Have you ever cooked a turkey only to realize that you didn’t have time to eat it before it went bad? This can be incredibly disappointing and even worse if you have leftovers. Here are some simple ways how to reheat a smoked turkey without having to worry about food poisoning.
Things You Need To Pay Attention To About Smoked Turkey
There are some things that you need to pay attention to when it comes to smoked turkeys. This includes:
The brand you buy from: When buying brand turkeys, there are several brands available in the market. Make sure you buy from a reputable brand that will assure you of quality products. This also ensures your safety as well as that of your family and friends.
Sell-by date: Smoked turkeys have an expiry date, just like any other food or product out there. You need to ensure that before purchasing your smoked turkey, check the expiry date and ensure it has not expired yet or will not expire even before the day you intend on using it.
Storage instructions: You can keep the smoked turkey in your refrigerator for 3 to 4 days if it’s vacuum-packed and up to 2 days if it’s packaged in plastic wrap.
You can freeze smoked turkey in its original packaging for 1 month before freezing other meats.
If the turkey isn’t vacuum-packed, or you bought it from a local butcher or farmer’s market, then eat it within 2 days of purchase.
How To Reheat Smoked Turkey
One of the best things about a smoked turkey is you can make it ahead of time and just reheat it when you’re ready to serve it. Reheating a smoked turkey is not difficult and takes very little time. If you’ve got a large family to feed, making a smoked turkey and keeping it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat just makes sense.
Reheat Smoked Turkey In The Microwave
The microwave is the fastest way to reheat a smoked turkey. Place slices or cubes of turkey in a microwave-safe dish, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave on 50 percent power for two to three minutes or until hot. Don’t microwave on high or the meat will dry out. Slices can be turned halfway through cooking if they aren’t heating evenly.
Reheat A Smoked Turkey In The Oven
This method works best for large pieces of meat rather than slices or cubes of turkey breast because it takes longer to warm up. To reheat a whole smoked turkey breast in the oven, heat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, remove any packaging and place the turkey on a baking sheet. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes per pound, or until heated through.
Reheat A Smoked Turkey In The Toaster
In a toaster or toaster oven, put the slice of smoked turkey on the lowest setting. Leave it there for about 5 minutes. You will want to check that it is getting warm and not burning. When heated, the meat should flake easily.
How Long to Reheat a Smoked Turkey
Let your turkey rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle. Arrange slices of turkey in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake until heated through about 30 minutes for thick-sliced breast meat, or 20 minutes for thinly sliced breast meat or dark meat.
FAQs
How do you reheat a precooked smoked turkey without drying it out?
If you want to reheat a smoked turkey without drying it out, try covering the meat with aluminum foil as you heat it up.
You can also try steaming your turkey over boiling water for about 10 minutes to keep it from drying out before you put it in the oven.
If you’re short on time, put your precooked smoked turkey in a sealable bag, and place it in a pot of hot water for about 15 minutes.
Is smoked turkey healthy?
Smoked turkey is a popular choice for sandwiches, salads and other dishes. After smoking, the meat is often sliced thinly and sold in delis. The process of smoking preserves the meat, adding flavor and extending its shelf life. However, some types of smoked turkey contain added sodium and other ingredients that may be unhealthy.
Can You Freeze A Smoked Turkey?
The answer is yes, you can freeze a smoked turkey. But before you do, keep in mind that the texture of the turkey might change after it’s been frozen.
You’ll want to make sure that the turkey you freeze has been cooked first. If you froze a raw turkey and then cooked it, there would be a large risk of contamination and bacteria growth.
Ideally, you’re going to be freezing your smoked turkey within two days of when you cooked it, so the meat stays moist and fresh. Once the turkey is cooked, let it cool down slightly so that it’s not piping hot. Then, place the smoked turkey either in whole or in slices into an airtight container and place it in your freezer.
It’s best to use the smoked turkey within four months for optimal freshness. After that time period has passed, the quality of your smoked turkey will start to decline rapidly due to freezer burn.
Can I thaw my frozen smoked turkey in the sink overnight?
Thawing a large frozen turkey in the sink overnight is not recommended. A thawing turkey will likely stay within the “danger zone” of 40 to 140 degrees F for too long.
Even if the water is kept cold, it should still be changed out every 30 minutes to maintain the temperature. This means that you will have to get up in the middle of the night and change out the water.
If your turkey is defrosted before you take it out of the fridge, it may be okay to leave it in the sink for a few hours, but still, check at least every 30 minutes.
How Long Does A Smoked Turkey Last?
We’re often asked, “How long does a smoked turkey last?” The answer is that it depends on a number of factors.
The first thing to note is that smoked turkeys are fully cooked when we ship them to you. All you need to do once you receive the turkey is heat it sufficiently to ensure the interior temperature of the meat reaches 165 degrees F, and then let it rest so that the juices redistribute throughout the meat.
Smoked turkeys have a shelf life of up to five days from the day they are packed and shipped. They will remain at their peak quality for this time period if stored in the refrigerator after receiving them.
They also can be frozen for up to three months if placed in the freezer as soon as possible after receiving them. We like to put the already-wrapped turkey into a large freezer bag before placing it in the freezer.
Conclusion
I know most people have no problem reheating a smoked turkey. I hope this article will help you know How To Reheat A Smoked Turkey. It is so amazing to be able to go home on Christmas and not worry about cooking the turkey.