Few food items are as polarizing as the turkey leg — it is a true “love it” or “hate it” situation. On one end of the spectrum, its beloved admirers cant get enough of the generously portioned, sodium-laced, portable food. On the other hand, its haters really know how to hate — knocking its large, often grotesque appearance and the astonishing amounts of calories, fat, and God knows what else youre ingesting in one seating. Haters gonna hate, right? Advertisement
Whether you have tried one or been an innocent bystander, the sight of a turkey leg has likely been burned into your mind forever. You just cant unsee the thing. The turkey leg has its place in many amusement parks, county fairs, and festivals across the country. Theres even a holiday dedicated to it (okay, all turkey products really) each year when its faithful admirers rally together for National Turkey Lovers Day. On paper, it is a snack — or meal (because, lets be honest, its huge) — comprised mostly of protein from the aforementioned animal. So, why does the bird get so much heat? Join us on this brine-filled adventure of fat, fun, and fairs. This is the untold truth of the turkey leg. Advertisement
The giant turkey legs sold at Disney parks are one of the most iconic snacks around. These mammoth legs are a favorite treat for many park guests. However, rumors have circulated for years that the turkey legs sold at Disney are not actually made from real turkey. So are the giant turkey legs at Disney really turkey? Let’s find out.
The Origin and Popularity of the Turkey Leg Snack
Turkey legs made their debut at Disneyland in the late 1980s. They quickly became a guest favorite. The snack was so popular that turkey legs soon spread to all Disney parks. Now you can find turkey legs at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland, and Disney California Adventure.
Disney sells over 1.5 million turkey legs across its parks each year. That’s a lot of turkey! The legs fly off the shelves because they make such a convenient and filling snack for families on the go. Plus, turkey legs evoke the spirit of the Renaissance fairs that originally popularized the hearty snack.
Why Do People Suspect the Turkey Legs Aren’t Real?
Over the years, rumors have circulated that the giant turkey legs sold at Disney parks are not actually turkey. Some of the theories include
- They’re made from emu or ostrich meat
- They’re really ham or some other meat
- They contain a mix of turkey and other poultry meat
Mostly, people question the turkey legs because they don’t taste how we expect turkey to taste. The seasoning gives the legs a smoky, ham-like flavor rather than classic roasted turkey. Also, the size of the legs is very large compared to what we eat at home.
The Truth About Disney’s Turkey Legs
Despite urban legends to the contrary, the turkey legs Disney sells are, in fact, made of turkey. Not emu, ostrich, or any other giant bird.
Here are the facts:
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They come from male turkeys. The legs are so large because they come from tom turkeys, which are males and grow much bigger than hens. Toms can weigh up to 50 pounds.
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Brining impacts the flavor. Disney brines the turkey legs in a salt solution first. This gives them a ham-like flavor profile.
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The size is no illusion. The legs weigh nearly 1.5 pounds each. That’s big, but not unreasonably large for a male turkey.
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Disney confirms they’re 100% turkey. Disney has publicly clarified multiple times that the legs contain nothing but turkey meat.
While the seasoning and preparation make them taste different than what you’d expect, the legs are absolutely made from real turkey meat. The size comes from using meat from the largest turkeys around.
Why the Turkey Leg Snack Remains Popular
The giant turkey legs at Disney parks show no sign of going away anytime soon. Here are some reasons why this snack remains a favorite:
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They’re inexpensive – At around $10-15, a turkey leg offers a lot of food for a low cost. Great value for families.
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They’re shareable – The large size makes it easy to share a leg amongst family members. Parents don’t have to buy one for each person.
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They’re unique – You can’t find jumbo turkey legs like this anywhere else. That uniqueness adds to the Disney experience.
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They’re nostalgic – For generations of guests, turkey legs bring back fond memories of enjoying this snack during a day at Disney.
Yes, they may seem weirdly large compared to everyday turkey meat. But the legs provide families with an affordable, filling snack that’s a Disney tradition. Despite rumors, Disney has maintained that the turkey legs are nothing but 100% turkey. So rest assured that the iconic turkey leg is the real thing after all!
The turkey leg’s origins are in medieval times (but not what you may think)
Theres a lot that could be attributed to medieval times — the time period from the 5th to the late 15th centuries also known as the Middle Ages. We have them to thank for countless leaps and bounds of advancements in agricultural and technological innovations. The turkey leg also has its origin in medieval times, but not what you may think. Were talking medieval fairs and Renaissance festivals. Advertisement
Tracing back to the early 1960s, Renaissance festivals are a popular, albeit not historically accurate, way to celebrate yesteryear through re-enactments. These commercial gatherings are also known for serving a smorgasbord of food and drink inspired by peoples affinity during that era for eating food with their hands — and are credited with introducing the masses to … the turkey leg. The sheer primal nature of a turkey leg is a perfect fit for the festivals even if the turkey leg wasnt common fare in Europe at the time. Sorry to say, but no, our ancestors were absolutely not chowing down on a drumstick full of turkey meat. Nevertheless, these medieval celebrations are the first time the people got their grubby hands on the now infamous food. Advertisement
Could your turkey leg actually be pork?
With all the perilous tomfoolery happening in the world of meat (looking at you, Boars Head), you might think something as straightforward as a turkey leg could rise above the hullabaloo. But thanks to TikTok, wary consumers come to suspect the turkey leg theyre gnawing on might not be comprised of turkey alone. The return of state fair season and the reappearance of turkey legs as favored fare have prompted some discerning diners to wonder whether their turkey legs might really be roasted pork in disguise. What could possibly bring about such a strange suspicion, and more importantly, what would be the purpose for posing such a diabolical bait-and-switch? Advertisement
Google “Is a turkey leg pork?” and youll find a whole suite of TikTok clips devoted to this contrived controversy. Suspicious eaters hold up a turkey leg and claim its ham, based on the appearance of the texture of the meat beneath the skin. For many, the visual here doesnt line up with the familiar Thanksgiving turkey leg, with its familiar dark meat roasted to a medium-brownish color wrapped in crispy, golden skin. The culprit in this poultry-centric mystery appears to be the smoking process, which imparts a reddish hue and ham-like sheath to a regular ol turkey leg, combined with the smoky flavor shared by pork and ham when prepared in similar fashion. Its just another example of how humans can create a conspiracy out of literally anything when they put their minds to it. Advertisement
Top 10 UNTOLD TRUTHS of Disney’s Giant Turkey Legs
FAQ
Are the turkey legs at the fair really turkey?
The turkey legs at the fair are turkey legs. The meat is first soaked in a curing solution, which adds flavor and keeps it juicy as it cooks. Then, the legs are smoked, which gives them their distinct color and taste.
Why do Disney turkey legs taste like ham?
… brined in a salt and brown sugar solution with a preservative, sodium nitrate, likely added to cure the meat and provide its signature, ham-like flavorOct 20, 2024
Why are Disney turkey legs pink?
Disney legs are injected with a curing solution with a special curing salt that gives it a pink color, and then it is smoked.Feb 1, 2015