How to Get the Giblets Out of a Frozen Turkey

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are tasked with cooking the star of the holiday meal – the turkey. If you picked up a frozen bird from the grocery store, chances are it came with the giblets still inside. Giblets refer to the internal organs of a turkey, usually containing the neck, heart, gizzard and liver. Before cooking your turkey, you’ll want to remove these parts. Trying to extract giblets from a rock-solid frozen turkey can seem daunting, but have no fear! With a few simple steps, you can easily remove the giblets from a frozen turkey.

Why Remove the Giblets?

You may be wondering why you need to remove the giblets at all. Why not just pop that frozen bird right into the oven, giblets and all? Here are a few reasons why extracting them beforehand is recommended:

• Cooks more evenly: The giblets require a different cooking time than the whole turkey. Leaving them in can lead to uneven cooking.

• Avoids overcooking The high heat needed to roast a turkey will overcook small items like giblets Removing them first prevents this

• Improves flavor Cooked giblets especially the liver can lend an unpleasant, strong taste to the turkey. Taking them out avoids this.

• Allows separate use: Extracting giblets lets you use them for things like gravy and stock.

So for food safety, taste and proper cooking, it’s best to get those giblets out before roasting your turkey. Here’s exactly how to do it with a frozen bird.

Wait for the Turkey to Defrost

If your turkey is totally frozen solid, trying to dig out the giblets will be frustrating and likely unsuccessful. The first key step is allowing the turkey to defrost enough that you can actually get your hands inside to find the giblets.

For every 5 pounds of turkey, it takes about 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator. So a 15 pound turkey would require around 3 days in the fridge. You can speed up the process by submerging the frozen bird in a sink full of cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. Figure on 30 minutes defrost time per pound with this method.

Check the turkey’s temperature by inserting a meat thermometer in a few spots. It should read between 32-40°F when ready to work with. At this stage, the neck cavity and main cavity will be thawed enough to start giblet removal.

Unwrap and Inspect the Turkey

Once sufficiently defrosted, take the turkey out of any plastic wrap or packaging. Make sure you discard the packaging since it touched raw meat. Place the turkey in a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet – thawed turkeys can release a lot of liquid, so you’ll want something to catch the drips.

Look inside the main body cavity, reaching in carefully with your hand. The turkey’s neck may already be loosened from defrosting. If not, leave it for now and focus on locating the giblets.

Find and Remove the Giblets

The package of giblets can be tucked inside the neck cavity or the larger main cavity. Reach into each area slowly with your hand, feeling around for a paper or plastic wrapped package. Gently grasp the giblets if found, and slowly extract the whole package.

If you don’t immediately see the giblets, don’t give up! Keep digging around in the cavities until you locate them. If the packaging states they are included but you simply can’t find them, the processor may have forgotten to add them before freezing the turkey.

Deal with the Giblets and Neck

Once removed, you’ll want to either use the giblets and neck or discard them. Here are some options:

• Reserve the giblets and neck to make homemade turkey stock or gravy. The cooked giblets impart lots of flavor.

• Fry or bread the giblets for a crispy, flavorful snack.

• Place the giblets under the turkey skin or in the main cavity while roasting to add richness.

• Smoke or braise the turkey neck for pulled turkey.

• Toss the giblets and neck if you have no plans to use them.

Prepare the Turkey for Roasting

With the giblets removed, pat the turkey dry with paper towels inside and out. Be sure to immediately wash any surfaces, utensils or hands that touched the raw poultry.

Apply any seasonings or rubs, truss up the legs, tuck the wings under and prepare the turkey according to your favorite roasting method. Insert a meat thermometer to cook until the thighs reach 165°F and the breast reaches 170°F.

Let the turkey rest before slicing for maximum juiciness. Now you can roast your holiday bird to golden, giblet-free perfection!

Turkey Giblet Removal FAQs

Getting those giblets out of a frozen turkey may still leave you with some questions. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

What are turkey giblets exactly?

Turkey giblets refer to the internal organs that are edible, including the heart, liver, gizzard and neck. These are usually wrapped together in a packet and placed inside the raw turkey cavity by processors.

Why is it important to remove them before cooking?

Giblets should be removed because they cook at a different rate than a whole turkey. Leaving them in can lead to uneven cooking, overcooking of the giblets, and imparting a strong liver flavor.

Where are the giblets located inside a turkey?

The giblets packet can be tucked inside either the neck cavity or the main body cavity of a raw turkey. Sometimes they are wrapped in paper or plastic.

What if I can’t find the giblets in my turkey?

If you can’t locate the giblets after thoroughly checking both cavities, they may have not been included with your particular bird. Turkey processors are required to note this on the packaging label though, so double check for any labeling.

Can I just cook the turkey with giblets still inside?

It is not recommended to roast a turkey with the giblets still inside. The high heat will likely overcook them, and they may impart unpleasant flavors to the meat. Always remove them first for the best results.

What should I do with the giblets after removing them?

You can reserve the giblets to make stock, gravy or fried giblet snacks. Otherwise, if you have no plans to use them, promptly discard the giblets.

Be Giblet-Savvy This Holiday Season

Preparing the perfect Thanksgiving turkey starts with getting those giblets out pre-roasting. While it may seem daunting with a frozen bird, just remember to thaw sufficiently before attempting removal. Carefully check both the neck and main cavities, extracting the giblets gently once found. With this key step complete, you’ll be on your way to turkey success!