How Long to Boil Turkey Liver for Perfectly Cooked Offal

Turkey liver with onions, apples, and mashed potatoes is the most delicious way to cook turkey liver. Serve it with creamy mashed potatoes.

You have some turkey liver, and you dont know what to do with it? Learn how to cook turkey liver in the simplest and most delicious way. It is crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and ready in less than 10 minutes. For a change, you will need more time to cook the sides than the main.

Ive been buying a turkey from a farmer in the village every year now for quite a long time. Every year, in November, I spend hours dividing a huge bird (this year, it weighed 26 kg/ 57 lbs) into manageable portions, which I then freeze.

And the first things I cook with parts of that bird are the livers and a turkey bone broth with some of the bones.

Turkey liver is an underutilized yet nutritious and delicious cut of meat. However, improperly cooked liver can turn out rubbery and unpalatable. The key is knowing exactly how long to boil turkey liver to achieve fork-tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture and avoid overcooking.

With the right timing and a few handy tips, you can master cooking tender, flavorful turkey liver every time. This complete guide covers everything you need to know.

Benefits of Cooking and Eating Turkey Liver

Before jumping into boiling techniques. let’s overview why you should consider adding turkey liver to your diet

  • Nutrient-dense – Packed with protein iron vitamin A, folate, copper, and other vitamins and minerals. Much more than turkey breast.

  • Budget-friendly – As an organ meat, turkey liver costs just a fraction of breast or thigh meat.

  • Sustainable – Eating organ meats like liver makes use of more of the animal.

  • Versatile ingredient – Turkey liver works in everything from appetizers to main entrees.

  • Satisfying flavor – When cooked right turkey liver has a rich meaty taste.

Choosing the Best Turkey Livers

Not all turkey livers are equal in taste and texture. Here is how to select the best:

  • Freshness – Raw livers should look moist with no dry spots. Avoid livers that are slimy or foul smelling.

  • Color – Opt for livers that are deep burgundy red without brown or grey spots.

  • Size – Medium livers around 1⁄2 pound are ideal. Large livers may be tough.

  • Weight – Choose livers that feel solid and heavy for their size. Light livers can be mushy.

  • Packaging – Livers sold in their own packaging maintain freshness better than those bundled with other parts.

Prepping and Cleaning Turkey Livers

Thorough prep ensures tender livers and eliminates any undesirable flavors:

  • Rinse – Run livers under cold water to wash away blood and surface bacteria. Pat dry.

  • Trim – Using a sharp knife, cut away any connective tissues, discolored spots or green bile deposits.

  • Halve – For more even cooking, cut larger livers in half horizontally before boiling.

  • Soak (optional) – Soaking 30 minutes in milk or buttermilk reduces strong livery taste.

How to Boil Turkey Livers to Perfection

With prepped livers ready, follow these steps for foolproof boiling:

  • Use a large pot – Crowded livers will not cook evenly. Make sure livers can move freely while boiling.

  • Cover with cold water – Use enough water to submerge livers by 1-2 inches.

  • Bring to a boil – Heat water to a rapid boil over high heat. The faster the boil, the less toughness.

  • Reduce heat – As soon as water reaches a boil, lower to maintain a gentle simmer.

  • Cook covered – Keeping the pot covered helps livers cook faster and more evenly.

  • Flip livers halfway – Gently turn livers over using tongs around halfway through boiling time.

  • Check for doneness – Pierce the thickest part of livers to test for tenderness as boiling time elapses.

  • Avoid overcooking – Once fork tender, immediately remove from heat and drain to halt cooking.

How Long to Boil Turkey Livers

The boiling time can vary based on size of livers and desired doneness:

  • Small livers cut in half: 12-15 minutes
  • Medium-large whole livers: 15-20 minutes
  • Extra large whole livers: 20-25 minutes

General tips for doneness:

  • Halved small livers: fork tender throughout
  • Medium livers: tender with slight pink center
  • Large livers: fully cooked through without pink

When in doubt, cut into a liver to check internal color. Any pinkness means cook longer. Dry, crumbling meat means overcooked.

Expert Tips for Perfectly Boiled Turkey Livers

Use these pro tips for flawlessly tender, juicy boiled livers every time:

  • Dry thoroughly before boiling so livers sear instead of steaming from surface moisture.

