Few food items are as polarizing as the turkey leg — it is a true “love it” or “hate it” situation. On one end of the spectrum, its beloved admirers cant get enough of the generously portioned, sodium-laced, portable food. On the other hand, its haters really know how to hate — knocking its large, often grotesque appearance and the astonishing amounts of calories, fat, and God knows what else youre ingesting in one seating. Haters gonna hate, right? Advertisement
Whether you have tried one or been an innocent bystander, the sight of a turkey leg has likely been burned into your mind forever. You just cant unsee the thing. The turkey leg has its place in many amusement parks, county fairs, and festivals across the country. Theres even a holiday dedicated to it (okay, all turkey products really) each year when its faithful admirers rally together for National Turkey Lovers Day. On paper, it is a snack — or meal (because, lets be honest, its huge) — comprised mostly of protein from the aforementioned animal. So, why does the bird get so much heat? Join us on this brine-filled adventure of fat, fun, and fairs. This is the untold truth of the turkey leg. Advertisement
As soon as you get a whiff of the tempting aromas wafting through the air at a state or county fair, you know you’re in for a treat. From candy apples to corn dogs, fair food is indulgent, delicious, and just plain fun. But one iconic fair food towers above the rest in terms of its sheer spectacle and enjoyment – the giant turkey leg. When you bite into a perfectly cooked fair turkey leg, you’ll understand why it’s become a classic festival treat that fairgoers look forward to all year long.
What Exactly is a Fair Turkey Leg?
A fair turkey leg is first and foremost, a leg from a turkey. But not just any old grocery store turkey leg will do Fair turkey legs are specially selected for their large size, which adds to the dramatic effect when you see them being enjoyed or walk around wielding one yourself They typically weigh nearly 2 pounds, much heftier than your standard Thanksgiving turkey leg.
Beyond its impressive size, a key part of what makes a fair turkey leg so delicious is how it’s prepared. The turkey legs are cured or brined to deeply season the meat, then slow-roasted or smoked over a period of several hours until perfectly tender. The result is a turkey leg with ultra-juicy, succulent meat that is packed with smoky, savory flavor and sporting a crispy, caramelized skin. It’s a world away from the tasteless boiled turkey legs of cafeteria lore!
A Little History Lesson
The tradition of gobbling down turkey legs at fairs and festivals dates all the way back to medieval times, when large roasted meats were common sights at feasts and community gatherings. Over the centuries turkey legs became a carnival food staple across Europe. When fairs and festivals started popping up in America in the 1800s, turkey legs were introduced to a new hungry audience and their popularity only grew. They seemed tailor-made for lively outdoor events where you can walk around while enjoying their finger-licking goodness.
What’s the Hubbub About Ham?
If you’ve ever held a fair turkey leg in your hand, you may have done a double take at its distinctly pinkish hue. Many folks wonder if fair turkey legs are actually made of ham rather than poultry since they have a similar color and texture after curing and smoking. But rest assured, fair turkey legs do indeed come from real turkeys. The ham-like qualities come from the preparation process. The high salt content of the brine as well as sodium nitrite in the curing salt maintain moisture, add flavor notes, and lend that rosy pink color. Smoking brings on even more of that trademark hammy flavor and appearance. That’s why fair turkey legs taste less like your Thanksgiving bird and more like a heaping hunk of heavenly ham on a bone!
Indulge in the Fun
When you get right down to it, chowing down on a ginormous turkey leg is simply a time-honored, delicious way to enjoy yourself at a fair or festival. The joy comes from being transported back to the days of medieval feasts as you proudly parade around the fairgrounds while noshing on your prize. Don’t be shy about really digging in – pick it up Caveman-style and get your fingers sticky with smoky juices and seasoning. Sinking your teeth into the tender, flavor-packed meat off a turkey leg bone is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Fair turkey legs are totally gluten-free and a high-protein, low-carb treat, so you can feel good about this special indulgence.
How to Find Fair Turkey Legs
While you’ll see turkey legs being enjoyed by kids and adults alike at most state and county fairs and carnivals, some festivals have truly made them their claim to fame. The Renaissance Festival circuit is a great place to get your fill of turkey legs every fall. And if you find yourself at a certain famous Disney theme park that starts with the letter D, follow your nose to their version of fair food nirvana complete with jumbo smoked turkey legs. But you don’t have to wait for a fair or travel to an amusement park to indulge – many specialty food stores and even grocers sell cured and smoked turkey legs in the summer months when fair season kicks into high gear. You can even smoked turkey legs at home on the grill for a DIY fair experience.
So if you haven’t yet experienced the joy of chowing down on a mammoth smoked turkey leg at a fair, add it to your bucket list! This destination food treat perfectly encapsulates the carefree, nostalgic fun that fairs and carnivals celebrate in all their greasy, crispy, meaty glory. Once you get your first taste, you’ll be hooked on the smoky, savory deliciousness and already looking forward to your next opportunity to gorge on one of these giants.
An Ohio Renaissance Festival claims it sells the largest
Each summer, costume-clad hopefuls descend upon Waynesville, Ohio, for the annual Renaissance festival, and for two months thousands celebrate when Queen Elizabeth I reigned supreme with jousting matches and other forms of debauchery. The ultimate transcendent way to channel days of yore? Walking around with a 2-pound hunk of meat. According to Dayton Daily News, the Ohio Renaissance Festival may be home to the largest turkey legs out of any such festival of its kind in the United States. Advertisement
The festivals food and beverage director, Chris Cavender, claims he wont even entertain the thought of anything under 2 pounds when sourcing for the event. One-pound legs are pretty standard at festivals and theme parks across the country, but Ohio nearly doubles that size. The festival gets around 70,000 pounds of turkey each year, accounting for nearly 35,000 turkey legs. A nearby farm is tasked with the challenge each and every year of selecting the biggest birds. Theyve since gotten in a bit of heat with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals who even went as far as installing a billboard near the festival urging people to choose something other than the turkey legs when visiting. Advertisement
Despite what you may think, turkey legs aren’t keto
Keto is a wildly popular diet that has garnered global attention in recent years, thanks to a slew of celebrities and major brands hopping on board. Essentially, it is a super low-carb diet that relies on healthy, high-quality proteins and fats to fuel the body, not sugar and complex carbohydrates. On paper, a turkey leg should — in theory— fall under the guidelines. Sorry to say, keto dieters, put down the turkey leg immediately. Advertisement
Smoked meat is inherently a-okay on the diet, but its the popular preparation of the turkey leg that makes this one a big, fat no-no. According to a Reddit thread that deep dives into the recipe in question, the brine used in many popular preparations, including theme parks, has brown sugar in it. Brown sugar is without a doubt not okay on the keto diet. We were able to track down a copycat recipe for Disneys turkey leg, and that confirmed our suspicions as over 1 tablespoon of dark brown sugar was used in the brine.
How the turkey legs are made at the State Fair
FAQ
What kind of meat is a turkey leg at a fair?
The turkey legs at the fair are turkey legs. The meat is first soaked in a curing solution, which adds flavor and keeps it juicy as it cooks. Then, the legs are smoked, which gives them their distinct color and taste.
What exactly is a turkey leg?
A turkey leg is technically comprised of the bird’s thigh and the drumstick (the part of the leg below the knee joint), though in many recipes the term is used to refer to just the drumstick. Skin-on and bone-in, a full leg typically weighs between one and two and a half pounds.
Why are turkey legs at the fair pink?
“I don’t know about future food carts, but turkey legs have pink meat because of the six-hour smoking process. It flavors the legs and keeps the inside meat pink and moist. Just ask Marc Summers of Food Network’s Unwrapped: Walt Disney World.”