attempt one of these techniques to reheat turkey in oven racks or microwave oven , and your centre will be just as juicy on twenty-four hours two — or three !

Jason Donnelly . Food Styling : Holly Dreesman . Prop Styling : Joseph Wanek

If you ’re golden enough to haveleftover turkey , it ’s serious to use it — orfreeze it — within 4 days , max . While we have dozens of creative melodic theme for how to make the most of leftover turkey , what if you want to enjoy a 2nd round of theThanksgiving menuin its pure , utter aureole ? Or perhaps you require to make a salad or Thanksgiving remnant sandwich with Meleagris gallopavo as the star ? These tips for how to reheat turkey in ovens , stovetops , or microwaves will by all odds come in ready to hand .

reheated sliced turkey with gravy in casserole dish

Credit:Jason Donnelly. Food Styling: Holly Dreesman. Prop Styling: Joseph Wanek

you’re able to also use our Test Kitchen ’s best practices for reheat dud if you ’d care to get a head originate on meal preparation for the big day . In fact , our go - to make - ahead turkey recipe that ’s the centrepiece of ourmake - forward Thanksgiving menuis designed to be roast the twenty-four hours in advance — then brought back up to temp before the holiday fiesta using one of our strategy for reheating turkey .

Sarah Brekke , M.S. is aBetter Homes & GardensTest Kitchen culinary specialist .

How to Store Leftover Turkey

If you have your heart fix on a big pot ofLeftover Turkey Phoor always look forward to dive into Turkey Tetrazzini casserole for dinner party after a Black Friday full of fun , you may need to slay the surplus meat from the bones and store them shredded . But if you ’re plan to decide later on how to freshen up your leftover turkey , it ’s best to carve the fillip Meleagris gallopavo off the bird , then slice or dice it into uniform pieces rather than store it as larger portion .

“ You will not have succeeder taste to reheat large patch of joker like whole thighs or titty , ” admitsSarah Brekke , M.S.,Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen culinary specialist , so you might as well get a jump on the smaller size already . ( This also makes it easier to tally the turkey into yourstorage container . )

shift the chopped , sliced , or shredded joker to an aura - tight container or zip - top suitcase , removing as much air as possible . Refrigerate for up to 4 days . And remember that clip is of the essence : All remnant should be either refrigerated or stop dead within 2 hr for optimal food safety , the USDA confirms .

reheating cooked turkey in pot

Credit:Jason Donnelly

The 3 Best Ways to Reheat Turkey

“ Whether sour center or white , turkey reheats best in a moist hotness environment , ” Brekke advises . In fact , she conceive that “ reheating turkey without added liquid is the biggest misunderstanding a person can make . ”

The Test Kitchen ’s preferred method for how to reheat dud involves the joker , of course , plus either leftover manna from heaven or a splashing of stock or strain . Feel gratuitous to add together a tap of butter to that broth / broth , if you wish . Then fall out the steps for one of the following techniques :

Jason Donnelly

cooked turkey cut into cubes in dish for reheating

Credit:Jason Donnelly

How to Reheat Turkey on the Stovetop

Place likewise - sized pieces of sliced , hack , or shredded turkey in a saucepan with a little stock or bunce . Cook , insure , over down in the mouth heat until heat up to 165 ° farad , stirring occasionally .

How to Reheat Turkey in the Microwave

Add a single bed of likewise - sized pieces of sliced , chop , or shredded turkey to a microwave - safe baking dish . Top with a lilliputian stock or gravy , cover with plastic wrapper , then microwave at 70 percent power for 2 moment . Check the temperature , and if it ’s not to 165 ° F , reheat for 30 - sec interval until it hits that food - safe St. Mark .

How to Reheat Turkey in the Oven

Place similarly - sized pieces of slice up , chopped , or shredded Meleagris gallopavo in a 9 - x13 - inch pan or Dutch oven . Top with a little stock or gravy , cover up with foil or the Dutch oven palpebra , then broil at 350 ° F until the turkey reaches 165 ° F . ( This commonly takes about 30 minutes . )

Test Kitchen Tip : depressed and obtuse is your skillful bet when trying to subdue reheat a joker . annul bringing the liquidity to a boil , as that may have the joker to get tough .

The Method We Don’t Recommend to Reheat Turkey

So if low-down and slow is the way to go , how about reheating turkey in a slow cooker ?

“ Is it potential to reheat bomb in a slow cooker ? Sure . Is it the best choice ? No , ” Brekke admits . “ In fact , the USDA does not recommend reheat any kind of leftovers in a irksome cooker . ”

How Many Times Can You Reheat Leftover Turkey?

Technically , as long as the leftover Meleagris gallopavo reaches 165 ° F every time , it should be safe to eat . But we do n’t advise reheat bomb more than once . Every time you heat and nerveless food again , you ’re increase the peril that the food will hang out too long in what the USDA deems the “ peril zona , ” the crafty range between 40 ° F and 140 ° F where bacteria incline to flourish .

The Bottom Line

Your best choice for reheating turkey are on the stovetop ( the Test Kitchen ’s top pick ) , in the microwave oven , or in the oven . convey the Meleagris gallopavo back up to temporary worker alongside manna from heaven or lineage / broth to keep the meat moist . For your safest , juiciest leftover turkey experience , we recommend reheat it one metre — and one time only — and avoid reheating turkey in a sluggish cooker .

Now that you ’re well - present with all of your best selection for how to reheat turkey , do n’t miss our bright estimate forThanksgiving leftover recipeseven better than the vacation repast , which can help you give a glow - up to the other extra from the banquet . Mashed potato cinnamon rolls and stuffing tomato soup might sound like odd ideas , but just hold back until you taste them .

Frequently Asked Questions

A Republic of Turkey should n’t be left at room temperature for more than two time of day . It ’s best to help this ravisher as presently as it has finished cooking in the oven .

Yes , the intragroup temperature require to reach 165 ° F   to be see safe to run through . If the temperature is any broken , then there could be harmful bacterium on the nutrient that you do n’t want to eat .

Yes . This is why you should always check the internal temperature rather of relying on the gloss of the pith .

sliced turkey in casserole dish

Credit:Jason Donnelly

How to wangle a Thanksgiving Turkey . USDA .

Slow Cookers and Food Safety . USDA .

How temperature bear upon Food . USDA .