You’ve worked hard preparing the perfect turkey for your holiday meal. But despite your best efforts you miscalculated and now the bird is done cooking way too early! Don’t panic. With some strategic planning you can still enjoy a beautifully cooked turkey even if it finished ahead of schedule.
This guide covers everything you need to know to handle an early turkey while keeping it safe, moist, and delicious
Releasing Initial Heat
First, allow the initial heat from the cooking process to dissipate. Carefully remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest uncovered for about 30 minutes. This prevents overcooking from any retained oven heat.
Letting the turkey rest uncovers also allows juices to settle back into the meat.
Wrapping and Holding
Next, it’s time to wrap the turkey and hold it at a safe serving temperature.
Tightly wrap the entire turkey in a double layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. Make sure there are no openings where heat can escape.
Then wrap the foiled turkey in a large clean towel, blanket, or layers of newspaper. This insulation traps heat to keep the turkey warm.
Maintaining Proper Temperature
When holding an early cooked turkey, maintaining proper temperature is crucial for food safety.
Keep the wrapped turkey in a warm (not hot) oven set at 200-250°F. Monitor the oven temp with a thermometer.
The oven provides gentle, consistent heat to keep the turkey at 140°F or above until mealtime.
If oven space is limited, hold the wrapped turkey in an insulated cooler. Surround with crumpled newspaper or towels to retain heat.
Additional Holding Tips
Here are some additional tips for keeping turkey warm if oven space is limited:
- Place wrapped turkey in sink and surround with warm water, changing water periodically
- Use a heating pad, hot water bottles, or warmed bricks wrapped in towels for extra insulation
- Put wrapped turkey in a cold oven, then turn oven to warm setting (170°F)
The key is maintaining consistent warm heat around 140°F or above.
Monitor Temperature
Occasionally monitor the turkey’s internal temperature with a food thermometer. It should not drop below 140°F during holding time for food safety.
If the turkey cools too much, warm it back up in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 165°F before wrapping again.
This reheating step eliminates any bacteria that may have grown during cooling.
Keep Cooked Turkey Safe
Proper food safety is especially important when dealing with an early cooked turkey:
- Cook raw turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F
- Hold cooked turkey at 140°F or above
- Do not leave turkey at room temperature over 2 hours
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of serving
Follow these guidelines and your early turkey will stay safe for holiday feasting!
Serving the Turkey
When ready to serve, carefully transport the turkey still wrapped in foil and towel to the dining table. Let it rest 10-15 minutes before unwrapping.
This allows any condensed steam to reabsorb into the meat. Prevent soggy skin by leaving uncovered just long enough to carve and serve.
Moisture Control
Since an early turkey sits longer after cooking, moisture control is essential:
- Let turkey rest 30 minutes before initial wrapping to allow juices to settle
- Reserve pan drippings to brush over meat
- Carve just before serving to minimize drying out
Proper holding techniques will keep the turkey juicy. But carving immediately before serving guarantees the best texture.
Handling White and Dark Meat
Dark turkey meat retains heat better than white meat during holding. If holding over 2 hours:
- Carve and refrigerate breast meat after initial rest period
- Hold just legs and thighs wrapped in warm oven
- Reheat breast slices when ready to serve
This prevents dry overcooked breast meat while dark meat stays juicy.
Key Turkey Holding Tips
To recap, follow these tips for a perfectly cooked early turkey:
- Let rest 30 minutes after cooking
- Maintain consistent warm heat around 140°F
- Monitor internal temperature
- Wrap in foil then insulate with towels
- Carve just before serving
- Refrigerate breast meat if holding over 2 hours
- Ensure proper food safety and temperatures
With some strategic planning, you can still enjoy a delicious turkey feast even if the bird finishes cooking early!
Enjoy Your Turkey
Don’t let an early cooked turkey ruin your holiday meal. With these proper holding techniques, you can relax and enjoy perfect juicy turkey with your loved ones.
Here’s to a delicious and safe holiday feast!
Turkey Emergency Toolkit
There are a few things you need to have on hand as part of your turkey emergency kit. These items will be necessary at the last minute so you better make sure you are prepared.
- An accurate meat thermometer
- Lots of heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Lots of chicken or vegetable stock (low sodium preferred)
- Spray bottle
- Gravy mixes
The Problem: Turkey Parts Are Undercooked
You start carving and despite the fact that you were confident that the turkey was properly cooked, it is clear that parts of it are not. If you try to put it back to cook more you will end up with a dry turkey. Well, there is a quick trick to cooking these parts fast without the risk of drying. In a large pot, bring a large amount of broth (chicken, turkey, or vegetable) to a boil and place these parts in the boiling liquid for a few minutes. This will cook the turkey piece quickly and ensure that it is safe to eat. Note that if this is a smoked turkey, the meat might appear pink or reddish. This does not mean it is undercooked. Use the thermometer to verify. The chemical reaction between smoke and protein will cause this coloring and it is perfectly normal.
How to tell when a turkey is done
FAQ
What to do if turkey finished too early?
If your turkey is done too early, things can get a little complicated, but it’s not the end of the world. If it’s done around an hour early, let it rest uncovered for about 20 to 30 minutes. Then cover your turkey with some foil and a thick towel or blanket to keep it warm.
How do you keep a turkey warm for several hours?
The turkey will stay warm for hours as if it’s in a warming drawer if you cover the turkey with aluminum foil and then place heavy beach-type towels over it.
Can I let my turkey rest for 2 hours?
Once your turkey is cooked and cooled to room temp, you want to refrigerate the bird at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or eat well within two hours of removing the …Nov 18, 2022
What if a Turkey is done too early?
Of course, if your turkey is done too early, you can choose to use a slower resting method. One that doesn’t risk overcooking the turkey, but one that holds its temperature nicely. It’s time to get down to business. If your turkey is clearly done way before you hoped it would be, then your only option is to rest it and hold it’s temperature.
Can you carve a Turkey early and keep it warm?
If your turkey is done early, the best way to keep it warm is to let it rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a juicier and more flavorful turkey. 2. Can I carve the turkey early and keep it warm in the oven?
Should you cook a Turkey before or after serving?
Serve the turkey with plenty of flavorful gravy to add even more moisture and flavor. And remember, while it’s always best to time your turkey so that it’s done just before serving, these strategies will help you salvage a turkey that’s done too early and ensure that it’s still a hit at the dinner table.
How do you keep a Turkey warm if it’s done early?
Yes, a warming drawer is an excellent option for keeping your turkey warm if it’s done early. Set the warming drawer to the lowest temperature setting and place the turkey on a serving platter. Cover the platter with foil and place it in the warming drawer until you’re ready to serve. 5. How do I keep the turkey from drying out if it’s done early?
How do you keep a Turkey from drying out?
To keep the turkey from drying out if it’s done early, make sure to cover it tightly with foil to seal in the moisture. You can also baste the turkey with some warm chicken or turkey broth to keep it moist while it’s resting or being kept warm.
How do you store a turkey if it’s done early?
The best way to store the turkey if it’s done early is to place it on a serving platter, cover it tightly with foil, and keep it in a warm place such as a low-temperature oven or a warming drawer. 12.