How to Cut Turkey Necks Like a Pro – A Step-by-Step Guide

Turkey necks are an underutilized but extremely flavorful part of the bird that can add richness and depth to soups, stocks, and stews. But before you can unlock their delicious potential, you need to know how to properly cut turkey necks. Don’t worry, with this step-by-step guide, you’ll be cutting turkey necks like a seasoned pro in no time.

Why Learn to Cut Turkey Necks?

There are several excellent reasons to add the art of cutting turkey necks to your culinary repertoire:

  • Turkey necks contain tons of collagen, which turns into gelatin when slowly simmered, giving incredible body and silky texture to soups and stocks

  • The rich, meaty flavor of turkey necks enhances the taste of any broth

  • Cutting the necks into smaller pieces allows for even cooking and incorporation into various dishes.

  • Learning this simple skill helps reduce food waste by utilizing often discarded parts.

  • Impress your family and friends with your turkey cutting abilities!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for perfectly cut turkey necks:

Gather Your Equipment

You’ll need a sharp chef’s knife, sturdy kitchen shears, a cutting board, and paper towels.

Prep the Necks

Rinse the turkey necks under cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. This prevents cross-contamination and creates a clean surface for cutting.

Trim Excess Fat and Skin

Use the kitchen shears to trim off any large chunks of fat or excess skin. Removing some of the fat allows for healthier cooking.

Cut Through the Joint

Bend the neck to find the natural joint between the neck and body. Place your chef’s knife on this joint and apply firm, even pressure to cut through.

Portion the Neck

Once removed from the body, cut the neck into 2-3 inch segments by slicing through the joints. For uniform pieces, cut perpendicular to the bone.

Use Immediately or Store

Add the freshly cut turkey necks to soups or stews, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze turkey necks for up to 3 months.

Handy Turkey Neck Prep Tips

Follow these tips for easy, efficient turkey neck prep:

  • Ensure your knife is sharp for smooth, safe cuts.

  • Cut necks while still slightly chilled for easier slicing.

  • Save excess fat and skin for rendering into schmaltz.

  • Joints can be tough, so apply steady pressure when cutting through.

  • Cut pieces evenly for consistent cooking times.

  • Store necks properly to avoid spoilage and cross-contamination.

Sample Turkey Neck Uses

Once cut, turkey necks can be used in many mouthwatering ways:

  • Add to chicken or turkey soup for extra body.

  • Use in broth or stock for intense turkey flavor.

  • Braise with aromatics for succulent meat.

  • Roast along with vegetables for delicious drippings.

  • Grill over charcoal for smoky, charred bites.

  • Simmer into a rich gravy base.

Now that you’re a pro at cutting turkey necks, you can utilize them in so many fantastic recipes! Impress your family at Thanksgiving by transforming the humble turkey neck into the star of the show.

Frequency of Entities

  • turkey necks: 14
  • cut: 10
  • neck: 8
  • broth: 3
  • chef’s knife: 3
  • shears: 3
  • cutting board: 2
  • soup: 2
  • stock: 2
  • joints: 2
  • excess fat: 2
  • excess skin: 2
  • evenly: 1
  • cooking: 1
  • flavor: 1
  • gelatin: 1
  • collagen: 1
  • texture: 1
  • incorporate: 1
  • portions: 1
  • perpendicular: 1
  • airtight: 1
  • fridge: 1
  • freezer: 1
  • rendering: 1
  • schmaltz: 1
  • chilled: 1
  • slicing: 1
  • pressure: 1
  • spoilage: 1
  • contamination: 1
  • mouthwatering: 1
  • aromatics: 1
  • succulent: 1
  • drippings: 1
  • charred: 1
  • gravy: 1
  • Thanksgiving: 1
  • transform: 1
  • humble: 1
  • star: 1
  • impress: 1
  • repertoire: 1
  • skill: 1
  • waste: 1
  • season: 1
  • show off: 1

how to cut turkey necks

Step 1: Gather your supplies

Before you begin, make sure you have the following supplies ready:

  • A sharp chef’s knife
  • A cutting board
  • A sturdy pair of kitchen shears

How To Cut Turkey Necks

Gobble gobble! If you’re a fan of flavorful and tender turkey, you know that every part of this bird can be used to enhance your recipes. Turkey necks, in particular, are a versatile and tasty ingredient that can add depth to your soups, stews, and stocks. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of cutting turkey necks like a pro. Get ready to unlock a whole new level of culinary creativity!

How to cut up Turkey neck at home

FAQ

How do you cut turkey neck?

With the bird’s throat facing you, position the blade on the throat, at the head-neck junction and on one side of the bird’s neck. Press the blade onto the throat and, whilst applying pressure, pull the knife across the throat and round to the other side of the bird’s neck, in one smooth, uninterrupted action.

How to get rid of turkey neck naturally?

Facial exercises can also be helpful; these can be as simple as chewing gum with your lips closed, or moving your eyebrows up and down. Try to target the muscles you use to yawn, smile, and frown during these exercises. While facial exercises can help a bit, it’s better to focus on a solid neck workout routine.

What do you do with the neck of the turkey?

Simmering turkey necks with veggies and savory seasonings makes a richly flavored broth that’s whisked into delicious velvety gravy! This gravy has so much flavor, plus it lets the chef use up the whole turkey.

How do you cut a turkey neck?

Rotate the turkey so the neck is facing you. Make a triangle-shaped cut into the skin of the neck cavity; this will expose the wishbone, making it easier to remove. Using your knife, ideally one with a more narrow blade (like a boning knife), find the wishbone and gently glide the knife along the bone.

What treatment is available for wry neck?

Wry neck or torticollis, is a painfully twisted and tilted neck. Treatments for wry neck include: applying heat massage physical therapy or chiropractic care traction stretching exercises neck braces Your doctor may recommend surgery, such as: fusing abnormal vertebrae lengthening neck muscles cutting nerves or muscles using deep brain stimulation to interrupt nerve signals (used only in the most severe cases of cervical dystonia) Medications can be helpful. They can include: muscle relaxants medications used to treat the tremors of Parkinson’s disease botulinum toxin injections repeated every few months pain medications

Should a turkey neck be removed from the body?

If you’re buying a farm-fresh turkey, the neck might even be still attached at the head end. A careful cut at the base of the turkey will remove the neck — it should be cooked separately from the body for best results anyway. If you just have one turkey neck, you’ve got enough meat to flavor simmered greens or a batch of grits.

What can I do if I have a turkey neck?

To improve your neck’s underlying muscle quality and tone, you can try: Turkey neck exercises: Daily neck exercises can strengthen neck muscles, which may help improve your neck’s appearance. For ideas on moves you can try, ask a dermatologist. Botox® for turkey neck: As the platysma muscles weaken, vertical bands or cords can appear on your neck.

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