Cooking Basic How Long To Boil Turkey Necks
For cooking delicious turkey necks, time control is one of the key factors. A reasonable cooking time can not only ensure tender meat but also allow the seasoning to fully penetrate.
How long to cook turkey necks?
Turkey necks need to be cooked for 45 to 60 minutes. Simmer slowly over low heat and make sure the water completely covers the ingredients.
For preparation, clean the ingredients thoroughly and cut them into small sections. Add a few slices of ginger and two scallions to remove the fishy smell and add an appropriate amount of salt for seasoning. You can also add peppercorns and star anise to enhance the fragrance, so that the stewed soup has more layers.
Start by boiling over high heat. When foam appears, skim it off in time. After turning to low heat, cover the pot and simmer slowly. This can make the meat more tender and the soup clearer. During this period, use chopsticks to test the softness. If it can be easily pierced through, it means the cooking is done.
After stewing, add an appropriate amount of salt and chicken essence for seasoning so that the taste will not disappear. If you want a stronger flavor, you can reduce the sauce until the soup is slightly thickened. Finally, sprinkle some chopped green onions for decoration, which is not only beautiful but also can improve the taste.
How do you tell if a turkey is fully cooked?
To determine whether a turkey is fully cooked, the following key points should be noted:
Temperature standard: Using a food thermometer to measure is the most accurate method. The temperature at the thickest part of the thigh should reach 74 degrees Celsius, and the internal temperature of the breast meat needs to reach 70 degrees Celsius. Calculate the cooking time according to 25-30 minutes per pound to ensure that the inside of the turkey is fully heated.
Visual inspection: Insert chopsticks into the thickest part. The gravy that flows out should be clear and without blood color. There should be no pinkish blood at the thigh joint. When it is bent, it should be loose and free. After cutting the breast meat, it should present a uniform white color without half-cooked pink.
Physical test: Press the breast meat with your finger. The cooked meat is elastic and can spring back quickly. The thigh meat should be easily separated from the bone. Remove the foil in the last 20 minutes to make the skin golden and crispy. Using these methods in combination can accurately determine the doneness of the turkey.
Does turkey get more tender the longer you cook it?
Cooking a turkey for a longer time will actually make the meat tougher and harder. The optimal cooking time is 25-30 minutes per pound.
Long cooking will damage the protein structure in meat and cause a large amount of moisture loss. If it is cooked for half an hour beyond the recommended time, the meat will be extremely tough. It will even be very difficult to cut and completely lose its due taste. Overcooking will not only affect the taste but also reduce the nutritional value.
During the cooking process, oil should be brushed frequently or the turkey should be wrapped in aluminum foil to retain moisture. The ideal state is that the meat is tender and juicy. It can be easily pierced with a fork, and when cut open, crystal-clear gravy can be seen.
What temperature for boiling turkey necks?
The best temperature for cooking turkey necks is to simmer slowly. Keep the water temperature at 85-90 degrees and do not let the water boil vigorously.
Boiling at high temperature will cause the meat to become hard and tough, and the loss of nutrition will be serious. The correct way is to bring it to a boil over high heat. As soon as bubbles appear, turn to low heat immediately and keep the water surface slightly moving. Simmering like this for 45-60 minutes can make the meat more tender.
The key to controlling the temperature is to keep the heat stable and cover the pot tightly to keep warm. If the water temperature is too high, the soup will be cloudy and the meat will be tough; if the temperature is too low, it is easy to cause the meat to be hard and not flavorful enough.
How to clean turkey necks?
Turkey necks need to be rinsed repeatedly with warm water. Focus on cleaning the folds and the interfaces at both ends. Finally, scrub with salt to remove the fishy smell.
When cleaning, first soak in warm water for 10 minutes to soften the surface, so that it is easier to remove the mucus on the surface. Carefully scrub each fold with your fingers. Blood is easy to accumulate at the interface positions at both ends of the neck. Pay special attention to these places. After cutting open the neck, rinse the inside repeatedly with clean water until the water becomes clear.
The last step is to scrub thoroughly with a spoonful of salt, which can completely remove the fishy smell.
How to store cooked turkey necks?
The cooked turkey necks should be completely cooled before being put in the refrigerator. Putting them in while still hot will cause the other foods in the refrigerator to take on the smell. Before putting them in a box, use kitchen paper towels to absorb the moisture on the surface. They can be put in a fresh-keeping box or a sealed bag. When placed in the refrigerator's fresh-keeping compartment, they can be kept for 3-4 days.
If you want to store them for a longer time, you have to freeze them. Dividing them into small packages is the most practical. Pack as much as you eat in one meal to avoid having to thaw a large package every time. The fresh-keeping bags bought from the supermarket can be used. After packing, squeeze out the air and tie the opening tightly. When placed in the freezer, they can be kept for 2-3 months.
It is best to take them out of the freezer and put them in the refrigerator's fresh-keeping compartment one day in advance for thawing. Take them out before going to work and you can eat them directly when you get home in the evening. It is best to eat all the thawed ones at one time. If there are leftovers and they are put back in the freezer, the taste will be worse. Remember to write the date on the bag so as not to forget when they were put in after a long time.