  • Season the boiling water with salt, aromatics like onions, and spices like bay leaves.

  • Cut a small slit in each liver before boiling so seasonings can penetrate better.

  • Use a simmer screen if boiling whole livers to uniformly cook their tapered shape.

  • Add acid like vinegar or lemon juice at the end for extra tenderizing power if livers are stubbornly tough.

  • Avoid boiling in an aluminum pot which can cause discoloration of livers. Stainless steel is ideal.

  • Once cooked, submerge livers in ice water to stop carryover cooking.

Serving and Storing Boiled Turkey Livers

Now that you’ve mastered perfectly cooked turkey livers, here are tips for serving and storage:

  • Slice livers and serve with onions sautéed in the boil liquid for added flavor.

  • Mash boiled livers and combine with butter, herbs, spices, or brandy pâté.

  • Chop boiled livers and fold into pasta fillings like ricotta or mascarpone cheese.

  • Cover leftover boiled livers in their liquid and refrigerate up to 3 days.

With this complete guide to boiling technique, timing, and storage, you can enjoy the full nutrition and bold flavor of turkey livers. Never over or undercook these tender offal again. Just follow these steps for consistently cooked turkey livers.

how long to boil turkey liver

How to make onions and apples for liver?

This is a typical German way of serving liver, calf, or beef liver, actually. But it works just as well (if not even better) with turkey (or chicken).

  • Start with the mashed potatoes, as they will need to cook longer than the vegetables.
  • Quarter the onions and slice the quarters thinly. Quarter and slice the apples as well. You will need tart, crisp apples. (1)
  • Heat the oil in a large pan. You can also use rendered turkey fat if you have any. Or any other kind of rendered fat.
  • Cook the onions and the apples on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. (2)
  • Add stock, red wine, a little cream, salt, and pepper. (3)
  • Cover and cook gently for about 10 minutes until the onions are soft. (4)
  • Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium, and cook for about 2 minutes more to allow the liquids to cook off slightly.
  • Adjust the taste with salt and pepper, and keep warm while you cook the liver.

how long to boil turkey liver

Can you reheat it?

  • Theoretically, yes, but it will become dry, and frankly, cold liver tastes much better than dry liver.
  • It is better to serve the leftovers in a sandwich or on top of a salad.
  • Always keep the leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container and up to 2 days.
  • Cooked turkey or chicken liver is not really suitable for freezing. I tried it, and once thawed, it was crumbly and not very appetizing.

how long to boil turkey liver

How to Boil Turkey Neck & Giblets: Cooking with Kimberly

FAQ

How long to boil the turkey liver?

HOW TO BOIL: Put into boiling water. Boil for 30-40 minutes on low heat.

How long should turkey be boiled for?

Allow the turkey to cook in the pot. Cook times range from 45-55 minutes for a 12-13 pound bird to one hour-one hour and 15 minutes. for a 15-18 pound turkey. I boiled this bird for one hour and 10 minutes and it was perfect.

How long do you have to boil turkey giblets?

So while the turkey is roasting the next day, place the neck and giblets into a medium saucepan, cover it with water by about 2 inches, and bring it to a boil. After it boils, reduce the heat to a strong simmer and cook them for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the meat is totally cooked through.

How long to boil liver for dogs?

Pop it in a pot of boiling water and simmer for about 15 minutes until tender, pan-fry it over low-medium heat, or place it on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees. When preparing liver for your dog, avoid adding butter, oil, salt or any other spices.

How do you cook a Turkey liver skewer?

Instructions: In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, and sauté until fragrant. Add the turkey livers and hearts, and cook until browned on all sides. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and serve hot. 2. Grilled Turkey Livers and Hearts Skewers Ingredients: Instructions:

How do you cook a Turkey liver on a grill?

In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add the turkey livers and hearts to the marinade and let them sit for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Thread the turkey livers and hearts onto skewers. Grill the skewers for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.

What is the best way to cook Turkey liver?

Published by: Adina November 10, 2020 · Last modified: March 5, 2024 Leave a comment Turkey liver with onions, apples, and mashed potatoes is the most delicious way to cook turkey liver.

How long do you cook liver on a crock pot?

Cover and cook gently for about 10 minutes or until the onions are soft. Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium, and cook for another 2 minutes to allow the liquids to cook off slightly. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper and keep warm while you cook the liver.

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