How To Carve A Whole Turkey

How To Carve A Whole Turkey

* Let it Sit
Once the bird is removed from the oven, it should
stand for 20 to 35 minutes, depending on its size.
This gives the juices a chance to soak into the flesh,
allowing for succulent cuts of meat. Before you begin
carving, have a warm serving platter ready and waiting
for all the juicy white and dark meat you'll soon be
slicing and digging into.

* Remove the Legs
Arrange the turkey, breast side up, on a cutting
board. Steady the turkey with a carving fork. Using
a sharp knife, slice through the meat between the
breast and the leg. Next, using a large knife as an
aid, press the thigh outward to find the hip joint.
Slice down through the joint and remove the leg. Cut
between the thigh bone and drumstick bone to divide
the leg into one thigh piece and one drumstick.

To carve the drumstick, steady it with a carving fork
and cut a thick slice of meat from one side, along
the bone. Next, turn the drumstick over so that the
cut side faces down. Cut off another thick slice of
meat. Repeat, turning the drumstick onto a flat side
and cutting off meat, carving a total of four thick
slices.

To slice the thigh, place it flat side down on a
cutting board. Steady the thigh with a carving fork.
With a knife, cut parallel to the bone and slice off
the meat. Be sure to place all the cuts on the warmed
serving platter as you work.

* Remove the Wings
Before you carve the breast, the wings must be removed.
Slice diagonally down through the edge of the breast
toward the wing. Using a knife as an aid, press the wing
out to find the shoulder joint; cut through the joint
and remove the wing. Place the wing on the serving platter
as is.

* Carve the Breast
To carve the breast meat, hold the back of the carving
fork against the breastbone. Starting parallel to the
breastbone, slice diagonally through the meat. Lift off
each slice, holding it between the knife and fork, and
place on the warm serving platter. Continue until you
have carved all the meat on one side of the breast.
Repeat, carving the other side of breast.