How Long to Pressure Cook Juicy, Tender Turkey Wings to Perfection

Turkey wings are an underappreciated and delicious cut of meat that deserves more attention. When cooked properly in a pressure cooker, turkey wings become fall-off-the-bone tender and bursting with flavor. But nailing the right cooking time is key to achieving the perfect texture. Undercook them and you’ll end up with tough, chewy wings. Cook them too long and the meat will turn dry and stringy. So how long should you pressure cook turkey wings to get them just right? Let’s find out.

Why Choose a Pressure Cooker for Turkey Wings?

Cooking turkey wings in a pressure cooker has some major advantages over conventional oven roasting The intense pressure and steam inside a pressure cooker helps break down collagen and connective tissues much faster This tenderizes notoriously tough and bony cuts like wings incredibly well,

Pressure cooking also infuses moisture deep into the meat, keeping turkey wings succulent and juicy Whereas oven roasting tends to dry out wings due to prolonged exposure to dry heat. Furthermore, pressure cookers seal in flavors and aromatics for more concentrated, deeper taste

The bottom line is pressure cookers produce amazing turkey wings in a fraction of the time needed for roasting. Just be sure to use a high quality cooker with proper safety features and protocols. Models from brands like Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi work great.

Key Factors That Determine Cook Times

Several factors impact how long turkey wings need to cook under pressure:

• Size of Wings – Larger, meatier wings will naturally require longer cook times than smaller wings with less meat. Whole wings or drums usually need more time than wingettes or tips.

• Bone vs Boneless – Boneless wings cook faster since there’s no bone collagen to break down. Bone-in parts take longer to become tender.

• Frozen vs Thawed – Thawed wings cook much faster than frozen. Frozen wings must thaw while coming up to temp, so expect extra cooking time.

• Pressure Setting – Most electric pressure cookers have high and low pressure settings. Low pressure needs longer cook times, High pressure gets the job done faster.

• Pressure Release Method – A quick release depressurizes the cooker rapidly, meaning meat stops cooking immediately once pressure drops. Natural release slowly vents pressure over 10-15 mins, allowing for extra cooking time after the cycle ends.

• Altitude – Higher altitudes require slightly longer cook times. At altitudes above 2000 feet, add 5% more time to the recipe’s time for every additional 1000 feet above sea level.

Now let’s get into actual cook times based on the size and style of your turkey wings.

Cook Times for Whole Turkey Wings

Whole turkey wings are the entire untouched wing including the drummette, flat, and wing tip. They are quite large and meaty.

For fresh, thawed whole wings, pressure cook on high for 25-30 minutes followed by 10-15 minute natural release. Add 5 minutes for frozen.

Cook Times for Turkey Wing Drumettes

The wing drumette is the thicker first section closest to the body. It contains the most meat.

For fresh bone-in drumettes, pressure cook on high for 18-22 minutes followed by 10 minute natural release. For boneless drumettes, cook for 8-10 minutes with quick release.

Cook Times for Turkey Wing Flats/Wingettes

The wing flat, also called the wingette, is the thinner second part furthest from the body. It contains less meat than the drumette.

For fresh bone-in flats/wingettes, pressure cook on high for 15-18 minutes followed by quick release. For boneless flats/wingettes, cook for 6-8 minutes with quick release.

Doneness Tests for Perfectly Cooked Wings

Checking doneness is crucial to prevent under or overcooked wings. Here are some methods:

• Use an instant read thermometer – turkey wings are safely cooked at 165°F minimum. The juices should run clear.

• Cut into a wing to inspect color – properly cooked meat will be white throughout with no pink spots.

• Try moving a drumstick – the leg bone should twist freely in the socket when done.

• Check for tenderness – meat should shred easily and bones should wiggle loosely when fully cooked.

Serving Ideas for Your Succulent Pressure Cooked Wings

Once you’ve perfected cooking times for tender, fall-off-the-bone wings, it’s time to serve them up in delicious ways:

• Toss wings in your favorite sauce like Buffalo, barbecue, honey mustard or teriyaki.

• Serve wings Southern style over rice with gravy.

• Pair wings with classic soul food sides like collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread.

• Stuff wings into sandwiches, wraps or tacos with crunchy slaw.

• Float wings in a tasty brothy soup loaded with vegetables.

• Pile wings over salad greens for an easy protein packed meal.

• Embellish wings with fresh sides like watermelon, cottage cheese and roasted veggies.

The options are endless for making the most of your perfectly cooked pressure cooker turkey wings!

Key Takeaways:

• Pressure cookers make amazingly tender, juicy turkey wings in way less time than roasting.

• Cook bone-in whole wings for 25-30 minutes.

• Cook bone-in drumettes for 18-22 minutes.

• Cook boneless drumettes for 8-10 minutes.

• Cook bone-in flats for 15-18 minutes.

• Cook boneless flats for 6-8 minutes.

• Use quick release for boneless and natural release for bone-in.

• Adjust cook times as needed based on altitude, frozen state, and your pressure cooker model.

• Check doneness carefully before serving for maximum enjoyment of your wings!

With the right cook times and proper pressure cooker techniques, you’ll be serving up spectacular turkey wings in no time. So grab those wings and get cooking – your tastebuds will thank you! Let us know how your pressure cooked turkey wings turn out.