The giblets that come with a whole turkey are often overlooked, but learning how to properly cook them can add extra nutrition and bold flavor to holiday dishes. This guide covers everything you need to know about prepping and cooking turkey giblets to make the most of this underused part of the bird.
What Are Turkey Giblets?
Turkey giblets refer to the edible internal organs that come packaged inside the body cavity of a whole turkey. They usually include:
- Neck – Contains bone and meat.
- Heart – Dark red, dense muscle.
- Gizzard – Acts as a second stomach to grind food. Contains edible meat.
- Liver – Nutrient-rich with a distinct flavor.
The giblets are typically placed in a bag inside the turkey and must be removed before cooking. Don’t throw them away – they can be used to make delicious gravy, stock and other dishes.
Why Cook Turkey Giblets?
There are several benefits to using the giblets:
- Adds moisture – Giblets make gravy and stuffing more moist.
- Extra flavor – They provide rich, savory flavor.
- Nutrition – Organ meats offer iron, vitamins and minerals.
- Economical – Make the most of the whole bird.
- Traditional – Giblet gravy is a classic for holidays.
If you aren’t a fan of their distinctive taste just use the giblets for making stock and gravy while omitting the actual pieces. But they’re worth trying in moderation for added nutrition.
How to Clean and Prep Giblets
Proper cleaning and prep is important before cooking giblets:
- Rinse well under cold water to remove blood and fluids.
- Pat dry with paper towels.
- Pull excess fat or membranes off gizzard.
- Remove skin/feathers from neck and chop meat.
- Separate heart and liver if desired.
- Refrigerate up to 2 days until ready to use.
Cooking Methods for Giblets
There are several options for cooking giblets
- Simmer in liquid – Giblets are often simmered in water, broth or wine which is then used for gravy or cooking rice. Cook 45 mins to 1 hour.
- Brown and chop – Sauté giblets in a pan until browned then chop for gravy.
- Roast – Place on a baking sheet and roast at 400°F for 30 mins until browned.
- Sauté – Cook chopped giblets over medium-high heat in olive oil or butter.
- Grind – Use a food processor to grind cooked giblets into a paste for smoother texture.
Adjust cooking times based on the size and quantity of giblets, Internal temperature should reach 165°F
Tasty Ways to Use Cooked Giblets
There are many possibilities for enjoying cooked giblets:
- Giblet gravy – Chopped giblets simmered into classic gravy.
- Stuffing – Add moistness and flavor to bread or cornbread stuffing.
- Snack – Sautéed giblets with onion for an appetizer.
- Rice – Cook giblets in broth, use liquid to make rice.
- Soup – Simmer chopped giblets in broth with veggies.
- Pot pie – Mix into chicken or turkey pot pie filling.
- Sandwich – Finely chop giblets for chicken/turkey salad.
- Casserole – Include with other meats in casseroles.
- Stock – Simmer giblets to make rich turkey stock.
Start small when experimenting with giblets in new dishes. A little goes a long way in terms of strong flavor.
Storing Leftover Cooked Giblets
Cooked giblets can be stored:
- Refrigerator – Store chopped giblets in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
- Freezer – Freeze giblets in an airtight bag or container for 2-3 months.
- Canning – Pressure can chopped giblets in broth for long term pantry storage.
Always label packages with contents and date before storing. Reheat giblets to 165°F before serving leftovers.
With some simple prep and cooking techniques, turkey giblets can transform into delicious, nutritious additions to your holiday meals. Don’t let them go to waste – try them in gravy, stuffing or other creative ways this season.
What Are Giblets?
Giblets are comprised of the heart, gizzard, liver, and neck of the chicken or turkey. They are often found in a small bundle inside the cavity of the whole bird.
You can make gravy from the giblets of either a turkey or a chicken, though I think its more usual with a roast turkey. The giblets are bigger, and theres more meat to put in the gravy.
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Make Ahead Tips for Giblet Gravy
You can make this gravy ahead of time, but unless you also cook the turkey or chicken ahead of time, you wont have the drippings from the turkey to add to it. As a workaround, try one of these two things.
- To fully make the gravy ahead of time, youll need to use a different type of fat. Remove the giblets from the uncooked bird, and make the gravy as directed. In Step 5, instead of using the drippings from the turkey or chicken, use two tablespoons of bacon fat or two tablespoons of butter and continue.
- To simply make the stock ahead of time, remove the giblets from the uncooked bird complete Steps 1 to 4 of the recipe. Cool and refrigerate the stock and the minced giblet meat for up to 2 days. Getting this far will save you a lot of time the day of cooking.
How to Boil Turkey Neck & Giblets: Cooking with Kimberly
FAQ
How do you cook giblets?
Boil giblets in salt water for about 1 hour or until giblets are tender. Use about 1 tablestoon salt and enough water to cover. When done, drain and cut in bite-size pieces, Heat oil in frying pan and cut oinions and brown slowly. Add giblets cover and slowly cook for about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
What part of the turkey giblets do you not use?
You should remove these parts from the cavity and save all but the liver (which can impart a mineral, bitter taste to stock) for making gravy. The neck, gizzard, and heart contribute meaty favor to stock. The liver, identifiable by its amorphous shape and shiny, dark red exterior, can impart a mineral taste to stock.
Do you remove turkey giblets before cooking?
Check the main turkey cavity for the bag of giblets, and if they’re in there, remove and tip them into your roasting tray, discarding the bag.
What do I do with the turkey neck?
Simmering turkey necks with veggies and savory seasonings makes a richly flavored broth that’s whisked into delicious velvety gravy! This gravy has so much flavor, plus it lets the chef use up the whole turkey.
How do you cook Turkey giblets?
There are a few different ways to cook turkey giblets. Here are two popular methods: * Boil: Place the giblets in a large pot with water, salt, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. * Roast: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the giblets in a roasting pan with olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs.
How to cook Turkey giblets in a crock pot?
To simmer turkey giblets, you will need: Instructions: 1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the water, salt, peppercorns, bay leaf, onion, garlic, thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. 2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. 3. Remove the giblets from the pot and let cool.
How long do you cook a turkey neck & giblets?
So while the turkey is roasting the next day, place the neck and giblets into a medium saucepan, cover it with water by about 2 inches, and bring it to a boil. After it boils, reduce the heat to a strong simmer and cook them for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the meat is totally cooked through.
How do you make Turkey giblets gravy?
To make giblet gravy, finely chop and cook the giblets until tender. In a separate pan, prepare a roux with butter and flour, then slowly add turkey or chicken broth, along with the cooked giblets, onions, herbs, and seasonings. Simmer until thickened to your desired consistency. 12. Can I use turkey giblets to make stock?
How to boil Turkey giblets & neck?
The following are instructions for boiling turkey giblets and neck: 1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. 2. Add the giblets and neck to the pot. 3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. 4. Remove the giblets and neck from the pot and drain. 5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
What to do with Turkey giblets?
Chop the giblets finely and add them to the stuffing or use them as a filling for the turkey cavity. You can also add the cooked giblets and their cooking liquid to your gravy for added flavor. By following these steps, you can make the most of the giblets that come along with your turkey and create a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving feast.