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.
Trussing a turkey is an essential step in preparing a perfect holiday bird. Proper trussing helps the turkey cook evenly by holding its shape. Traditionally, trussing involves tying the wings and legs closed with kitchen twine or butcher’s string. However, you can truss a turkey without using string at all. With a few clever tricks, you can keep that turkey in shape for roasting.
Why Truss a Turkey?
Trussing a turkey serves several important purposes
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It keeps the wings and legs close to the body so they don’t overcook and dry out
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It compresses the flesh so the turkey holds its shape as it roasts. A well-trussed turkey will have a nice rounded breast when cooked.
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It allows the heat to circulate around the entire turkey as it cooks. An untrussed turkey may end up with unevenly cooked meat.
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It makes for a beautiful presentation when you bring the whole trussed turkey to the table before carving.
So while trussing takes a little effort, it’s worth it for ensuring even cooking. And it can be done without kitchen twine.
Trussing Materials to Use Instead of Twine
You can improvise all sorts of household materials to truss your turkey. Here are some of the best options:
<ol>
<li><div>Dental floss: Tie up your bird or bundle with dental floss. …</div></li>
<li><div>Aluminum foil: Roll up some aluminum foil into tight ropes and secure them around your food like bands. …</div></li>
<li><div>Toothpicks or wooden skewers: Poke toothpicks or wooden skewers into your rolled meat to keep the seam from unraveling.</div></li>
</ol>
Dental floss works nicely since it’s designed to be strong, thin, and food safe. You may need to use several strands woven together to get enough strength. Aluminum foil can be shaped into strings and wrapped tightly around the turkey. Toothpicks or small skewers are perfect for pinning the cavity shut or other small closure tasks.
Get creative with what you have on hand! Thin metal twist ties, parchment paper, or silicone bands can all work. Just avoid materials like plastic bags or wire that could melt or contaminate the turkey.
How to Truss a Turkey Without Twine
Trussing a turkey is easiest with two people—one to hold the turkey steady and one to do the trussing. Here are the steps:
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Prepare your turkey for trussing. Remove the giblets from the cavity. Rinse the turkey inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Season the inside generously with salt and pepper. You can stuff the cavity lightly with onions, garlic, and fresh herbs if desired.
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Fold the wing tips under the shoulders to hold them in place. Insert your trussing material under the bird and wrap it around the ends of the wings to secure them against the body. Use toothpicks to pin them if needed.
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Making sure the legs are straight, cross the ends of the drumsticks, one over the other. Wrap your trussing material around the crossed ends, cinching them together.
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Using your fingers, gently press the legs close to the body. Wrap your trussing material around the body to close the cavity and hold the legs in place.
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Turn the turkey over breast side up. Loop your trussing material between the drumsticks. Pull gently to bring the drumsticks together.
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Finish by running your trussing material from the drumsticks up the cavity to the neck. Knot securely, or use toothpicks to pin in place.
The turkey is now neatly trussed and ready for the oven! Be sure to remove any toothpicks or skewers before carving and serving.
Trussing Tips
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Don’t truss too tightly. Compress the flesh just enough to hold the shape. Overtight trussing can tear the skin.
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For easier trussing, let the turkey warm up to room temperature before you start. Chilled meat is harder to re-shape.
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If using thin trussing materials like floss, wrap two or more strands together for sufficient strength.
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Check that your trussing hasn’t loosened halfway through roasting. Re-tighten if needed for even cooking.
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For a turkey breast alone, simply tuck the wings under and truss into a tidy oval shape.
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Don’t worry about trussing a spatchcocked or butterflied turkey—the splayed shape lets it cook evenly.
Other Twine-Free Trussing Techniques
If you don’t have materials to tie your turkey, you can also truss it with skewers or by breaking down the legs:
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Pin truss with toothpicks or small skewers inserted into the body to hold the legs and wings.
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Break down the leg joints by cutting through the skin between the thigh and drumstick. Bend the legs to tuck them into the body cavity.
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Use a foil turkey tray with built-in fold-up wings and legs. The crimped tray shape will hold the turkey.
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Skip trussing and simply tuck the wings under and tie the drumsticks together with a loop of turkey skin.
Get Creative Without Twine!
Don’t let a lack of kitchen twine stop you from trussing your holiday bird. With a roll of foil or a pack of floss, you can easily keep that turkey in shape for perfect roasting. A well-trussed turkey cooks evenly from breast to thigh. Improvise household trussing materials and you’ll achieve crisp, golden skin and moist, tender meat throughout. Happy trussing!
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 Chicken Without String | Food & Wine
FAQ
What can I use instead of twine for turkey?
How to truss without twine?
What else can I use to tie turkey legs?
How to truss a turkey with toothpicks?
How do you truss a Turkey?
Using a long piece of kitchen twine, tie the ends of the legs together tightly. Test Kitchen Tip: Some turkeys come with a metal or plastic piece that holds the legs together called a “hock lock.” If you’re roasting your bird unstuffed, you can leave this in place. Voila: Your bird is already trussed and you can skip those three steps above!
Can you truss a turkey without using twine?
Chef and influencer Sohla El-Waylly shares a trick for trussing a turkey without using twine. In an Instagram reel, she demonstrates how to prepare a dry-brined roast turkey for Thanksgiving.
How do you make a turkey wing with twine?
Steps 1. Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. 2. If you are using kitchen twine, cut a piece about 3 feet long. 3. Center the turkey breast-side up on a cutting board. 4. Starting at the neck end of the turkey, bring the twine under the wings and around the back of the neck.
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.
How do you truss a Turkey using Shepherd’s knot?
To truss a turkey using the Shepherd’s Knot method, you will need the following materials: Instructions: 1. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. 2. Place the turkey breast-side up on a cutting board. 3. Cut a piece of kitchen string or butcher’s twine about 3 feet long. 4.
How do you tie a turkey wings?
Place the turkey breast-side up on a cutting board. Fold the wings behind the turkey’s back. Tuck the legs underneath the turkey. Use kitchen twine to tie the legs together. Tie the wings to the body of the turkey. Introduction