How Long to Boil Turkey Tails for Greens – A Step-by-Step Guide

Cooking greens with turkey tails is a time-honored tradition in Southern cuisine. The rich, meaty flavor of turkey tails adds a savory depth to leafy greens that’s hard to beat. But knowing exactly how long to boil those turkey tails can make all the difference in getting the perfect flavor and texture. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of boiling turkey tails for greens, from start to finish.

Before jumping into the step-by-step instructions, let’s cover some turkey tail basics Turkey tails are the tail portion of a turkey, hence the name They contain a good amount of fat and collagen, which helps keep the meat moist and imparts richness when cooking.

Boiling is one of the simplest and most foolproof ways to cook turkey tails The moist heat gently breaks down the fat and collagen while infusing the turkey tails with seasoning This renders the meat incredibly tender and flavorful. That’s why boiled turkey tails make such a fantastic addition to soulful Southern greens.

Now, let’s get boiling! Here’s my detailed, step-by-step method for how to boil turkey tails for greens to perfection:

Step 1 – Prep the Turkey Tails

Rinse the turkey tails under cold water and pat them dry. It’s important to start with clean tails to avoid any dirt or debris from ruining your pot of greens.

If desired, you can trim off any excess skin or fat from the turkey tails, but leaving them intact also works. The skin and fat will render out flavors as the tails boil.

Step 2 – Add Turkey Tails to a Pot and Cover with Water

Place the turkey tails in a large pot and add enough cold water to cover them completely Having ample water is key here, as you don’t want the pot to boil dry later on

For reference, I typically allow about 3-4 quarts of water per 1 pound of turkey tails. But use your judgment based on the pot size.

Step 3 – Bring the Water to a Boil

Set the pot over high heat and let it come up to a rolling boil. This will take 15-20 minutes depending on your stove. Once the water is actively boiling, you’re ready for the next step.

Step 4 – Reduce Heat and Simmer

After bringing the pot to a vigorous boil, lower the heat to a gentle simmer. You want the water bubbling lightly without too much splashing around.

Maintaining a simmer is crucial for even cooking and tenderizing the turkey tails. Boiling them too hard could make the meat tough and stringy. Be patient here!

Step 5 – Simmer for 1-2 Hours

This is the most important part for nailing the cook time. Simmer the turkey tails at a light bubble for 1-2 hours, until fork tender.

• For a firmer, meatier texture, simmer for 1 hour.
• For ultra-tender and pull-apart meat, cook up to 2 hours.

While simmering, check the pot occasionally and top off with more water as needed to keep the tails fully submerged. You don’t want them poking out and drying out.

Step 6 – Check for Doneness

After 1-2 hours, turn off the heat. Fish out a turkey tail with tongs and poke it with a fork. When done, the meat should be very tender and shred easily.

If the turkey tail seems tough or resisting, return it to the pot and simmer for another 15-30 minutes until perfectly tender.

Step 7 – Remove Turkey Tails from the Pot

Once boiled through, use tongs to transfer the turkey tails from the pot to a plate. Be sure to save that flavorful cooking liquid too!

Let the turkey tails rest for about 10 minutes before the next step. This allows the juices to redistribute and makes the meat even more luscious.

Step 8 – Chop the Turkey Tails

After resting, chop the turkey tails into bite-sized pieces. I like roughly 1-inch chunks, but feel free to go smaller if you prefer.

Chopping releases those gorgeously tender meat strands soaked in that flavorful broth. Mmm, that’s good eatin’!

Step 9 – Add to Your Greens

The boiled, chopped turkey tails are now ready to mix into your pot of greens. For maximum porky flavor, I recommend using the reserved cooking liquid too.

Stir the chopped turkey tails and a few ladlefuls of that tasty broth right into your collards, mustard greens, turnip greens, or any Southern-style greens.

Simmer the greens with the turkey tails for an additional 20-30 minutes before serving. That’s all it takes to impart deep, soul-satisfying flavor. Enjoy your greens seasoned to perfection!

Key Takeaways

Boiling turkey tails for greens requires just a few simple steps:

• Prep and rinse the raw turkey tails
• Simmer in ample water for 1-2 hours until fork tender
• Allow the tails to rest then chop into pieces
• Add the chopped turkey tails and cooking broth to your pot of greens
• Let the greens simmer briefly to absorb all the flavor

Properly boiled turkey tails transform ordinary greens into something extraordinary. I hope these step-by-step instructions give you the knowledge and confidence to master this classic Southern cooking technique. Now grab some collards and turkey tails and happy boiling!