Some people consider offals like chicken gizzards and hearts as nasty bits They are usually the “Unwanted”. All these nasty bits including kidney, beef tripe, livers are popular in Asia. My mom cooked them often when we were kids. That’s probably how I got used to this.
Gizzards are like the second stomach in many birds. They are pretty muscular and it helps to breakdown seeds and other tough foods. It’s like a grinder for the birds.
Making the Most of Your Turkey Giblets with the Instant Pot
For many of us preparing the perfect Thanksgiving turkey is a cherished annual tradition. But what do you do with the bag of turkey giblets you find inside the bird? These parts like the neck, heart gizzard and liver get discarded by many busy cooks. However, with a little creativity, you can transform these turkey leftovers into something delicious with the help of your Instant Pot.
In this article, we’ll explore different ways to make use of turkey giblets using the speed and convenience of the Instant Pot. From savory gravy to nutritious organ meats, you may just find a new favorite way to savor every last bit of your holiday bird.
Why Use an Instant Pot for Cooking Giblets?
The Instant Pot is ideal for cooking turkey giblets for a few key reasons
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Speed – The pressurized environment allows for very fast cooking of tough meats like giblets. You can prepare them in a fraction of the normal time.
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Tenderness – The steam under pressure gently breaks down connective tissues, resulting in tender giblets.
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Flavor extraction – Cooking giblets in the Instant Pot draws out more rich, savory flavors into the cooking liquid.
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Safety – Pressure cooking at high heat ensures giblets are fully and safely cooked through.
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Convenience – You can cook the giblets right in the pot while the turkey roasts in the oven.
Quick and Easy Turkey Giblet Gravy
Making gravy from turkey giblets is an easy way to add flavor. Simply place the neck, heart, gizzard and optional liver in the Instant Pot with 1 cup broth or water. Add seasonings like sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Pressure cook on high for 10-15 minutes until the giblets are very tender.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the giblets, reserving the cooking liquid. Pick the meat off the neck, chop the heart and gizzard, and slice the liver if using. Mash the chopped giblets into a paste and whisk a bit of the cooking liquid into it. Whisk this flavorful giblet paste back into the cooking liquid until smooth and thickened for savory, rich gravy.
For even more gravy, you can add drippings from the roasted turkey, or thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Pour the Instant Pot giblet gravy into a gravy boat and you have the delicious finishing touch for your Thanksgiving meal.
Whip Up Nutritious Turkey Heart and Liver
While many people discard the heart and liver, these giblets are rich in vitamins, minerals and protein. The Instant Pot allows you to quickly transform them into tender, nutritious treats.
For the heart, simply place it in the Instant Pot with seasoning and 1 cup of broth or water. Pressure cook on high for 8-10 minutes. Slice or chop the heart and add it to stuffing, gravy, casseroles or eat as-is for a nutrient boost.
For the liver, sauté some sliced onions in the Instant Pot first. Add seasonings like sage or rosemary. Place the liver on top with 1⁄2 cup broth. Cook on high pressure 6-8 minutes. Let the liver rest in the cooking liquid for 10 minutes after. Slice the buttery-soft liver and enjoy either on its own or in any recipe calling for chicken livers.
Whip Up Tasty Soup with Turkey Giblets
You can also use the Instant Pot to transform turkey giblets into hearty, nourishing soup stock. Place giblets in pot with plenty of water to cover and seasonings of your choice. Add veggies like carrots, celery and onions. Pressure cook for 30-40 minutes until giblets are fall-off-the bone tender.
Strain the stock and pick the meat from the cooked giblets. Use stock as the base for soups like turkey noodle soup or turkey rice soup. Add back reserved giblet meat along with vegetables, grains and herbs for a comforting, post-Thanksgiving soup.
Take Your Stuffing to the Next Level
One way to add immense flavor to your Thanksgiving stuffing is to use Instant Pot turkey giblets. Cook the neck, gizzard and heart in broth with traditional stuffing aromatics like onion, celery, garlic and herbs. Chop up the tender cooked giblets and add them right into your favorite stuffing recipe.
The cooked giblets will incorporate incredible turkey flavor throughout the stuffing. Just make sure to coarsely chop them so you get tasty bits in every bite. The Instant Pot takes the hassle out of pre-cooking them.
Use Turkey Wings for Richness and Texture
While not technically giblets, turkey wings pair perfectly with giblets when making stock and gravy. The collagen in turkey wings helps thicken and add body to any cooking liquid. Simply add washed wings to your Instant Pot along with giblets, aromatics and water. The cooked wings can then be used in place of or along with the cooked giblets in the recipes mentioned above.
Get Creative with Leftover Turkey Parts
Clean and thoroughly cooked turkey giblets are very versatile ingredients. Don’t limit yourself to just gravy and soup. Consider using chopped giblet meat in:
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Hearty sandwiches – Add to turkey sandwiches along with stuffing and cranberry sauce for more texture.
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Savory pot pies – Mix into turkey pot pie filling for extra Thanksgiving flavor.
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Enriched casseroles – Fold into oven-baked casserole dishes like turkey tetrazzini.
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Flavorful tacos – Mix chopped giblets with shredded turkey, salsa and cheese for turkey tacos.
Be sure to cool and refrigerate giblets within 2 hours of cooking to prevent spoilage. You can store cooked giblets in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
With the speed and convenience of the Instant Pot, you can transform turkey giblets from an afterthought into delicious, nutritious additions to your holiday meals. This Thanksgiving, embrace the versatility of giblets for gravies, soups, stuffing and more.
BOILING VS PRESSURE COOKING GIZZARDS
Boiling chicken gizzards on the stove takes a long time, 45 minutes or 1 hour (sometimes longer). With an electric pressure cooker like the Instant Pot, the gizzards are ready in 25 minutes (for cooking) and 15 minutes total (to pressurize and depressurize). It may not necessarily shorter in time, but it’s way convenient and I can set and forget.
WHY I LIKE GIZZARDS
1. CHEAP: It cost me less than $2 for a pound of chicken gizzards and hearts, with most of the gizzards. 50. 2. NUTRITIOUS They are low in calories, high in protein, low in fat, and zero carbs 3. 5 oz of gizzards has about 95 calories, 5 grams of protein, 0. 6 grams of fat, 0 carbs, 3. TASTY (really?) Really! They don’t really taste like chicken. It’s like meat with a firm texture. When you properly cook them they are not tough or chewy. When they are tough and chewy, they aren’t cooked long enough yet.
TURKEY NECKS WITH WHITE POTATOES (IN THE INSTANT POT)
FAQ
How long should giblets be cooked?
What do you do with giblets from turkey?
What part of the turkey giblets do you not use?
Can I cook a turkey with the giblets inside?
How to cook Turkey giblets in Instant Pot?
Brown the turkey giblets: Heat the vegetable oil in an Instant Pot set to sauté mode adjusted to high (medium-high heat in a stovetop pressure cooker). When the oil starts shimmering, add the turkey giblets – the neck, heart, gizzard, and butt. Cook without moving until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes.
How to cook Turkey Neck in Instant Pot?
1. Rinse the turkey neck and giblets under cold water. 2. Place the turkey neck and giblets in the Instant Pot. 3. Add 1 cup of water. 4. Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on High for 20 minutes. 5. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. 6. Remove the turkey neck and giblets from the Instant Pot. 7.
How do you cook giblets in a pressure cooker?
Place the giblets in the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water. Close the lid and set the pressure cooker to high for 15 minutes. Once the pressure cooker has finished cooking, let it naturally release pressure for 10 minutes before carefully opening the lid. Remove the giblets from the Instant Pot and discard any bones or gristle.
How do you cook giblets in an Instant Pot?
Heat some olive oil over medium-high heat or on sauté mode if using the Instant Pot. Add the neck and the giblets in a single layer and allow them to sear, undisturbed, for several minutes until they start to brown. Add the onion quarters, carrot, celery, and garlic. Allow them to brown, stirring only occasionally, until all sides brown evenly.
How do you cook a Turkey in an Instant Pot?
If the gravy is too thick, thin to the desired consistency with additional turkey stock. Preheat a 6-quart Instant Pot® using the saute setting on high (see Cook’s Note). Add 2 tablespoons oil to the pot and brown your turkey pieces in batches, adding more oil as needed, until golden brown on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
How long can you keep Turkey Neck & giblets in Instant Pot?
Simply set the timer for the desired cooking time and the Instant Pot will automatically keep the food at a safe temperature until it is finished cooking. * Turkey neck and giblets can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.