep your turkey succulent
If 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.
You can make the roast much more juicy by salting the raw turkey all over up to two days before you roast it. You can season a whole bird up to two days ahead of time, a crown up to one day ahead of time, but a boneless turkey breast before the night before.
See more details in our turkey brining guide.
How to Reheat Leftover Turkey for the Best Meat and Crisp Skin
FAQ
How to rewarm turkey without drying it out?
Is a turkey fully cooked at 165 degrees?
How long does it take to reheat a 20 pound turkey?
How to keep turkey warm after cooking?
How do you reheat a Turkey in the oven?
To reheat, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Keeping the turkey in the roasting pan, pour a bit of stock (chicken, turkey, or veggie stock or broth will work) over the meat to moisten it. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the turkey is warmed through. Then carve the turkey into slices and serve!
How do you reheat Turkey in a microwave?
Add a single layer of similarly-sized pieces of sliced, chopped, or shredded turkey to a microwave-safe baking dish. Top with a little broth or gravy, cover with plastic wrap, then microwave at 70 percent power for 2 minutes. Check the temperature, and if it’s not to 165°F, reheat for 30-second intervals until it hits that food-safe mark.
How do you reheat a turkey without drying it out?
To not dry out a turkey, you need to add moisture when you reheat the meat. You’ll see in our reheating methods that we add homemade gravy, chicken stock or butter to the turkey before heating it up low and slow. This ensures that juices in the turkey won’t escape as steam when they’re exposed to heat.
How high should a turkey roast be reheated?
That said, you won’t want to turn the oven up as high as you did for the original roasting. When reheating large pieces of turkey, it’s a good idea to use an instant-read thermometer to make sure each piece reaches 165°F.
How long do you reheat a fried turkey?
Reheat for about 20-30 minutes, adjusting the time based on quantity and thickness. If you’re short on time or reheating a plate for one, the microwave can be super handy but it should be done carefully as it leaves you with dried-out turkey.
How long do you cook a Turkey in the oven?
Place the turkey in a a single layer in an 8×8-inch baking dish. Cover the turkey with broth and dot with the butter. Add the broth and dot the turkey with the pieces of butter. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Reheat in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Bake until the turkey is heated through, 30 to 35 minutes.