How To Reheat Turkey So It Never Dries It Out (2024)

Meghan Splawn

Meghan Splawn

Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.

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updated Oct 24, 2023

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How To Reheat Turkey So It Never Dries It Out (1)

Learn the best way to reheat leftover turkey this weekend and a few tips for better microwaved leftovers.

Serves2 to 4

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How To Reheat Turkey So It Never Dries It Out (2)

In This Article

  1. The Best, Simplest Method for Reheating Turkey
  2. How To Reheat Turkey in the Microwave

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Every year, we look forward to the pure post-Thanksgiving joy that is turkey leftovers. But did you know there’s a right way to reheat turkey? Here, we’ll cover the best way to reheat your leftover turkey to keep it as moist and delicious as possible. And if “best” translates to “fastest” for you, we have some guidelines for microwaving those leftovers, too.

Quick Overview

How to Reheat Turkey

The best way to reheat turkey is in a 350°F oven. Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of stock and/or butter. Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can microwave the sliced turkey (cover with a damp paper towel) in a microwave-safe dish at 50% power in 1-minute intervals.

The Best, Simplest Method for Reheating Turkey

As a rule of thumb, leftovers should be heated the same way that they were cooked. A long, slow roast got your turkey onto the Thanksgiving table, so into the oven leftovers should go for the best reheating. Follow these few rules for success.

  • Cut the turkey into smaller pieces: You can leave drumsticks on the bone, but for everything else, make sure the turkey is sliced or chopped. Do your best to keep the pieces similar in size for even reheating.
  • Add some stock and butter: Add two secret ingredients for reheating leftovers — moisture and fat — to any leftovers when reheating. For turkey, stock and butter are ideal, but use what you’ve got!
  • Reheat low and slow: This method isn’t the fastest, but we want to avoid driving moisture away from the already-cooked meat, so 30 minutes in a 350°F is best.

How To Reheat Turkey in the Microwave

While the best method for reheating will give you moist and tender leftovers, we all know there are going to be times when you just want to heat a single serving of turkey breast and some sides for yourself — and no, you don’t want to heat the oven, thank you. Here’s the best way to microwave your turkey leftovers.

  • Cut the turkey into bite-size pieces.
  • Drizzle with stock or broth.
  • Cover cover it with a damp paper towel before microwaving.
  • Microwave the sliced turkey and turkey pieces in a microwave-safe dish at 50% power in 1-minute intervals, or until the internal temperature reads of 165°F.

A safety note: Remember that all leftovers should be reheated to a minimum of 165°F and should be stored properly within two hours of cooking for safety.

  • The Best Ways to Reheat Leftovers
  • Here’s What You Should Do with Your Turkey
  • 10 Smart Ways to Use Up Your Thanksgiving Leftovers
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How To Reheat Turkey: The Best, Simplest Method

Learn the best way to reheat leftover turkey this weekend and a few tips for better microwaved leftovers.

Serves 2 to 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cooked turkey (breast meat, thigh meat, or whole drumsticks)
  • 1 cup low-sodium turkey, vegetable, or chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces

Equipment

  • Cutting board and chef's knife
  • 8x8-inch baking dish
  • Aluminum foil

Instructions

Show Images

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F.

  2. Slice the turkey and spread into a baking dish. Uniform slices or bite-sized pieces reheat quickly and evenly, so slice the turkey as needed. Place the turkey in a a single layer in an 8x8-inch baking dish.

  3. Cover the turkey with broth and dot with the butter. Add the broth and dot the turkey with the pieces of butter. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.

  4. Reheat in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Bake until the turkey is heated through, 30 to 35 minutes. Remember that all leftovers should be reheated to a minimum of 165°F.

  5. Serving. Uncover and serve the turkey immediately.

Filed in:

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easy

Gluten-Free

How To

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Lunch

How To Reheat Turkey So It Never Dries It Out (2024)

FAQs

How To Reheat Turkey So It Never Dries It Out? ›

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.

How to reheat turkey without drying it out? ›

“The best way to reheat turkey is in the oven,” says chef Jose Garces. “Slice the turkey, place it in a shallow pan, add some chicken or turkey stock, and cover tightly with foil. Heat at 300 or 325 degrees until the turkey reaches 165 degrees. The stock should allow the turkey to steam without drying out.”

How do you keep a turkey warm without drying it out? ›

After the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 165 °F, as measured with a food thermometer, you can keep it warm covered with foil in an oven. However, holding a properly cooked turkey at a safe internal temperature 140 °F or above for more than a couple of hours will dry it out and ruin the quality.

How do you reheat a whole turkey and keep it moist? ›

Pour gently simmering chicken broth (we love stirring a spoonful of Better Than Bouillon into water for a quick broth) over the towel just until it's damp. Wrap the entire dish in foil and bake until the turkey is steaming (the USDA recommends taking the turkey to 165°F).

How do you add moisture to leftover turkey? ›

Add moisture

Splash the turkey with a bit of leftover broth or stock and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. The aluminum foil will prevent moisture from evaporating too quickly and the low temperature will help prevent the turkey from losing flavor.

Can you cook turkey ahead of time and reheat? ›

When serving your turkey the next day, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline advises that cooked turkey may be eaten cold or reheated. To reheat your turkey, USDA gives the following recommendations: In the Oven: Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F.

How to stop turkey from drying out? ›

If you let the turkey rest a bit, the juices reabsorb into the meat rather than running out of the bird and landing on the cutting board. Carve it to order. The longer you let it sit after you slice it, the drier it will be. If you need to slice it, cover it with foil or plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.

Do you reheat turkey in oven covered or uncovered? ›

Place similarly-sized pieces of sliced, chopped, or shredded turkey in a 9-x13-inch pan or Dutch oven. Top with a little broth or gravy, cover with foil or the Dutch oven lid then, bake at 350°F until the turkey reaches 165°F. (This usually takes about 30 minutes.)

How to reheat butterball fully cooked turkey? ›

Place turkey breast in 350° oven and heat until warm. 3/4 - 1.5 hours. Check temperature with a meat thermometer.

How do you add moisture to reheated meat? ›

TIP: Try this trick to reheat leftover meat, so it tastes fresh and juicy! 👇🏼🍖 1️⃣Let it come to room temp. Get a nonstick skillet nice and hot 🔥 2️⃣ Add your slices then IMMEDIATELY pour in a little broth and cover. Let cook 1 minute.

Does reheated turkey need to be 165? ›

You may eat the turkey cold or reheat to 165 F. meat off the bone. Legs and wings may be left whole, but the breast should be sliced. Refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers (i.e., containers 2-3 inches thick).

Can you cook turkey the day before and reheat it? ›

When serving your turkey the next day, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline advises that cooked turkey may be eaten cold or reheated. To reheat your turkey, USDA gives the following recommendations: In the Oven: Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F.

Can I cook my turkey the day before Thanksgiving? ›

Roasting your turkey ahead will save you the time spent testing and carving, allowing you to spend more time with your guests. It's easy: Simply cook it a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, then carve the bird into large pieces—breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks.

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