Turkey hunting was one of our favorite pastimes and we used to spend a ridiculous amount of time and energy simply getting ready for the hunting season to finally open. When it did, we would bundle up and head out in search of the perfect tom to dress our table. While we dont get to go out too often anymore, we still highly recommend it.
In Ohio (as with many states) bag limits for wild turkey are ridiculously small, making this once-common game bird a delicacy each season. Even though this delicious meal is something we dont get to eat every day, knowing the health benefits, nutrition, and safe handling of wild turkey meat is good information that might even make your next delicious roasted wild turkey taste better than it already does.
For hunters and adventurous eaters wild turkey can be an excellent addition to the dinner table. With its lean muscular flesh and robust taste, wild turkey can make a satisfying meal when properly handled. However, it does require different preparation than domestic grocery store turkey.
Below we’ll cover everything you need to know about cooking delicious wild turkey, from techniques to recommended recipes
How the Flavor Compares to Domestic Turkey
Due to their diet and active lifestyle, wild turkeys have darker, firmer meat with a more intense flavor than pen-raised birds. The white breast meat has a bit more color and the thigh and leg meat is extremely dark.
Overall, wild turkey is considered “gamier” with a heartier turkey taste. The meat has a moderately firm texture and very little fat, even on the breast. This leanness means special care must be taken to prevent dryness.
Best Cooking Methods for Moist, Tender Meat
Because wild turkey is naturally lean, it can easily dry out if overcooked. Here are some tips:
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Cook the breast to 160°F vs 165°F for domestic turkey. Legs to 165°F.
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Baste frequently with broth, butter, or sauce while cooking.
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Opt for moist-heat methods like braising the legs or stewing in chili.
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Grill using indirect heat rather than direct high-heat searing.
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Roast an brined or bacon-wrapped breast to add moisture and flavor.
Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Wild Turkey
Follow these steps for delicious wild turkey every time:
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Brine – Soak turkey overnight in a saltwater brine to enhance juiciness.
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Season – Coat the turkey with olive oil and generously season with salt, pepper, and other spices.
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Cook – Roast, grill, braise, or stew using the techniques above. Baste frequently.
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Check temperature – Cook breast to 160°F and legs to 165°F. Let rest before slicing.
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Make gravy – Use drippings to make a flavorful gravy or sauce to serve with the turkey.
Handling the Legs, Thighs, and Wings
The legs, thighs, and wings contain the most intense turkey flavor but can be tough if undercooked. Methods like braising, stewing, or roasting low and slow are best for tenderizing dark meat.
Try oven-braising legs and thighs in broth with veggies, grilling legs over indirect heat with glaze, or using the meat in hearty turkey chili or pot pie.
Getting the Most from the Breast Meat
The milder breast meat is excellent simply roasted, grilled, or pan-seared. Take care not to overcook it. Also try cooking cutlets or strips in a skillet, baking into casseroles, or pounding into cutlets for chicken parmigiana.
Useful Leftover Wild Turkey Ideas
Use every bit of leftover wild turkey! The meat makes excellent sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, casseroles, and other handy meals. Stock or broth made from the bones adds great flavor to sauces and rice or veggies. With a bit of creativity, you can get several meals from one bird.
Is Wild Turkey Better Than Farmed?
While personal taste plays a role, many hunters and foodies consider the rich flavor and tender texture of properly prepared wild turkey far superior to bland, mass-produced turkey meat.
If you’re up for a bit of adventure in the kitchen, give wild game turkeys a try. Handled carefully, they offer an immensely satisfying meal packed with old-fashioned turkey taste.
Best Ways to Cook Wild Turkey
Here is a little secret – one of the main reasons that wild turkey and regular turkey taste different is because of how they are cooked. Domestic turkey that you buy in the store is typically injected with salt water which adds weight and increases the juiciness, helping to prevent the finished bird from being too dry. Wild turkey, already significantly lower in fat, doesnt have the benefit of brine injection and tends to dry out easily.
With that in mind, you will want to adjust how you cook wild turkey to get the best results. When done right, wild turkey is the most delicious of game birds.
The key to properly cooking wild turkey starts from the moment you kill the bird. It is important to field dress the bird as soon as possible. Start by removing the innards and crop. Dont forget to remove the gland at the base of the tail while you are at it. Pluck the feathers while the bird is still warm. Youll use short, swift tugs to remove the feathers a few at a time. If you wait until the bird has cooled, youll likely end up tearing the skin quite a bit and that is simply a waste. Thoroughly wash and dry the bird before putting it in the refrigerator. Like any game animal, you want to complete this process and get it in the cooler as quickly as possible.
Brining wild turkey is one common method to help prevent the bird from drying out while cooking. Brine allows you to add herbs and flavors that enhance the finished flavor. Cooking an unbrined wild turkey is a bit of a challenge, but the results are awesome. The trick is to use plenty of butter or olive oil to prevent drying out. As a bonus, butter and olive oil will help wild turkey taste good and finish tender. Make sure to check out our favorite brine recipe for smoked turkey.
Wild turkey can also be done in a slow cooker to help improve juiciness. It isnt our favorite way to do it, but using a slow cooker will give you predictable results, especially when cooking wild turkey breast or skinny birds with strong muscles that taste dry.
No matter the cooking method you use when cooking turkey, youll need to aim for an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Take the measurement in the thickest part of the thighs. It is often best to separate the breasts from the whole bird when cooking because they will cook faster than other parts and can dry out. The cooking process you use should be carefully monitored to prevent overcooking.
Just the Facts: Wild Turkey Meat vs Domestic Turkey
Wild turkeys feast on a varied diet that includes anything from seeds, acorns, and nuts to lizards, snails, and worms. This might not sound like the most appetizing feast to you and me, but for a turkey, the wild ones eat the best. Domestic turkey feed simply attempts to recreate the menu of wild turkey. The differences in diet are similar to what you find when looking at the nutrition of wild hogs vs domestic ones.
The biggest difference between wild turkey meat and domestic birds is in the fat content. Wild turkeys spend most of their lives moving from one place to another, flying up to roost in trees at night and avoid inevitable predators, giving these birds a more lean meat.
While domestic turkeys technically have more protein due to their controlled diet, they are also much higher in fat content because they dont get as much exercise as their wild cousins.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of turkey breast meat contains 29 grams of protein and 7 grams of fat. The same portion of wild turkey breasts offers 25 grams of protein but just 1 gram of fat. Darker meat from thighs and legs has even less fat but slightly less protein.
Both wild turkey meat and domestic turkey meat contain many important vitamins and nutrients so dont worry about whether or not wild turkey is good for you. Its more important to focus on learning the optimal way to cook the perfect wild turkey.
What’s the difference between wild and domesticated turkey? – Fun Fact Friday
FAQ
Is wild turkey worth eating?
Is wild turkey worth eating? Yes, wild turkey is worth eating. It offers lean, flavorful meat with a unique taste, making it a favorite among many hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
What do wild turkeys taste like?
If cooked correctly, wild turkey breast meat tastes like a firmer version of domestic turkey breast, though some would suggest that it tends to taste more …Apr 9, 2021
Why is wild turkey all dark meat?
The dark meat comes from active muscles (more oxygen and Myoglobin). Wild turkeys are basically all dark meat because they actually use all their muscles including their wings to fly where domesticated just run around. Go shoot a wild turkey.
How do you make wild turkey not taste gamey?
The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution.