Neither chefs nor food writers can agree on whether—or why—youd want to tie up your turkey. A bird without a truss is said to cook faster because its legs are spread out and get more hot air. This makes the skin crispier as well. Others claim that the breasts of an untrussed turkey aren’t protected by the legs and therefore overcook.
It doesn’t matter if you like a wet-brined, dry-brined, or smoked turkey—trussing makes for a turkey that is perfect for the holiday table. (Have you seen an untrussed roasted turkey? It’s a bit eyebrow-raising. ).
The thing is, trussing doesn’t have to involve fancy tucks, flips, or toys like French trussing needles. Sometimes it doesn’t require any twine at all. If you want to make a turkey that’s good enough for company without all the work of traditional trussing, just follow these steps. Heres how to tie a turkey.
As Thanksgiving approaches, home cooks across the country are preparing for the big meal. And for many, that means roasting a turkey as the centerpiece. But when it comes to getting the bird ready for the oven, a common question arises: do you need to truss it?
What Is Trussing and Why Do It?
Trussing refers to tying up the legs and wings of poultry (usually turkey or chicken) with string before cooking This serves several purposes
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It compacts the body into a tidy, uniform shape. A trussed bird roasts more evenly since the wings and legs are held close to the body.
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Trussing helps the bird hold its shape better when cooked An untrussed turkey may end up with splayed out legs and wings
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It can enable the bird to cook slightly faster since the body is more compact
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A trussed turkey often looks more appetizing and photogenic when served whole for carving at the table.
So while trussing isn’t absolutely necessary, it can provide some advantages in terms of appearance, even cooking, and easier carving.
How to Truss a Turkey (The Easy Way)
You don’t need to be an expert to truss a turkey. Here is a simple technique using kitchen twine:
Ingredients:
- 1 whole raw turkey
- Kitchen twine
- Wooden skewers (optional)
Steps:
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Tuck the wing tips: Fold the wing tips under the body so they don’t burn while roasting.
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Close the cavity openings: For a rounded shape, loosely fill the neck and body cavities with aromatics like onion, herbs or lemon. Skewer the neck skin closed.
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Tie the legs together: Cut a long piece of twine. Wrap it around the legs several times and knot securely. Trim excess string.
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Tie the wings: Wrap twine around the wings and body. Knot again and trim excess.
That’s it! Your turkey is now neatly trussed and ready for roasting. Keep in mind that overstuffing the cavities can interfere with even cooking.
To Truss or Not to Truss?
While trussing does provide some advantages, it isn’t strictly necessary. You can still roast an untrussed turkey with great results. Some benefits of not trussing:
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The legs cook more quickly and evenly since they aren’t tightly pressed to the body.
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Untrussed wings brown well and give you built-in handles for moving the cooked bird.
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It’s one less step for the busy holiday cook.
So the choice comes down to your cooking preferences and priorities. A trussed turkey looks gorgeous on the table, but an untrussed one still tastes delicious. As long as you tuck in the wing tips, your Thanksgiving bird will turn out juicy and flavorful either way.
Whichever you choose, follow proper food safety guidelines. Cook stuffing thoroughly in a casserole, not inside the raw turkey. Let the cooked bird rest 20 minutes before carving. And refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours.
With these simple tips, your holiday turkey will be a stunning centerpiece whether you take the time to truss or just pop it straight into the oven untied. The most important thing is sharing a delicious meal with family and friends.
Position the Wings
Tuck the wing tips behind the shoulders to lock them into place and protect them from scorching. The positioning of the wings also helps stabilize the bird on a platter. Next. Youll tie the ankles of the legs together to cover the cavity and create a holiday-worthy presentation. Pick one of these methods for how to truss a turkey:
Hold the Legs In Place Using a Hock Lock
Most turkeys come with a plastic, or sometimes metal, contraption that holds the two legs together. You know…the piece that you always cut and pull out so you can stuff the cavity. This is called a “hock lock,” and it’s meant to stay in place while the legs are cooking. So if youre baking your stuffing outside the turkey (always a smart idea), you can rest easy. You dont need to truss the turkey if you have a hock lock—its already done for you.
How to Truss a Turkey with Alton Brown | Food Network
FAQ
Do I need to tie up my turkey?
What happens if you don’t tie turkey legs?
Do I leave the plastic tie on my turkey?
Do turkey wings need to be tied?
How do you tie a turkey legs together?
Or, you can simply use twine, kite string, or unwaxed dental floss to hold the legs together. If you’re using this method, follow these steps for how to tie a turkey: Cross the turkey’s “ankles” (the ends of the drumsticks) one over the other. Wrap twine around them and make a regular (overhand) knot to secure them.
Should you tie up an untrussed Turkey?
Neither chefs nor food writers can agree on whether—or why—you’d want to tie up your turkey. Some say that the splayed legs of an untrussed bird cook faster due to more exposure to hot air, plus more of the skin crisps. Others claim that the breasts of an untrussed turkey aren’t protected by the legs and therefore overcook.
How do you tie a Turkey to a drumstick?
Cross the turkey’s “ankles” (the ends of the drumsticks) one over the other. Wrap twine around them and make a regular (overhand) knot to secure them. For an even tighter knot, make a regular knot, and before tightening it, wrap one end through the loop a second time, then tighten it. That turkey ain’t going anywhere.
How do you secure a turkey neck?
Secure the neck cavity of a turkey by folding its skin over to cover the neck opening. You can use the string from when you secure the wings OR a wooden skewer threaded on either side of the neck to hold the skin in place gently, but still allow airflow. This will help to keep the stuffing from spilling out.
Should you truss a Turkey?
More often than not, in the Test Kitchen, Brekke and her fellow recipe developers truss their turkeys. “We believe that it helps the turkey roast evenly andlook beautiful on the table,” she adds. It’s not mandatory to truss a turkey, but it can offer a bit of “insurance” to protect against overcooked (and dry) meat.
How do you fill a turkey breast with twine?
Turn the turkey so the opening of the chest cavity is facing you. Loosely fill with stuffing or aromatics (optional). Cut a long piece of kitchen twine and position the mid-point between the turkey legs. Bring the legs together and wrap the twine around them a couple of times. Tie firmly and cut off most of the excess twine.