Where Do You Find Turkey Giblets? A Complete Guide to Locating and Cooking These Underrated Bird Parts
As Thanksgiving approaches, many home cooks look forward to roasting a whole turkey for the holiday feast. But when you unpack the bird, you may discover a bag of odd-looking parts tucked inside the cavity. What exactly are these turkey giblets? And what should you do with them?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll demystify turkey giblets. You’ll learn what they are, why they matter, where to find them, and creative ways to put them to delicious use.
What Are Turkey Giblets?
Turkey giblets refer to the edible organs found inside a whole bird. Specifically, a giblet package typically contains
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Liver: Nutrient-dense and adds rich, meaty flavor.
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Heart: Lean protein and minerals like zinc and iron.
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Gizzard Acts as a natural food processor to grind food
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Neck: Imparts collagen and flavor for stock.
Many novice cooks discard or ignore the giblets. But these parts have been prized by cooks for generations. When used properly, they impart concentrated flavor and nutrition.
Why Do Whole Turkeys Contain Giblets?
There are several reasons why whole turkeys include giblets:
Flavor – Simmering giblets makes a savory turkey stock that boosts the taste of gravy, dressing, soup and more.
Moisture – Natural gelatin released from giblets helps make silky, luscious gravy and prevents dry meat.
Tradition – Using every edible part of an animal has long been valued by cooks.
Nutrition – Organ meats like liver are packed with iron, vitamin A, zinc and other nutrients.
While optional, giblets transform turkey drippings into rich, hearty gravy with unbeatable homemade flavor.
Where to Find Giblets Inside a Whole Turkey
When purchasing a whole turkey, the giblets are tucked away inside the body cavity. Here are the two places to check:
- Main Turkey Cavity
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Flip the turkey breast side up.
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Reach inside the large opening between the drumsticks.
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Feel along the cavity walls for a paper or plastic package.
- Neck Cavity
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Look inside the opening at the top of the breastbone.
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Giblets may be stored here if not in the main cavity.
The giblets may be loose or sealed in a bag. Check both cavities thoroughly if not found immediately.
How to Prepare Turkey Giblets
Once located, proper storage and preparation is key for cooking giblets:
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Rinse giblets to remove excess blood or debris. Pat dry.
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Separate the liver if storing over 24 hours to prevent bitter taste.
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Chop giblets and neck into smaller pieces to maximize flavor release.
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Simmer in broth 30-60 minutes until completely tender.
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Cook thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F.
With proper prep, giblets become meltingly tender with a mild, meaty flavor.
Creative Ways to Use Turkey Giblets
Looking for ideas to transform giblets into something delicious? Here are some tasty options to try:
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Make rich giblet gravy or stock for soup bases.
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Add chopped giblets to stuffing or dressing for extra moisture.
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Sauté hearts and livers, then add to quiches, pot pies or casseroles.
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Make “dirty” rice with giblets, rice, broth and spices.
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Bread and fry giblet pieces for crispy, savory snacks.
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Purée cooked gizzards into a smooth, natural thickener.
With a little creativity in seasoning and cooking, you can turn humble giblets into concentrated flavor bombs.
Giblet-Free Turkey Tips
What if you simply can’t get on board with the idea of giblets? Here are some tips:
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Use chicken livers or hearts instead to make “mock” giblet gravy.
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Supplement drippings with store-bought turkey or chicken stock.
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Sauté aromatics like onion, garlic, celery, carrots to build flavor.
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Add umami flavor with mushrooms, soy sauce, tomato paste or Worcestershire sauce.
You can still make a deeply flavored gravy without giblets. But for the ultimate hearty and savory gravy, giblets can’t be beat.
The Takeaway on Turkey Giblets
While giblets are often overlooked, these nutrient-dense organs can transform your holiday bird. Simmered into stock, they make the richest, most luscious gravy and dishes. With this guide, you now know where to find giblets in a turkey and creative ways to use them.
This Thanksgiving, embrace the giblets! Your homemade gravy and side dishes will be taken to the next level with their concentrated meaty flavor.
Nutrient-Dense Giblet Gravy Recipe
What you’ll need:
Turkey neck 3.5 cups water Turkey giblets 2 garlic cloves, minced ⅓ c. flour Drippings from roasted turkey 6 Tbsp butter Salt to taste
If you’re looking at the giblet gravy recipe from one of our previous blog posts, you’ll notice the way I do it here is a little bit different. Both are great ways of making it, so it’s up to you which way you prefer! You’ll also notice the recipe says to sear the neck along with the giblets. If you already have chicken or turkey bone broth made and on hand, definitely go ahead and do that! I didn’t have any already handy, so here’s what I did.
I reserved the turkey neck from my whole turkey and put it in a medium saucepan with 3.5 cups of water and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. I brought it to a boil over medium high heat before turning to low, letting it simmer for about an hour. (Or you can put all this in a small crock pot and cook it overnight before making the gravy, but maybe add a little more water so too much doesn’t simmer away. You want to end up with 3 cups of broth).
