As Thanksgiving approaches, turkeys take center stage. But beyond the typical breast and drumsticks, these birds contain some less familiar parts. One example – the turkey gizzard. If you’ve wondered what purpose this odd piece serves, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll explore everything about the intriguing turkey gizzard.
The gizzard is an internal organ that plays a key role in a turkey’s digestive system. Located between the crop and intestine, it pulverizes food into smaller particles for easier nutrient absorption.
Unlike humans, turkeys don’t have teeth to chew and break down food. So the gizzard substitutes for this function. Let’s look closer at the anatomy and purpose of this important organ.
What Does the Turkey Gizzard Do?
The gizzard allows turkeys to grind and digest whole grains, nuts, seeds and other food not broken down by the bird’s beak. Here are its key functions:
- Crushes food into smaller pieces
- Mixes food with digestive enzymes and acids
- Filters out non-digestible matter
This muscular grinding process is comparable to the purpose chewing serves in humans The gizzard plays an indispensable role in turkey digestion and health,
Key Anatomical Features
The turkey gizzard has some special structural features that enable it to pulverize tough foods:
- Powerful muscles and muscle layers – Provide the force needed for grinding food
- Grit – Small stones and gravel swallowed by the bird to aid breakdown
- Thick lining – Protects the gizzard wall from damage during feeding
- Entry/exit points – Allow food to enter and ground particles to leave
It’s these unique attributes that make the gizzard well-suited for its demanding role in digestion.
Where is the Turkey Gizzard Located?
The gizzard is situated in the lower portion of a turkey’s stomach, between the crop and the intestine. The crop stores food after initial ingestion, then passes it along to the gizzard for grinding.
Once pulverized by the gizzard, food moves to the intestine for further digestion and nutrient absorption. So the gizzard provides an important intermediary step in this process.
Common Culinary Uses
While often discarded, turkey gizzards can actually be used in many tasty dishes. Here are some creative ways they are prepared:
- Fried gizzards – Often breaded and fried as an appetizer or snack
- Turkey gizzard stew or soup – Provides rich, intense flavor
- Added to gravy or stuffing – Extra savory flavor enhancement
- Grilled gizzards – Can be marinated and grilled, served as a main or side
- Pickled gizzards – Enjoyed as a unique pickled snack
With a little innovation, the turkey gizzard can transform from novelty to delicious dining!
Nutritional Profile
Turkey gizzards provide some healthy nutrients, including:
- Protein – About 17g per 100g serving
- Iron – Approx 20% Daily Value per 100g
- Zinc – 15% DV per 100g
- B Vitamins – Small amounts of B12, niacin and others
However, they are also high in cholesterol at nearly 375mg per 100g. So giblets should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
How to Prepare Turkey Gizzards
Preparing gizzards takes a few simple steps:
- Rinse well and pat dry
- Slice open lengthwise
- Remove any inner membranes or cartilage
- Cut into smaller pieces if desired
- Cook using your preferred method
Proper cleaning helps bring out the gizzard’s full flavor and texture potential. They can then be cooked in many creative ways.
Common FAQs about Turkey Gizzards
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Are turkey gizzards healthy to eat?
Yes, they provide protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins. But limit intake due to high cholesterol.
What’s the difference between giblets and gizzards?
Giblets refers to all edible turkey organs. Gizzards are specifically the stomach muscles that crush food.
How should you cook turkey gizzards?
Try frying, baking, grilling or adding to soups and gravies. Braise for tender texture.
Can you eat turkey gizzards raw?
Not recommended. Always cook thoroughly to 165°F internally to kill bacteria like salmonella.
Do you have to clean turkey gizzards before cooking?
Yes, rinse well and remove any membranes or lining before cooking for safety and ideal texture.
I hope these common questions provide some helpful insight into the unique world of turkey gizzards!
Conclusion
While it may not be the most popular part of the turkey, the gizzard plays an integral role in the bird’s digestive health. This fascinating organ pulverizes food using its powerful muscles and grit lining. Beyond digestion, creative cooks have also realized the gizzard’s potential for adding rich flavor to recipes.
So next Thanksgiving when carving your turkey, consider setting aside the gizzard and experimenting with some new dishes. You may just discover a new favorite along the way! With some innovative seasoning and cooking methods, the humble gizzard can transform into a delicious culinary treat.
If you’re like me, you didn’t grow up eating animal organs like heart or liver.
Maybe you’re a little grossed out by the idea. I completely understand the feeling! But I’m here to tell you they’re not as gross as they’ve been made out to be!
First off, what are turkey giblets? They are the heart, liver, and gizzard. If you purchased a Whiffletree whole turkey, you found all three of those in the cavity of the turkey.
Poultry organs (and all animal organs) have amazing health benefits. They’re very high in protein, which is essential for our bodies to get enough of for everyday functions. You’ll also get the benefits of vitamins A and B, iron, and CoQ10. In a nutshell, giblets are a health powerhouse!
What about the flavor, you may ask? I personally don’t love the flavor of organs alone, but once you add in garlic and butter, they taste amazing! So, here’s how to make a delicious, nutrient-dense giblet gravy.
Nutrient-Dense Giblet Gravy Recipe
What you’ll need:
Turkey neck 3.5 cups water Turkey giblets 2 garlic cloves, minced ⅓ c. flour Drippings from roasted turkey 6 Tbsp butter Salt to taste
If you’re looking at the giblet gravy recipe from one of our previous blog posts, you’ll notice the way I do it here is a little bit different. Both are great ways of making it, so it’s up to you which way you prefer! You’ll also notice the recipe says to sear the neck along with the giblets. If you already have chicken or turkey bone broth made and on hand, definitely go ahead and do that! I didn’t have any already handy, so here’s what I did.
I reserved the turkey neck from my whole turkey and put it in a medium saucepan with 3.5 cups of water and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. I brought it to a boil over medium high heat before turning to low, letting it simmer for about an hour. (Or you can put all this in a small crock pot and cook it overnight before making the gravy, but maybe add a little more water so too much doesn’t simmer away. You want to end up with 3 cups of broth).
Once the turkey broth was complete, I melted 2 Tbsp butter in another saucepan over medium heat, and then I added the turkey giblets, searing for a few minutes on each side before adding in the turkey broth. I brought the broth to a boil before turning the heat down to low and letting it simmer for about 30-40 minutes.
After simmering, I drained the broth into a bowl and took out the giblets and finely diced them, removing any gristle. Next, I melted 4 Tbsp of butter over medium low heat, then tossed in the minced garlic and cooked until fragrant. Then I added in the ⅓ cup of flour and whisked to make a roux. I let that cook until browned for a couple minutes, constantly stirring, then slowly poured in the broth and reserved roasted turkey drippings, whisking the entire time to keep any clumps from forming. I reduced the heat to low and stirred for a few minutes while it thickened to my desired consistency. I took it immediately off the heat, added in salt to taste, and stirred in the diced giblets.
And there you have it! A delicious giblet gravy. Trust me, no one will complain about the fact that there are chopped up giblets in there! It tastes amazing and adds so much flavor to the roasted turkey. And you can feel good that you’re getting a bunch of amazing nutrition into your loved ones!
If you missed the original recipe from one of our previous blog posts, click HERE to see it.