Giblets are a delicious and nutritious part of a turkey that can be used in a variety of recipes. But do you need to buy a whole turkey to get them? The short answer is no – you can purchase giblets separately.
What Are Giblets?
Giblets typically refer to the edible organs of a turkey or chicken. The most common giblets are:
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Gizzard – A muscular organ used for grinding up food. It has a chewy texture.
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Liver – An organ rich in nutrients like iron, vitamin A and vitamin B. It has a smooth, creamy texture.
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Heart – A lean, muscular organ with a slightly chewy texture
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Neck – Used for making flavorful stocks and broths.
Why Buy Giblets Without a Turkey?
There are several reasons you may want to purchase giblets separately:
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To make gravy, stuffing or other dishes that use giblets without cooking a whole turkey.
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If you only need a small amount of giblets for a recipe.
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To save money instead of purchasing a whole bird.
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If you want fresher giblets than what come packaged in a store-bought turkey.
Where to Buy Giblets Without a Turkey
Butcher Shops
Many local butchers sell giblets separately, either fresh or frozen. Ask at the meat counter for availability.
Grocery Stores
Some grocery stores sell giblets in the poultry section, especially around holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas when they are in high demand. Check the chicken, turkey and specialty meat areas.
Online Stores
Several online meat purveyors sell giblets. Search for “chicken giblets” or “turkey giblets”. Make sure to check shipping costs.
Farmers Markets
Ask vendors at your local farmers market if they sell giblets from chickens or turkeys they raise. This will depend on the specific vendors.
Asian or International Markets
Markets specializing in Asian or other international ingredients sometimes carry giblets and offal. Check the poultry section.
How Much Do Giblets Cost?
Giblet pricing can vary greatly depending on source, quantity and whether they are fresh or frozen. Some general pricing guidelines:
- Fresh giblets: $3-$5 per pound
- Frozen giblets: $1.50-$3 per pound
- Whole poultry giblet packs: $2-$4
Buying giblets in bulk quantities can lower the per-pound price. Freezing extras will keep them fresh for months.
How to Cook Delicious Giblet Dishes
Giblets have a unique, rich flavor perfect for various dishes:
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Gravy – Simmer giblets in broth and use the strained liquid as the base for turkey or chicken gravy.
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Stuffing – Saute giblets with aromatics like onion, celery and herbs then mix into your favorite stuffing recipe.
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Giblet Pâté – Puree sautéed livers with butter, spices and heavy cream for a rich and smooth pâté.
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Heart Skewers – Marinate cubed hearts in olive oil, citrus and herbs. Thread onto skewers and grill.
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Dirty Rice – Cook liver and gizzards with rice, broth and seasonings for a classic Cajun dish.
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Neck Stock – Simmer the neck with vegetables and herbs to create a deeply flavored stock for soups or stews.
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Fried Gizzards – Bread and fry gizzard slices for a crunchy, flavorful snack or side dish.
Storing and Freezing Giblets
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Store fresh giblets in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
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Freeze in resealable plastic bags for 2-3 months.
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When freezing, portion giblets for easier use like in 1 lb portions.
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Prevent freezer burn by removing as much air as possible before sealing bags.
With proper storage, giblets bought separately will stay fresh until you are ready to use them in your favorite recipes.
Giblets from Other Birds
While turkey giblets are the most common, you can also find giblets from other birds like chicken, duck, goose and Cornish hens. Their flavor profile will be slightly different but can be substituted in recipes calling for turkey giblets.
Ready to Try Giblets?
Giblets are full of flavor and nutrients. With so many options for buying giblets separately from a whole turkey, it is easy to add them to your cooking repertoire. Try them in gravy, patties, skewers, dirty rice and other delectable dishes. Just remember proper storage and food safety when handling raw giblets. Now get ready to enjoy the amazing taste giblets can add to meals!
Frequently Asked Questions
What if you can’t find the giblets?
If you don’t immediately see the package of giblets, it might be underneath the neck. If there isn’t a body cavity, you will have to gut your turkey, which is a more involved process than simply removing the giblets.
Are turkey giblets the same as gizzards?
Giblets refers to the little bundle of parts sometimes found inside the cavity of a bird, such as chicken or turkey. Usually the giblets includes the neck, the gizzard (a muscle that grinds up food before it enters the digestive system – think of it as a second stomach), the heart, and the liver.
How to take giblets out of turkey?
To remove the giblets, locate the large body cavity between the birds’ legs, reach inside and pull out the package of giblets. One of the golden rules when cooking a Christmas goose or turkey is to remove the giblets before you roast your bird.
Do fresh turkeys come with giblets?
The neck and giblets, which consist of the gizzard, heart and liver (which might be in two pieces), are traditionally included with the purchase of a whole turkey. A lot of folks expect them to be bagged separately but we tuck the neck and giblets into the main cavity of the bird without any extra bag or packaging.
Are Giblets a Turkey secret?
Giblets are the offal meat of the turkey. Offal is the organ meat of poultry and other animals. In turkeys, giblets are the heart, gizzards, and liver. In other poultry, like ducks, the offal meat is prized for creating products like foie gras or pâté. Giblets may seem like a turkey secret, but they don’t have to be unapproachable.
Can you buy Turkey giblets from a farm?
If you buy your turkey at a farmers’ market or directly from a farm, the answer is most likely yes. At a big box, warehouse, or grocery store, the giblets could actually be from another turkey because of how poultry is processed.
Do chicken giblets come with a Turkey?
The giblets may also come packaged with the neck of the bird, again, depending on your bird. Sometimes they’re in a mesh or plastic bag; sometimes they’re just kind of hanging out inside the chicken. Giblets aren’t restricted just to chickens: you’ll also get giblets with the turkey if you buy a whole turkey for Thanksgiving.
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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.