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The best part of Thanksgiving is undoubtedly the leftovers. There are so many new dishes you can make with the components of a Thanksgiving menu! Ree Drummond especially loves to put leftover turkey to good use—just check out her recipes for turkey tetrazzini, leftover turkey shepherds pie, and leftover turkey soup. But if you just want to keep it simple and eat a big plate of leftovers, then youre probably wondering how to reheat turkey.
If youve ever zapped a slice of leftover turkey in the microwave only for it to come out unpleasantly dry, you probably realize that there are, indeed, right and wrong ways to reheat turkey. Do it the right way and your bird can taste freshly roasted days after Thanksgiving! Speaking of, did you know you can make a Thanksgiving turkey ahead of time and reheat it on the big day? Talk about a life saver! Below youll find all the advice you need to keep your Thanksgiving turkey perfectly juicy for the big feast and beyond.
Reheating leftovers is part and parcel of the Thanksgiving experience. While the big turkey dinner is delicious when freshly cooked, enjoying those leftovers for days after is half the fun! But reheating turkey can be tricky business. If you’re not careful, your beautifully roasted bird can turn dry and stringy when reheated. Nobody wants that.
So how long should you reheat a precooked turkey to keep it moist and delicious? What’s the best reheating method? And can you cook your turkey ahead of time? Below I’ll walk through everything you need to know to reheat precooked turkey perfectly every time,
How Long Does it Take to Reheat a Precooked Turkey?
The reheating time primarily depends on the size of your precooked turkey
- Small 10-12 lb turkey – Reheat for 45-60 minutes
- 12-15 lb turkey – Allow 60-75 minutes
- Larger 15-18 lb turkey – Reheat for 75-90 minutes
Plan for approximately 10-15 minutes of reheating time per pound Monitor the internal temperature and appearance as you get close to the time ranges above,
What Temperature to Reheat a Precooked Turkey?
Preheat your oven to 325°F. This moderately low temp helps heat the turkey through without overcooking the meat or drying out the skin.
How to Keep the Turkey Moist
The key is reheating your precooked turkey covered to seal in moisture. Leave any wrapping or netting on if present and wrap the entire turkey tightly in aluminum foil. Tent the foil so it’s not touching the bird directly.
The covering traps heat and steaming moisture to help keep the meat juicy. Adding 1 cup of water or chicken broth to the roasting pan under the turkey further increases moisture.
How to Crisp the Skin
Keeping the turkey covered for most of the reheating process will steam the skin moist and soft. Uncover the turkey during the last 15-30 minutes to help crisp and brown the skin.
Brush the skin with oil or rub on a thin layer of butter before uncovering to boost browning. Turn the oven up to 350°F once uncovered if needed for added browning.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow this simple process for reheating a precooked turkey to juicy perfection:
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Preheat oven to 325°F. This moderate temp will evenly reheat the turkey without overcooking.
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Place turkey in a roasting pan. Keep any wrapping or netting on.
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Add 1 cup broth/water to the pan. This will create steam to keep the meat moist.
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Tent turkey tightly with foil. Tucking the foil around the turkey traps moisture.
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Cook covered for 45-90 minutes. Time varies based on turkey size. Turkey should reach 160°F internally.
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Uncover turkey last 15-30 mins. Remove foil tent. Brush skin with oil or butter to crisp.
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Increase temp to 350°F if needed. Blast with higher heat at the end for added browning and crisping if desired.
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Check internal temp of 160°F. Juices should run clear at this safe minimum temperature.
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Let rest 10 minutes before carving. This allows juices to absorb back into the meat.
Reheating Leftover Sliced Turkey
Leftover sliced white and dark turkey meat can be quickly reheated:
- On the stovetop over medium-low heat in broth, gravy or sauce for 5-10 minutes
- In a 350°F oven covered in gravy or sauce for 15-20 minutes
- Microwaved on a plate or in a dish covered in broth for 1-2 minutes
Thaw frozen turkey slices in the fridge before reheating. Reheat thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Turkey Reheating Time Chart
Use this handy chart to estimate reheating time based on your precooked turkey’s size:
| Turkey Weight | Reheating Time |
|---|---|
| 10 lbs | 1 hr 20 mins – 1 hr 40 mins |
| 15 lbs | 2 hrs – 2.5 hrs |
| 20 lbs | 2.5 hrs – 3 hrs 15 mins |
| 25 lbs | 3 hrs 15 mins – 4 hrs 15 mins |
Cook a Turkey Ahead and Reheat
Yes you can! Cooking your turkey ahead of time can save you stress and hassle on Thanksgiving day.
Simply roast the turkey 1-2 days before the feast. Let it cool completely, then carve into pieces, keeping the wings, drumsticks, thighs, and breasts intact.
Place the carved pieces in the roasting pan, cover well, and refrigerate.
On turkey day, preheat the oven to 325°F. Add a bit of broth to the pan and cover tightly with foil. Reheat for 45-60 minutes until warmed through.
Then remove foil, baste with pan juices, and continue roasting uncovered for 15-30 minutes to crisp the skin.
Keep That Turkey Moist!
With these tips for reheating precooked turkey low and slow, your leftover bird will stay juicy, tender and delicious for days after the big feast. Don’t let dry turkey leftovers get you down. Follow this reheating guide for the juiciest leftover turkey ever.
Can you cook a turkey the day before and reheat it?
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, itll 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. Remove the wings, drumsticks, thighs, and breasts, keeping the pieces whole with some skin attached. Place the carved turkey pieces back into the roasting pan, cover well, and store in the fridge.
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!
How do you reheat turkey without drying it out?
Quicker is not always better, and thats especially true when it comes to reheating turkey. The best way to keep leftover turkey moist and delicious is reheating it low and slow. Yep, that means stepping away from the microwave! Microwaves may heat turkey in record time, but they also dry out the meat and leave the skin unpleasantly chewy. Instead, turn to your oven return your Thanksgiving turkey to hot, juicy, just-baked perfection. Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes. Before you know it, youll have fresh turkey once again!
How to Heat and Serve – Smoked and Fully Cooked Turkey
FAQ
How do you reheat a precooked turkey without drying it out?
Our advice is to set the oven to 325°F. This temperature is high enough to heat the turkey thoroughly without drying out the meat.May 13, 2024
How to reheat whole food precooked turkey?
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Remove turkey from packaging and place in an oven-safe dish. Heat in the oven for 25–30 minutes.
How long does it take to heat up a 10 pound turkey?
| Weight | Cook Time (Unstuffed) | Cook Time (Stuffed) |
|---|---|---|
| 7-10 lbs. | 2½-3 hrs. | 2¾-3½ hrs. |
| 10-18 lbs. | 3-3½ hrs. | 3¾-4½ hrs. |
| 18-22 lbs. | 3½-4 hrs. | 4½-5 hrs. |
| 22-24 lbs. | 4-4½ hrs. | 5-5½ hrs. |