Trussing, or tying a turkey’s legs together, gives the bird a tidy, uniform shape for roasting. But what if you realize at the last minute you don’t have kitchen twine to tie up those drumsticks? Don’t worry – you can improvise with common household items to tie turkey legs before roasting.
Why Tie Turkey Legs?
Tying the turkey legs serves a few purposes:
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Gives the turkey a neat, compact shape for even cooking and attractive presentation.
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Can help prevent overcooking of the breast meat by pulling the thighs closer
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May help contain stuffing inside the body cavity.
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Provides stability when transferring the cooked bird to a cutting board for carving
While some cooks feel trussing is unnecessary, it does yield a picture-perfect bird. But twine specifically for trussing isn’t required.
Improvising Materials to Tie Turkey Legs
If you find yourself without kitchen twine at Thanksgiving, you can tie turkey legs using:
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String or kite string (Frequency: 1). Any thin string that won’t melt or burn at high oven temperatures can substitute for twine. Make sure it’s food-safe.
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Unwaxed dental floss (Frequency: 1). Also heat-resistant and won’t impart flavor. Sturdy for binding the legs.
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Cotton kitchen towel strips (Frequency: 1). Tear long strips and tie firmly. Must withstand oven temperatures.
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Cooking parchment paper (Frequency: 1). Fold into strips and use short pieces to tie legs. Won’t burn.
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Thin metal wire or twist ties (Frequency: 1). Ensure it’s oven safe. Wrap well so edges don’t poke through skin.
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Kitchen ribbon (Frequency: 1). Use heat-resistant cotton or linen ribbon. Tie tightly.
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Rubber bands or hair elastics (Frequency: 1). Ensure oven-safe. May need multiple to stay secured.
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Cotton twine or mason line (Frequency: 1). If on hand for other purposes, works for trussing.
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Fishing line or thin wire (Frequency: 1). Craft wire or fishing line won’t burn. Tie extremely tightly.
Any thin, food-safe material that can tightly bind the legs can work in a pinch.
How to Tie Turkey Legs with Alternatives
Tying technique remains the same. With your material, follow these steps:
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Place turkey breast side up with legs facing you.
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Cut a piece of string/floss/etc 4-5 times the length of the legs (Frequency: 1).
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Position twine midpoint between legs (Frequency: 1). Cross legs at this point.
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Wrap each end of the string up and over each leg 2-3 times (Frequency: 1), crisscrossing between legs.
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Pull ends tightly together and tie a firm knot.
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Trim off excess material (Frequency: 1).
Test the bind by gently pulling legs. It should stay securely tied. Tie additional pieces if needed.
Twine Alternatives to Avoid
Some household materials are not suitable substitutes for trussing turkey:
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Plastic, nylon, or polyester string/twine (Frequency: 3). Will likely melt or burn at high oven heat.
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Dyed or synthetic kitchen thread (Frequency: 1). Could impart chemical taste. Stick to plain cotton thread.
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Metal twist ties with paper (Frequency: 1). Paper could burn and edges may poke.
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Fabric ribbon with synthetic material (Frequency: 1). Look for 100% cotton or linen.
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Yarn or thick sewing thread (Frequency: 1). Too stretchy and loose to hold shape.
When in doubt, test materials at oven temperatures before using. Stay heat-resistant and food-safe.
Trussing Tips for the Best Results
Once your legs are tied, follow these tips for optimal trussing:
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Tie legs toward rear cavity rather than front (Frequency: 1). Allows easier access for basting.
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Tie with drumsticks crossed if possible (Frequency: 1). Helps contain stuffing.
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Secure wings under body (Frequency: 1) to prevent burning.
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Loosen string once roasted (Frequency: 1) to let legs relax before carving.
Proper trussing helps cooking and presentation, but don’t stress about materials. You can “make it work” with household items in a pinch to get those legs tied. Focus on delicious turkey and trimmings instead!
Alternative Turkey Leg Tying Supplies
For last-minute trussing, look for these supplies around the home:
- Plain cotton kitchen string or kite string
- Unflavored dental floss or fishing line
- Oven-safe wire or twist ties
- Cotton cooking twine, ribbon, or strips
- Rubber bands or elastics
- Heat-resistant parchment paper
With a little creativity, you can improvise to tie up those legs for a picture-perfect bird. Don’t let lack of twine ruin your Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Substitutes for Kitchen Twine
- Dental floss: Tie up your bird or bundle with dental floss. Itll hold things together just as securely as the twine. Stick to plain, unwaxed floss so you dont flavor your food with mint or risk having melted wax ignite in the oven. Consider tucking a roll of floss in one of your kitchen drawers; it also cuts soft cheeses, like goat cheese, better than a knife.
- Aluminum foil: Roll up some aluminum foil into tight ropes and secure them around your food like bands. It works best for stuffed meats that youre trying to keep from unrolling; aluminum foil probably wont be strong enough to truss a turkey or chicken.
- Toothpicks or wooden skewers: Poke toothpicks or wooden skewers into your rolled meat to keep the seam from unraveling. Soak them in water first (just like you do when you grill) so they wont catch fire in the oven. If you decide to use toothpicks, its smart to count how many you used so you know how many you need to pull out after cooking. You dont want anyone accidentally chomping down on a piece of wood.
- Nothing at all: If you dont have any of these things, consider going without. Leave your turkey untrussed and just tuck the wingtips under the bird or wrap in aluminum foil to keep them from burning. Place your loin on the baking sheet seam side down so that the weight of the meat holds it together. And if youre looking for a way to secure a bundle of herbs, place them in a piece of cheesecloth and used the corners to tie a knot.
CAN YOU COOK Wild Turkey Legs??? Yes!! Here’s the BEST WAY to Cook WILD TURKEY LEGS!
FAQ
How to secure turkey legs without twine?
What can I use instead of twine for turkey legs?
What can you use as a substitute for a turkey bag tie?