If your roasted turkey begins by thoroughly rinsing the bird, its time to take a second look. It turns out, giving your turkey a pre-oven bath can do far more harm than good. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that rinsing a raw turkey won’t get rid of all the bacteria on it. In fact, if you try, the bacteria will splash all over your kitchen! There’s only one time you should ever rinse your bird. Read on to find out more, and the safest way to do it.
Preparing a turkey for roasting is one of the most important steps to ensure a flavorful and safe holiday meal. While rinsing the outside of a raw turkey is not recommended, you do need to clean out the inside cavity. Here is a complete guide to safely and effectively cleaning out your turkey.
Why Cleaning the Cavity is Essential
Turkeys are sold with the neck and giblets stored in the main cavity. The giblets are the edible organs, like the heart, gizzard, and liver The cavity and any parts stored inside must be cleaned out before cooking for two main reasons
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Removes potential contaminants – Rinsing the cavity washes away any dirt, debris, or bacteria. This prevents it from contaminating the meat during roasting.
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Makes room for aromatics – With the cavity cleaned out, you can stuff it with citrus, herbs, onions or aromatics for extra flavor.
Cleaning out the cavity is a quick but crucial step when prepping your bird.
How to Clean Out a Turkey Cavity
Follow these safe steps recommended by the USDA to properly clean out your turkey:
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Remove giblets/neck – Reach inside the cavity and pull out the bag of giblets and the neck. Reserve for making gravy or discard.
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Place turkey in sink – Set your raw turkey in the empty sink.
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Add water – Fill your sink with 2-3 inches of cool water. This prevents splashing and contains mess.
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Rinse the cavity – Use a slow stream of water to gently rinse inside the neck and body cavity.
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Drain water – Hold the turkey up to let water drain completely out of the openings.
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Pat turkey dry – Use paper towels to absorb any excess moisture on the turkey skin or in the cavity.
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Avoid exterior rinsing – Do not rinse the outside of the turkey, as this can spread bacteria.
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Disinfect sink – Use hot, soapy water to wash and sanitize your sink after rinsing the turkey.
Extra Tips for Cleaning Turkeys
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Use cold water only – Hot water promotes bacteria growth. Stick with cool tap water.
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Don’t use stuffing – Never stuff the cavity before roasting, as the stuffing won’t get hot enough.
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Air dry thoroughly – Ensure no moisture remains in the cavity before seasoning and roasting.
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Wash hands after – Always wash hands with soap for 20 secs after handling raw poultry.
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Use fresh birds only – Do not wash turkeys that were previously frozen then thawed.
What to Put in a Clean Turkey Cavity
Once rinsed and dried, add flavor to your turkey by filling the cavity with:
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Citrus – Try lemons, limes, oranges. Releases bright, fresh flavor.
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Herbs – Rosemary, thyme, sage impart earthy notes.
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Onions – Diced onions or onion quarters add a touch of sweetness.
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Garlic – Whole garlic bulbs roast deliciously soft and mellow.
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Aromatics – Bay leaves, peppercorns, celery stalks, and fennel all work nicely.
Let your imagination guide you. Just steer clear of heavy, dense ingredients that may not cook through fully.
Why You Should Never Rinse the Turkey Exterior
Washing off the skin and flesh of the turkey is ineffective and dangerous. Here’s why to avoid it:
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Spreads bacteria – Splashing water can coat your sink and surfaces with raw turkey juices containing salmonella and other pathogens.
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Does not remove bacteria – Rinsing only moves bacteria around, it does not kill or remove it. Only cooking destroys bacteria.
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Causes loss of juices – Wetting the skin makes it harder for it to crisp up, resulting in less flavorful meat.
Stick to just cleaning out the cavity, then pat the exterior dry with towels before seasoning the skin.
Cleaning out your turkey properly removes potential contaminants from the cavity while avoiding the spread of bacteria. By correctly rinsing just the inside, your holiday turkey will cook up juicy, flavorful and safe.
How do you clean a turkey before cooking it?
Well. you dont! Just like with other meat, the USDA recommends skipping washing your turkey before you cook it. You don’t need to rinse your turkey unless you’ve brined it (more on that below). This is true whether you’re roasting, frying, or smoking it. Any germs on the turkey are killed when it’s cooked, but if you wash it before cooking, they could spread and be harmful. Instead, take your turkey straight from the package to the roaster. To get crispy skin, all you need to do to “clean” the turkey is take the neck and giblets out of the cavity (to save for giblet gravy, of course!) and pat it dry with a paper towel.
When should you rinse a turkey?
The only time you should ever rinse your bird is if youve brined it first. This is to remove some of the salt from the turkey. Youll want to do a little prep first, though, to minimize the spread of bacteria. The USDA says, “When rinsing brine off of a turkey, make sure to clear the sink of all other food or objects, line the area with paper towels, and let a slow stream of water flow to avoid splashing.” Make sure to rinse the bird’s outside and inside with cool water, and then hold it up to drain the water from the inside before putting it in a roasting pan. Then, toss the paper towels in the trashcan and thoroughly disinfect your sink and surrounding countertop. Finally wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap.
How to Clean a Turkey the EASY WAY!
FAQ
How do you clean your turkey before cooking it?
Do you clean turkey with vinegar?
How do you clean a brined Turkey?
Rinse the inside of your turkey if it’s brined. If you’re cooking a brined turkey, first empty your sink completely, then clean it with hot, soapy water and rinse it out well. Fill it with 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of cold water, then rinse out the cavity of the turkey with a gentle stream of cool water.
How do you clean a Turkey after cooking?
To avoid cross-contamination, wash your hands and forearms with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds after handling the turkey. Then, use hot, soapy water to clean any utensils and kitchen surfaces you used, such as the countertop or sink. Rinse with clean water afterwards.
Do I need to rinse the inside of a Turkey?
Just like with the outside of a turkey, there’s no need to rinse the cavity. All you need to worry about is removing the neck and giblets. Now, if you’re working with a brined bird, you will need to rinse the inside. Ree Drummond likes to rinse the inside and outside of her turkey under a running faucet with cold water for several minutes.
How do you clean a fried turkey?
Holding the turkey cavity-side down use a gentle stream of water to rinse out any excess blood or juices inside the turkey. Allow the water to drain out, then pat the turkey dry with paper towels. It’s important that the inside of the turkey is dried thoroughly after rinsing. Any excess moisture left inside can affect how evenly the turkey cooks.
Should you wash a turkey if it is not brined?
Rinse the inside of your turkey if it’s brined: If you’re cooking a brined turkey, rinse out the cavity with cold water and drain it thoroughly. Avoid washing the turkey if it’s not brined: Washing a non-brined turkey can spread bacteria around your kitchen and increase the risk of foodborne illness.
How do you clean a turkey gizzard?
These include the neck, gizzard, heart, and liver, which are often packaged in a small bag and located within the body cavity of the turkey. Once the giblets are removed, the next step is to rinse the turkey with cold water, both inside and out, to wash away any remaining blood or debris.