Cooking an entire turkey is a big undertaking It takes hours to roast, and needs to rest before carving and serving With so much prep work involved, it’s natural to wonder – can you cook the turkey ahead of time and simply reheat it on the big day?
The answer is a definitive yes! In fact cooking your turkey 1-2 days in advance takes a ton of pressure off on the day of your meal. Then all you need to do is reheat the cooked, carved turkey so it’s hot and delicious.
Follow these tips for flawlessly roasting, storing, and reheating turkey in advance. Your guests will never know it wasn’t freshly roasted that day!
Roast the Turkey as Usual
You’ll roast the turkey completely a day or two before you plan to serve it. Season and prep the raw turkey just as you normally would. Roast the turkey until the thickest part of the breast and thighs reach 165°F, and the legs reach 175°F when tested with a meat thermometer.
For food safety, it’s critical to ensure the turkey reaches these safe minimum internal temperatures.
Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest at least 30 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute through the meat.
Save all the drippings and pan scrapings to make your gravy. Allow the turkey, drippings, and pan to cool completely before refrigerating.
Carve the Cooked Turkey
Once the cooked turkey has cooled, carve it into pieces just as you would on the day you plan to serve it. Remove the legs and wings, then slice the breast meat.
Keep the light and dark meat pieces separate if desired, and place them in a roasting pan or other shallow storage container. Pour a little turkey broth, reserved drippings, or chicken stock over the turkey pieces to keep them moist.
Tightly cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Store the Turkey Safely
It’s critical to store the cooked turkey at 40°F or colder. Leave space in the fridge for air to circulate around the covered pan.
Use the turkey within 2 days for best quality. For longer storage of up to 4 days, place the tightly wrapped turkey pieces in freezer bags and freeze. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
If unsure about the turkey’s freshness, remember “when in doubt, throw it out!” Don’t risk foodborne illness.
Reheat the Turkey Thoroughly
On the day you’ll serve the turkey, plan on at least 2 hours to reheat it fully. Remove the turkey from the fridge and let sit 30 minutes before reheating so it heats evenly.
In the oven: Heat oven to 325°F. Place turkey pieces in a roasting pan, pour over any reserved drippings or broth, and tightly cover pan with foil. Heat 45-60 minutes until the thickest parts of the turkey register 165°F on a meat thermometer.
On the stovetop: Place turkey pieces and broth in a skillet or dutch oven, cover, and gently reheat over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and monitor temperature until 165°F.
Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200°F oven for up to 2 hours until mealtime. Don’t leave turkey at room temperature longer than 2 hours.
Make New Drippings for Gravy
Since you’ve reserved the initial turkey drippings for storage, you’ll need to make new pan drippings to create your gravy on the day you reheat the turkey.
Start by sautéing aromatics like onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and herbs in a little butter or oil. Then add broth or water and scrape up any browned bits in the pan. Whisk in flour to thicken, then let simmer till gravy reaches desired consistency. Season with salt, pepper, and additional drippings as desired.
Finishing Touches for Perfectly Reheated Turkey
For that straight-from-the-oven look, return the turkey pieces to the empty roasting pan and tuck wings under. Scatter fresh herbs on top for garnish. Group pieces close together and pour piping hot gravy over the turkey.
Your “freshly roasted” turkey is ready to wow your guests! Now you can relax and simply enjoy the meal without all the intense roasting day stress.
Turkey Reheating Q&A
Reheating a fully cooked turkey is easy and safe when done properly, but you may still have questions about getting it just right on the big day. Here are answers to some common turkey reheating FAQs:
How long does it take to reheat turkey in the oven?
Plan on 45-60 minutes in a 325°F oven to fully reheat refrigerated cooked turkey to 165°F or hotter. Larger pieces and whole turkey breasts may take longer. Use a meat thermometer to confirm safe doneness.
Can you reheat turkey at 250°F?
Yes, but it will take significantly longer. At 250°F, plan on about 1 hour per pound of turkey. Monitor closely and allow extra time for the center to come up to temperature.
Should you cover turkey when reheating it?
Absolutely. Covering helps retain moisture and speeds up reheating time. Use foil or an oven-safe lid. Leave a small vent opening if the foil is pressed tightly to the pan.
What temperature do you reheat turkey to?
Heat turkey to 165°F as measured by a food thermometer. This temperature kills any harmful bacteria and ensures the turkey is fully hot and safe to eat.
Can you reheat turkey in the microwave?
Yes, microwave in short 1-2 minute intervals until heated through, checking temperature between bursts. Use the defrost setting, cover, and stir or rearrange between bursts for even heating.
How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge?
Refrigerate carved cooked turkey no longer than 2 days. For longer storage, portion turkey into freezer bags and freeze up to 4 months. Thaw in fridge before reheating.
Enjoy Deliciously Moist Leftover Turkey
You’ll be amazed at how juicy, flavorful, and downright “fresh” your reheated turkey is using this handy cook-ahead method. With the big roast behind you, just focus on sides and desserts at the last minute.
Use your leftover turkey in creative ways like soups, sandwiches, casseroles, salads, and more. Whole cooked turkeys also freeze beautifully for up to 4 months.
You worked hard preparing your holiday bird. Make things easier on yourself while still serving an amazing feast. Cook your turkey ahead of time, save your sanity, and impress guests with this handy make-ahead trick.
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Carve Your Turkey
Prepare your knife and cutting board by making sure they are both sharp and big enough. It’s best to choose a board with a groove to catch all the yummy turkey juices. Cut between one breast and one leg first. Then, pull and twist the leg to get it out of the joint. Keep cutting until the leg and thigh come free. Then cut the leg away from the thigh. Put the drumstick and pieces of thigh meat into the roasting pan.
Next, cut the breast away from the bird, then slice it crosswise, keeping some skin on each piece. Place this in the pan. Cut off the wing and add to the pan. Then turn the bird around and carve the other side in the same manner. Check out “How to Carve a Turkey” for step-by-step photos of the process. 1:57.
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Roast the turkey the way youd usually do it. (You can even roast the bird unstuffed from the frozen state. When the turkey’s thigh reaches 170 F inside, take it out of the oven and let it rest for about 30 minutes with the lid on. Pour the roasting pan’s juices, along with any bits stuck to the bottom, into a container. Save it all for tomorrow to make gravy. You can wash the roasting pan to store the carved turkey or leave as is. (Dont have a roasting pan? Find a roasting pan substitution in your own kitchen. ).
Cook Ahead Turkey – How to cook, prep, store and reheat your whole turkey one day before
FAQ
Can you cook a turkey ahead of time and reheat?
How to warm up turkey without drying it out?
Can you partially cook a turkey and finish later?
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!
Can You reheat a cooked turkey the next day?
Reheating a cooked turkey the next day is a safe and convenient method that allows you to enjoy a delicious meal without the stress of cooking it on the same day. By following the proper storage and reheating guidelines, you can savor a flavorful and perfectly cooked turkey every time.
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 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.
Can you cook a Turkey a day ahead?
Yes you can! If roasting a bird on the big day sounds overwhelming, cook your turkey a day ahead. This easy trick will not only save you time on Thanksgiving, it’ll make the day a lot less stressful, too. The best part? No one will even know! Simply roast your bird as usual, let it cool completely, then carve it into large pieces.
Can You reheat a Turkey in a slow cooker?
Bring the turkey back up to temp alongside gravy or stock/broth to keep the meat moist. For your safest, juiciest leftover turkey experience, we recommend reheating it one time—and one time only—and avoid reheating turkey in a slow cooker.