How to cook boiled turkey necks on the stove so the meat is fork tender. Then enjoy as is or make into a delicious gravy for your holiday meal.
If you hate to waste food, you should try boiled turkey necks so you can get all the protein off your whole bird. It’s super flavorful dark meat packed with protein, calcium and nutrients. You can add it into gravy, soup or one of your favorite leftover turkey recipe.
Turkey necks are an underrated cut of meat that can make for a delicious and budget-friendly meal when prepared properly. Slow cooking turkey necks helps break down the collagen and connective tissue, transforming them into fork-tender morsels of meat. But how long does it actually take to slow cook turkey necks to perfection? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide tips, timing, and techniques to help you make the most tender and flavorful slow cooked turkey necks.
Anatomy of Turkey Necks
To understand how to properly slow cook turkey necks, it helps to first look at what makes up this cut of meat. Turkey necks contain a good amount of bone, cartilage, connective tissue, and muscle meat. The high collagen content is what requires the lengthy cooking time to break down and tenderize. When cooked correctly, that collagen melts into gelatin which keeps the meat deliciously moist and juicy.
Factors That Affect Cooking Time
Several factors impact just how long you need to slow cook turkey necks to end up with tender results
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Size of the necks – Small necks cook faster while larger, meatier necks require more time. Figure longer cooking for necks over 2 pounds.
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Quantity being cooked – The more necks in the pot, the longer it takes for the center to cook through. Avoid overcrowding.
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Cooking method – Braising slow cooking, pressure cooking and oven roasting all require different lengths of time.
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Cooking temperature – Higher heat cooks faster while lower temperatures take longer but yield more tender meat.
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Desired texture – Fall-off-the-bone tender necks require maximum cooking time. For slightly firmer meat, reduce cooking time.
Recommended Cooking Times
Taking those factors into account, here are general guidelines for how long to slow cook turkey necks:
- Slow cooker on low: 8-10 hours
- Slow cooker on high: 4-6 hours
- Oven braise at 300°F: 3-4 hours
- Pressure cooker: 30-60 minutes
- Instant Pot: 1-1.5 hours on manual high pressure
For the most tender results, opt for moist cooking methods like braising, stewing, or slow cooking. Dry roasting may require even more extended cooking. Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Tips for Maximizing Flavor
Beyond achieving tender meat, you also want your slow cooked turkey necks to be packed with flavor. Here are some easy ways to boost the taste:
- Brown the necks first for richer flavor
- Add aromatics like onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and fresh herbs
- Use chicken or turkey broth instead of water
- Toss in a splash of wine, vinegar, soy sauce, or Worcestershire
- Employ bold spices like paprika, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne
- Finish with a drizzle of barbecue sauce, teriyaki, or hot sauce
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow this simple process for foolproof slow cooked turkey necks:
- Rinse necks and pat dry. Season with salt, pepper, and other spices.
- Brown seasoned necks in a skillet with oil until crispy (optional but recommended).
- Place necks in a slow cooker and add chicken broth, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and desired seasonings.
- Cook on low 8-10 hours or high 4-6 hours until fork tender.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm 165°F internal temperature.
- Transfer necks to a serving platter. Spoon over cooking juices. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Once you’ve mastered the perfect slow cooked turkey necks, get creative with how you serve them up:
- On their own with mashed potatoes or rice to soak up the juices
- Shred the meat and use in soups, tacos, sandwiches, casseroles, etc.
- Pair with classic soul food sides like collard greens, black eyed peas, cornbread, etc.
- Top a salad with diced turkey neck meat
- Mix into jambalaya, gumbo, or dirty rice
- Make turkey neck gravy from the cooking liquid
So for succulent, flavored-packed turkey necks, allow 8-10 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high in your slow cooker. With the right timing and a few simple tricks, you can’t go wrong with this thrifty yet delicious cut of meat. Slow cooking brings out the best in turkey necks. Dig in and enjoy!
How do you clean turkey necks before cooking?
You will rinse under cold water and remove any excess fat that may be present. If there are any feathers or part there of stuck into the meat pull those out and discard to clean them off. Some people prefer to soak turkey necks in a saltwater solution to help remove any residual blood and impurities too but that is optional.
- 2-4 turkey necks frozen or fresh
- Beef broth or turkey drippings, enough to submerge them
- Bay leaves I like for flavor
- Celery is optional
- Onion quartered
- Carrot peeled, cut into large pieces
- Sprinkle of salt and pepper if desired
- 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
If you want to use it ALL of it after removing your tender turkey necks you should go further. After that just use a strainer to remove small pieces left. Use the broth then to make a leftover turkey soup, to make mashed potatoes or turkey neck gravy (seen below).
Dutch Oven Turkey Necks
If you have one of these babies it works quite well to keep a consistent temperature since it is made of cast iron. A large pot will work just as well but you’ll want a lid on it to keep it at a medium high heat. If you are going to use the broth later for something you’ll want a colander or sieve to strain the bits out of it.
How To Make The Best Crockpot Turkey Necks Ever | Slow Cooker Turkey Neck Recipe | Easy Recipe
FAQ
How long does it take for turkey necks to get done?
Smoke your own turkey necks! Set your smoker to 180F and let the necks cook for 2-4 hours, or until the meat falls off the bone.Aug 14, 2019
Can you cook turkey too slow?
Cook the turkey for 9 hours. Use a meat thermometer to check the turkey’s internal temperature and make sure the thickest part of the turkey thigh is at 155°F. The turkey will continue to cook so don’t worry that it’s too low.
How long does it take to cook in a slow cooker?
How long should I cook a slow cooker recipe? If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low.
How long to simmer turkey neck for gravy?
Combine broth, turkey neck, giblets, onion, celery, salt, and pepper in a large pot. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.Oct 30, 2022
How do you cook a turkey neck in a slow cooker?
Slow Cooking or Braising Slow cooking turkey necks in a flavorful sauce or gravy results in ultra tender meat and maximum flavor infusion. Brown necks first for more depth of flavor then transfer to a slow cooker or Dutch oven. Cook on low heat for 5-8 hours until completely tender. The slow, moist heat gently breaks down collagen.
How long does a turkey neck take to cook?
On the low setting, turkey necks take approximately 6-8 hours to become fork tender. You’ll know they are done when the meat easily pulls away from the bone. If you’re short on time, use the high setting, which cooks between 300-400°F. On high, turkey necks take around 3-4 hours to fully cook.
How long to cook frozen turkey necks in crock pot?
As a general guideline, cooking frozen turkey necks in a crock pot on the low setting can take approximately 6 to 8 hours. It is advisable to check the internal temperature of the cooked turkey necks using a meat thermometer to ensure they reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
How do you thicken a turkey neck in a crock pot?
Mix 3 teaspoon cornstarch with 3 teaspoon cold water and than pour it into the hot broth. Stir until thicken (make sure to remove necks before). For additional color and taste brown turkey necks in the skillet before placing them in to the crock pot. Hot sauce.
How do you cook a browned Turkey Neck?
Remove the browned turkey necks from the oven. Take the turkey necks out of the pot and set aside. Add the roux to the pot and mix well. Cook on the stovetop over medium heat to allow the sauce to thicken. Serve the turkey necks with rice, topped with the brown gravy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
How long do turkey necks last after cooking?
Turkey necks are budget-friendly, packed with old-fashioned flavor, and guaranteed to take your Southern cooking to the next level. Leftover turkey necks are best 3 days after cooking, and the flavor will be better the next day. However, theyll be good for 7 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.