Once the turkey broth was complete, I melted 2 Tbsp butter in another saucepan over medium heat, and then I added the turkey giblets, searing for a few minutes on each side before adding in the turkey broth. I brought the broth to a boil before turning the heat down to low and letting it simmer for about 30-40 minutes.
After simmering, I drained the broth into a bowl and took out the giblets and finely diced them, removing any gristle. Next, I melted 4 Tbsp of butter over medium low heat, then tossed in the minced garlic and cooked until fragrant. Then I added in the ⅓ cup of flour and whisked to make a roux. I let that cook until browned for a couple minutes, constantly stirring, then slowly poured in the broth and reserved roasted turkey drippings, whisking the entire time to keep any clumps from forming. I reduced the heat to low and stirred for a few minutes while it thickened to my desired consistency. I took it immediately off the heat, added in salt to taste, and stirred in the diced giblets.
And there you have it! A delicious giblet gravy. Trust me, no one will complain about the fact that there are chopped up giblets in there! It tastes amazing and adds so much flavor to the roasted turkey. And you can feel good that you’re getting a bunch of amazing nutrition into your loved ones!
If you missed the original recipe from one of our previous blog posts, click HERE to see it.
If you’re like me, you didn’t grow up eating animal organs like heart or liver.
Maybe you’re a little grossed out by the idea. I completely understand the feeling! But I’m here to tell you they’re not as gross as they’ve been made out to be!
First off, what are turkey giblets? They are the heart, liver, and gizzard. If you purchased a Whiffletree whole turkey, you found all three of those in the cavity of the turkey.
Poultry organs (and all animal organs) have amazing health benefits. They’re very high in protein, which is essential for our bodies to get enough of for everyday functions. You’ll also get the benefits of vitamins A and B, iron, and CoQ10. In a nutshell, giblets are a health powerhouse!
What about the flavor, you may ask? I personally don’t love the flavor of organs alone, but once you add in garlic and butter, they taste amazing! So, here’s how to make a delicious, nutrient-dense giblet gravy.
Giblet Gravy | Ultimate Giblet Gravy | Turkey Giblet Gravy | How to Make Giblet Gravy | Christmas
FAQ
How to get giblets from turkey?
Simply remove the heart, gizzard, and liver and place in a medium pot with stock and water. Add the neck to the pot if spatchcocking the turkey or chicken. Lower to a simmer for a few hours, and then strain out the giblets and chop the meat into tiny pieces. That’s it for the giblet part of the recipe.
Can I buy turkey giblets separately?
In whole ready-to-cook poultry, giblets are located in a bag in the abdominal cavity. They will not be from the original bird. Giblets may also be purchased separately as livers, hearts, or a combination thereof, and labeled accordingly.
Does every turkey come with giblets?
Can You Buy A Turkey Without Giblets? If you don’t like the idea of giblets being tucked up inside your turkey, you do have options. Nolan explained that all Butterball turkeys do have giblets included, except for the Ready to Roast line of turkeys.
Where to buy Turkey giblets?
Now let’s explore the best places to buy fresh and high-quality turkey giblets for your holiday cooking: Your local supermarket is often the most convenient place to buy turkey giblets. Many grocery stores sell whole turkeys with giblets included in a bag inside the cavity. Ask the butcher or check the poultry section for giblets sold separately.
Can you eat giblets if you buy a Turkey?
Today’s cooks buying a grocery store turkey often use giblets in recipes like Giblet Gravy or homemade stock. But if you’re unfamiliar with the offal, those edible internal parts, it’s time to learn.
Can you buy Turkey giblets for Thanksgiving?
On the inverse, if you make giblet gravy and love it at Thanksgiving, but don’t want to buy a 20-pound bird, you can buy giblets on their own. Ask your butcher or check the offal section of your store’s poultry department. The turkey giblets should be available near the poultry and soup bones.
Can you cook giblets with a Turkey?
“When cooking giblets for gravy or stuffing, you can simply roast them in the pan with your turkey or simmer them in water with some celery and onions to make a giblet stock. Then, chop the giblets and use in your gravy or stuffing,” Nolan said. Many people will include the turkey neck with the giblets for more meat and extra flavor.
What are Turkey giblets used for?
Turkey giblets are the edible internal organs and parts of a turkey that are often included in whole turkey packages. The most common giblets are: Heart – Adds depth of flavor to gravies and stocks. Liver – Provides a rich, meaty taste. Use for pâtés, stuffings. Gizzard – Contains lean meat for gravies. Can be cooked and chopped for stuffing.
Do Turkey giblets have kidneys?
Turkey Kidneys: Can have a slightly bitter taste. Traditionally, the turkey liver, heart, and gizzard are the essential giblets. A fourth giblet, the neck, is often included as well. Some brands may also incorporate the kidneys. Where are the Giblets Located in a Whole Turkey?