The gizzard is one of the most fascinating parts of a turkey, yet it often gets overlooked. As you prepare your next holiday turkey, don’t be quick to discard the gizzard. This unique organ has an important role in the turkey’s digestive system. The gizzard also adds delicious flavor to recipes and provides nutritional benefits. Read on to learn all about the turkey gizzard and why you should eat it.
Anatomy of the Turkey Gizzard
The gizzard is part of the digestive tract in birds. It sits between the crop and the intestine. When a turkey swallows food it first enters the crop where it’s stored. The food then moves to the gizzard to be ground up and broken down before passing to the intestine for nutrient absorption.
Unlike mammals, birds don’t have teeth to chew their food. This is where the gizzard comes in. The gizzard contains incredibly strong muscles that contract to crush food. Turkeys also swallow small stones and grit, which accumulate in the gizzard. As the muscular organ contracts, these stones grind against the food, helping to break it down. This allows birds to mechanically digest food despite their lack of teeth.
Culinary Uses for Turkey Gizzards
While we humans don’t need the gizzard for digestion it can still serve a tasty purpose on our Thanksgiving table. The gizzard has a unique texture and robust savory flavor. Here are some delicious ways to enjoy turkey gizzards
- Chopped and cooked in gravy or stuffing for added richness.
- Breaded and deep-fried for a crispy, flavorful snack.
- Added to soups and stews for a meaty texture.
- Skewered and grilled with spices and vegetables.
- Pickled and served as a zesty appetizer.
If you want to get the most out of your holiday bird, using the gizzard is a must. It can amplify the turkey flavor in your side dishes and make tasty appetizers.
Nutritional Benefits of Eating Turkey Gizzards
Besides providing flavor, turkey gizzards are nutritious:
- High in protein – A 3 oz serving provides 12g protein.
- Rich in iron – More iron per serving than a chicken breast.
- Source of B vitamins like niacin, B6 and folate.
- Contains selenium, zinc, copper and phosphorus.
Gizzards are more nutrient-dense than breast meat, offering a range of minerals and vitamins Enjoying them is a healthy way to use more of your turkey
How to Prepare and Cook Turkey Gizzards
Before cooking gizzards, they need to be cleaned thoroughly:
- Rinse under cold water and pat dry.
- Slice open the gizzard and remove any fat or inner lining.
- Rinse again and pat dry. The gizzard is now ready to cook.
To tenderize the meat, gizzards can be simmered in liquid for an hour or two before using in recipes. Otherwise, here are some cooking methods:
- Frying – Bread and fry like chicken for crunchy nuggets.
- Sautéing – Cook in a skillet with seasonings of your choice.
- Braising – Simmer in broth until fork-tender.
- Stewing – Add to soups, chili or curries.
- Grilling – Toss in oil and spices then grill over high heat.
Cooked gizzards will be chewy with a rich, slightly earthy flavor. They pair well with bold seasonings and work nicely in casseroles or mixed dishes.
Get More from Your Turkey with the Gizzard
While it may get overlooked, the turkey gizzard has a place at the holiday table. This unique organ breaks down food for the bird and can amplify flavors in your stuffing, gravy and more. Gizzards are also tasty and nutritious if cooked up on their own.
This Thanksgiving when you pull out your turkey, look inside the cavity for the giblet packet. Instead of setting the gizzard aside, put it to use in your recipes. Your dishes will have more delicious turkey flavor, and you’ll get extra nutrients from this underutilized part of the bird. Getting the most from your holiday turkey means savoring the gizzards too!
What Is a Turkey Gizzard?
Why does a turkey have a gizzard in the first place? The gizzard is a crucial part of the bird’s digestive process. Like chickens, turkeys can’t chew their food. (Can you imagine what a chicken would look like with teeth?! No thank you.) Instead, these birds swallow little pebbles and grit to store in their gizzards. When they eat, the food is forced through the muscular gizzard, which contracts and squeezes, grinding up the food with the pebbles.
How to Use Turkey Gizzards
Now that you know how the turkey uses its gizzard, what are the best ways for you to use it? Gizzards taste like intense dark meat with a touch of tangy gaminess, which makes them a great candidate for adding flavor, most commonly in broths for a turkey gravy or Southern dressing.
But turkey gizzards can also be shared as an appetizer or side dish. Heidi Diestel, a fourth-generation family farmer at Diestel Family Ranch says that breaded and fried gizzards are a Thanksgiving must-have. “Gizzards are a fun, unique and chewy (in the best way) addition to the menu,” she says adding that you can tenderize the gizzards or “embrace the chew” when preparing them.
Frying gizzards is as easy as frying chicken. Marinate the gizzards overnight in a buttermilk marinade such as the one found in this Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe, then toss the gizzards in seasoned flour and deep fry the same way you would with chicken. Serve with a zesty dipping sauce such as honey mustard or Southern Comeback Sauce loaded with mayo, chile sauce, spicy mustard, and ketchup.
How To Process A Gizzard
FAQ
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