I love turkey. It’s a delicious meat, and it’s a shame that we only eat it a few times a year.
The thing I love most about turkey is how versatile it is, and how affordable it can be! Today I’ll share with you what I’ve learned about stretching our meat budget by investing in this tasty bird.
I find turkey when it’s on sale and then cook it in my crockpot. This allows all the meat to be cooked through, and then you can use the bones to make homemade broth. Today we’ll stick with just the meat, and I’ll share more about making broth in my next post!
1. Buy a turkey that will fit in a crockpot.
(I try to find them when they are on sale, between $10-$12. You have to pick your timing, otherwise you’ll pay a lot more than you want. Around holidays is good because so many people are buying turkeys that they are generally on sale.)
2. Defrost your turkey (most come frozen). I kept mine in the fridge for 2 days and it was ready to go.
3. Take out the giblets and neck. I set mine aside to use later when I make broth.
4. Wash off your bird in the sink and pat dry with paper towels.
5. Put the turkey in your crockpot, rub with butter, stuff with onions, put on seasonings, and add a bit of water to the bottom of the crockpot. I usually use Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper, but the sky’s the limit! You can also add lemons or garlic if you’d like.
6. If the lid doesn’t fit, cover with tin foil. Put on low for 8-9 hours or high for 5-6 hours (this is for my crockpot, you’ll have to figure out what works for you).
Halfway through the cooking process, you’ll need to flip your turkey to make sure both sides get cooked through. I usually add more seasoning the other side and add a bit more water at this point.
7. You can tell the turkey is ready when the legs start to fall off (this means the meat is cooked all the way through).
8. Your turkey is now ready to eat! I usually make mashed potatoes and gravy to go along with this meal. Delicious!
9. Pick off the meat and store it for later. I was able to get 3 containers full of turkey pieces and 2 (large) legs.
I use these little meat pieces to add protein to my meals. Here are some of my favourite ways:
- Stir-fry
- Potpie
- Sprinkled on a salad
- On top of pasta
- With mashed potatoes
- Enchiladas
- Sandwiches
Usually the meat from one turkey will last for several weeks. I freeze the leftovers and pull it out when I need a little something to add to my meals.
Next time I’ll share with you how to use every part of the turkey by using the bones to make your own broth. Stay tuned!
Also, I wanted to share with you that I’ve added a subscribe form to my website so you can sign up for my e-newsletter. That way you’ll never miss a post! Click here to sign up or check out the sidebar on this page.
Now it’s your turn! How do you use leftover turkey? I’d love some new ideas – leave me a comment below.