With the holidays right around the corner visions of golden roast turkey may be dancing in your head. But stuffing a turkey only to have the filling ooze out mid-roast is the stuff of nightmares. Luckily the humble turkey lacer used properly, can save your Thanksgiving centerpiece. Follow this beginner’s guide to neatly lacing up a plump, juice-filled bird.
What Are Turkey Lacers?
Turkey lacers are thin, sharp needles about 4 inches long, with a large eyelet on one end. They are used with kitchen twine to firmly close up the cavity of a stuffed turkey or other poultry. The lacers pierce the skin, allowing the string to crisscross the opening and cinch it shut. This prevents stuffing spillage while keeping moisture in.
Although called “turkey” lacers, these tools can truss up chickens, capons, and other birds too. Many kits include complimentary butcher’s twine for your first go-round. Replacement string is sold at any grocery store.
Benefits of Trussing with Lacers
Using lacers and twine to snugly secure your stuffed bird offers several advantages
- Holds stuffing neatly inside during roasting
- Maintains moisture and flavor of stuffing
- Allows even cooking of breast and thighs
- Gives a uniform, professional shape for carving
- Elevates presentation with a trussed closure
Compared to alternatives like sewing skewering or simply leaving the cavity open, lacers offer an easy, effective, and inexpensive solution for holiday turkeys.
Selecting Your Lacers
Lacers come in a few handy options:
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Metal – Sturdy and reusable stainless steel needles. Can eventually rust if not dried well.
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Plastic – Cheaper but still functional. Won’t rust but may bend easier over time.
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Silicone – Flexible and heat-safe. Easy to insert and clean. A great choice.
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Disposable – Single use wood or bamboo needles. Not as sturdy or reusable.
For most purposes, basic stainless steel lacers are the tried and true choice. Buy a pack of 6-10 to have extras on hand.
Trussing Step-By-Step
With quality lacers in hand, let’s lace up that bird:
Prep the Turkey
- Remove giblets and neck. Rinse cavity well. Pat dry inside and out.
- Rub skin with oil or butter. Season exterior with salt, pepper and herbs.
- Stuff cavity loosely, leaving room for airflow. Tuck wings under, truss legs.
Insert the Lacers
- Place 2-3 lacers evenly around main cavity opening.
- Angle them outward slightly, not straight in.
- Insert into skin about 2-3 inches until needles penetrate through.
- Eyelet ends should protrude about an inch on each side.
Lace with Twine
- Cut a 24-inch length of butcher’s twine.
- Thread through eyelet of first lacer. Pull tightly.
- Continue threading through each eyelet, keeping tension.
- After each one, tie off twine and trim excess.
- Make a second pass threading twine through any gaps.
- Finish with a tight double knot near the neck.
Your turkey is ready for the oven, neatly trussed and stuffing secured. Roast, baste, and enjoy!
Removing Lacers and Carving
Once your turkey is roasted golden brown, remove the trussing:
- Let turkey rest 20 minutes before removing lacers.
- Snip off all twine with kitchen shears.
- Gently ease out lacers one by one. Take care as they’ll be hot.
- Transfer turkey to a cutting board. Discard lacers.
- Snip away any remaining twine pieces.
- Carve turkey and serve your masterpiece!
Be sure to remove any needles missed inside to avoid accidentally swallowing one.
Caring for Your Lacers
Proper lacer maintenance ensures many holiday meals to come:
- Soak used lacers in hot water before washing.
- Scrub with a brush and hot soapy water.
- Rinse and hand dry thoroughly. Allow to fully air dry too.
- Store in a cutlery drawer, knife block, or protective pouch.
- Avoid the dishwasher which can damage them over time.
- Check for rusting. Discard any degraded needles.
With proper upkeep, quality stainless steel lacers should last for years and years of trussing up plump Thanksgiving birds. Consider gifting an extra set to new holiday hosts.
Lace Up Like a Pro
While unassuming, the handy turkey lacer helps create Norman Rockwell-worthy roast birds. With a bit of practice, anyone can neatly truss up their turkey for a Martha Stewart-worthy presentation. Simply follow this guide for gorgeously stuffed, moisture-locked poultry every holiday meal. Let your turkey lacers do the hard work while you bask in the glory of perfectly cooked, Norman Rockwell-caliber roast birds. Happy trussing!
Turkey Lacer – 12 Count Pack – #20918
Ensure your turkey is perfectly prepared with our 12-count Turkey Lacer set, featuring durable stainless steel skewers designed to securely close the turkey cavity during baking. Each lacer is approximately 4″ long and made from 1/16th inch thick wire, with a hoop end for easy handling. This Chef Craft brand product, made in China, comes with 54 inches of trussing twine per pack, offering a reusable and practical solution for trussing poultry.
Key Features:
- Stainless Steel Construction: Made from high-quality stainless steel, these turkey lacers are designed for durability and reuse.
- Secure Trussing: Use the lacers and trussing twine to sew the cavity closed and tie loose parts of the poultry, ensuring a compact shape and even cooking.
- Versatile Use: Ideal for trussing turkey, chicken, and other poultry, these skewers are also popular for various crafting projects.
Need a sample? If youre unsure whether these turkey lacers will work for your needs, we offer a sample service. Contact us via phone or email with your mailing address, and well send you one lacer pin in a protected envelope.
Achieve perfect poultry preparation with these reliable and easy-to-use turkey lacers!
How to Stuff a Thanksgiving Turkey| Williams-Sonoma
FAQ
What are turkey lacers for?
LOCK IN MOISTURE AND FLAVOR: Stainless steel Turkey Lacers secure the neck and body cavity of your turkey or chicken to ensure juicy and flavorful results with or without twine. Perfect for shish-kabobs, fruit skewers or crafting.
Why do you need a Turkey Lacer?
The purpose is to keep all the stuffing inside the bird by preventing it from falling out, and also to keep the stuffing moist by avoiding a wide, exposed surface of the stuffing that would go brown and crispy. Turkey lacers are very inexpensive. They are usually sold in packs of 6, 8 or 10.
What are Turkey LACERS?
Turkey lacers are an essential tool for anyone looking to cook a delicious turkey. They help to hold the turkey together, ensuring that it cooks evenly and stays moist. There are a few different types of turkey lacers, including metal and silicone, and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages.
How do you use silicone Turkey LACERS?
Using silicone turkey lacers is a slightly different process. These types of lacers are typically more flexible and easier to use than their metal counterparts. When using silicone turkey lacers, start by trussing the turkey with the butcher’s twine. Then, simply wrap the silicone lacer around the turkey and secure it in place.
How do you Lace turkey stuffed meat?
This Turkey Lacer Kit is specially designed to secure stuffing inside of poultry and meat during the cooking process. Use: To secure stuffed meat, insert the stainless steel pins across the cavity opening, lace it closed with the cotton butchers twine and follow cooking instructions.
How do you truss up a stuffed turkey?
For the juiciest most flavorful stuffed turkey, securing the cavity is key. This prevents sauce leakage and keeps stuffing fully moist. Enter the humble turkey lacer – an ingenious tool for properly trussing up your bird. In this article learn exactly how to use turkey lacers for a picture-perfect stuffed turkey
What are the different types of LACERS?
Lacers come in a few styles: Metal – The original style. Sturdy stainless steel with sharp points. Can rust if not dried properly. Plastic – Cheaper but still functional. Won’t rust but can bend or deform easier. Silicone – Flexible and pliant. Easy to use and clean. Can withstand oven heat. A popular choice. Disposable – Designed for single use.