This Leftover Turkey Sandwich is the EASIEST way to transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into a hearty, scrumptious breakfast/brunch sandwich recipe the next day.
As Thanksgiving leftovers rapidly disappear, you may find yourself eyeing that last tantalizing half of a hot turkey sandwich sitting in the fridge. But before you devour those delicious leftovers cold, stop and consider the many options for reheating them to savor all the flavors as if the sandwich was freshly made. With a few simple tricks, you can revive and enjoy the entirety of that scrumptious hot turkey sandwich.
Reheating a hot turkey sandwich presents a few challenges. You want the bread to regain its initial softness and warmth without becoming soggy. And of course, the turkey, cheese, and any other fillings need to be piping hot throughout without drying out. Achieving the ideal reheated turkey sandwich that meets all these goals is possible with the right techniques.
Here are the best ways to reheat your hot turkey sandwich leftovers to delicious perfection
Use the Oven for Crisp, Even Heating
The oven allows you to crisp up the bread while gently warming the interior fillings Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray Wrap the sandwich loosely in aluminum foil, just enough to contain any melty cheese but leave the top exposed. Place it face down on the baking sheet and bake for 3-5 minutes until the bottom is toasted. Flip the sandwich over, loosely wrap the top with more foil, and bake another 2-3 minutes until the cheese is fully melted. The turkey and fillings will heat evenly without drying out.
Give It a Quick Crisp in a Skillet
Another way to recrisp the bread of your hot turkey sandwich is to briefly sauté it in a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat. Place the sandwich in the skillet and press down lightly with a spatula to maximize contact with the hot surface. After 2-3 minutes, flip the sandwich and repeat on the other side. The skillet will swiftly give a crisp exterior to soak up any sauce or grease while warming the interior.
Use Your Toaster Oven for Convenience
For small leftovers, a toaster oven offers an effortless way to reheat your hot turkey sandwich. Simply place the sandwich on a tray, set the temperature to 300°F, and toast until warmed through, about 5 minutes. The direct heat will recrisp the bread nicely. Check it periodically and finish any uncovered spots with a quick broil. The compact toaster oven heats the sandwich evenly without drying it out.
Partially Unwrap for More Direct Heat
If you want to use the microwave for speed, unwrap a portion of the sandwich before heating to allow direct heat to penetrate inside. Leave one side still wrapped to retain some moisture and prevent the bread from toughening up. Microwave in 30 second intervals, rotating each time, until heated through. The part facing down on the plate will steam while the exposed top will get direct heat.
Steam First for Super Soft Bread
To revive a hot turkey sandwich on the softest bread imaginable, try steaming it first before finishing it off in the oven or toaster. Place the wrapped sandwich in a steamer basket over boiling water for 5 minutes until the bread is fluffy and moistened. Then simply pop the steamed sandwich into a 350°F oven for 5 more minutes to heat the fillings completely and meld the flavors.
Bake Open-Faced for Maximum Surface Area
For more even heating, open up your hot turkey sandwich before reheating it. Take off the top piece of bread and place the bottom half and fillings on a baking sheet or toaster oven tray. Heat at 300°F for 4-5 minutes until warmed through, then replace the top bread and finish toasting 1-2 more minutes if desired. The exposed sandwich interior will reheat better than when closed.
Know Your Bread
Consider the original bread when reheating your hot turkey sandwich. Heartier breads like ciabatta can better handle crisping in the oven or toaster while softer breads like challah may be best gently steamed and finished in the oven wrapped in foil. Firmer breads reheat better open-faced while more delicate breads fare better wrapped.
Add a Touch of Moisture
A simple way to keep your hot turkey sandwich from drying out when reheating is to add a little moisture. You can brush the inside of the bread with butter or olive oil before toasting. Or place a piece of cheese on top of the meat to melt and keep it tender. Or mix in a spoonful of the leftover gravy or sauce to inject extra moisture. A small amount of added liquid while reheating goes a long way.
Slice in Half for Smaller Portions
If you’re only reheating half a sandwich, make sure to slice it in half before heating. This allows the interior fillings to get hotter faster than reheating a whole sandwich. For a full half sandwich, extend the cooking time a minute or two longer than when reheating a thinner slice. Check often to avoid overcooking.
Know When to Eat Cold
While hot turkey sandwiches are sublime, some components simply don’t reheat well or just taste better cold. Sliced tomatoes or lettuce can turn lifeless and soggy when heated. And some turkey sandwiches really shine with a slaw topping or cranberry sauce that is best enjoyed chilled. Feel free to remove ingredients before reheating that you prefer unheated.
With so many options for reheating hot turkey sandwiches, you can enjoy those leftovers to the last bite. Whether you savor the crispy bread from oven toasting, the speed of the microwave, or the softness of steaming, you’re sure to find a method that suits your preferences. Follow these simple tips and techniques, and that final half sandwich can be just as lip-smackingly satisfying as the original.
How can I make sure the leftover turkey isn’t dry the following day and stays perfectly juicy?
Dry turkey isn’t going to make this Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich particularly appetizing. Sure, gravy can fix it to an extent, but not really. Your tender, juicy, succulent turkey from the previous day quickly turns dry and insipid the next day as you reheat it, and that’s enough to ruin a great sandwich. The red meat of turkey isn’t so much of a problem, but the white meat (turkey breast) is usually the culprit.
So here’s the secret to keeping that turkey juicy the following day as well – steam the leftover turkey! Gently reheating the turkey wrapped in foil or parchment paper is a simple way to ensure that your leftover turkey tastes just as good as it did the previous day.
Since I made a few different Thanksgiving turkey recipes for the blog this year, I had two types of leftover turkey to choose from.
You can slice the turkey roast into any thickness you prefer. You can go thick for the turkey roulade (Thanksgiving turkey roll), and thin for the turkey breast, if you like. Then place the sliced turkey in separate pieces of foil, along with a knob (or two) of butter on top of the turkey, and fold the foil into separate parcels.
Then I place these foil packets in the oven and reheat them at a low temperature until they are nice and warm, and properly reheated. I prefer to make several smaller foil packets (with few slices of turkey per parcel), rather than one large parcel containing all the leftover turkey, so that it’s faster and the turkey steams evenly. This can take between 15-30 minutes, depending on how thick the slices are, and how much leftover turkey you have, so keep an eye on it.
I’ve tried heating the turkey in the microwave, and on the pan, but the meat dries out very quickly with both methods. But steaming the leftover turkey the oven, always gives me great results. But if you feel like using the stove-top is easier for you, go for it – you can use a non-stick pan, and add some butter, and heat the turkey on low-medium to keep it as juicy as possible.
What can I put on my leftover turkey sandwich?
The best thing about this Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich is how adaptable it is. You can add whatever you like.
Turkey gravy – I love adding turkey gravy because it’s got SO MUCH flavor! And like I said, the turkey gravy can mask dry turkey meat to an extent. Just be prepared for the gravy dribble though…
Cranberry sauce – Adds a delightfully tart sweetness to this leftover turkey sandwich. The sweet and savory combo of cranberry sauce is always a winner, and there’s a reason why cranberry sauce and turkey belong together.
Roasted vegetables – I mean, why not? I haven’t added any for the leftover turkey sandwich pictured here (because I didn’t have any leftover roasted veggies), but I have done that in the past, and I usually like to add brussels sprouts, or smashed roasted potatoes, or roasted carrots.
Can you heat cold turkey slices?
FAQ
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