How to Carve a Turkey
You've bought it, stuffed it, cooked it to the perfect temperature, and now you have to carve your Thanksgiving turkey. If you're daunted by the task―some of the best cooks are―just remember that carving a turkey comes down to simple technique.
Watch the easy directions in our video, or follow along with the step-by-step photos of how to carve a turkey below.
What You'll Need:
- Carving board
- Chef's knife (or slicing knife)
- Paper towels
- Platter
- Long, flexible knife (or boning knife)
- Tongs
RELATED: How to Take a Turkey's Temperature
How to Carve a Turkey:
1 Remove the String
Place the turkey on a carving board. Remove the string tying the legs together using the tip of your chef's knife.
2 Remove the Legs and Thighs
Cut through the skin that connects the breast and the drumstick. Slice down until you reach the joint. Using a paper towel, grab the leg and push down, separating the leg and thigh from the bird. Use your chef's knife to slice through the joint. Repeat steps with the other leg.
3 Remove the Wings
Using the chef's knife, slice through the joint to remove a wing, and transfer to the platter. Repeat step on the other side.
4 Remove Turkey Breasts
Find the breastbone. Position a long, flexible knife (or a boning knife) on one side of it, and slice downward, as close to the bone as possible. As you slice, use your other hand to pull the meat away from the breastbone, until you've cut the breast off the carcass in one piece. Transfer to the cutting board, and repeat on the other side.
5 Separate the Drumstick and Thigh
Separate the drumstick and the thigh by cutting through the joint that connects them. Transfer the drumstick to a platter; set aside the thigh meat on a cutting board to slice later. Repeat with the other leg.
Where Is the Wishbone on a Turkey?
You can find the wishbone at the front end of the breast. Use your fingers to pull it out. Why? Removing the wishbone makes it easier to carve off the breast meat.
