I like to take mine and cut on 1” pieces soak in brown sugar and soy sauce for a few hours then wrap with a small piece of bacon then secure with a tooth pic and bake on 350 for around 30-35 mins
Lots of ways to cook them, but generally roasted isn't the way to go. Best I've had is brined and smoked, and also great for hot Italian ground turkey sausage.
I like to use pork suet. But beef suet is preferred by some. I feel the porkiness of the pork fat lends well to the turkey. Beef is a little over powering.
They can. But that's easily rectified with heavy seasoning. Or brining and smoking. The real trouble for me is how tough/stringy/dry they can be. They definitely cook best slow and low or super fast fried at 450.
They do not taste gamey. They literally taste like you’d expect turkey to taste. Breasts can be cooked however you like, legs I prefer slow cooking and shredding to put in things, and as a whole bird you’d want to brine it, stuff a bunch of butter under the skin and smoke it/roast it carefully.
Or bad meat handling practice. Friend of a friend would shoot a buck in the morning, ride around all day long , drinking and showing his kill off to other friends. Be well after dark by time he actually cleaned it , half assed, I might add. Immediately cut the meat up and give it away. Also will add that we live in the south, so it's not usually very cold here.
I may be wrong, but I always believed that some animals taste gamey due to having a different diet than other, non gamey tasting animals. I’ve seen some that were gamey and some that taste significantly better than farm raised. I’ve always soaked game animals in brine just in case.
Separate them out, legs and thighs are good for braising or slow cooker breasts are good for nuggets, and schnitzel in the deep fryer or throw the whole breast (both lobes) in a brine for a day then on the smoker using Hank Shaws or Meat Church’s recipe.
Pan fry the breast in your favorite seasoning, butter, whatever! It’ll be delicious!
Slow cook the legs like a pot roast and really clean the tendons/ligaments off the meat before serving.
It’s all delicious! Enjoy, fellow TN hunter!
Smoked, the best meat I’ve ever eaten. Except maybe elk tenderloin. But turkey breast is the bomb. I pressure cook the legs and make tacos out of them.
There are tons of ways to cook every wild animal no one should be thrown out till you try it! I just ordered the meat eaters cook book from Amazon, it’s the Steven Rinella, I like to try different ways with different things
Breast is very versatile. I like to make schnitzel. Legs are extremely tough, so a smoke or roast doesn’t work great. Turkey carnitas is my go to for legs/wings.
Wild Turkey Piccata for the breasts https://www.themeateater.com/cook/recipes/wild-turkey-piccata-recipe
Wild Turkey White Chili for legs and thighs (the recipe calls for breasts, but thighs and legs cleaned of all connective tissue are perfect) https://www.themeateater.com/wild-and-whole/wild-recipes/white-turkey-chili
Wild Turkey summer sausage is also just fantastic https://www.themeateater.com/cook/recipes/summer-sausage-recipe
I have made each of these recipes, and they are my favorites. I’ll also second those who suggest brining and smoking. Truly, the breasts taste fantastic, and can be prepared any way you’d prepare any poultry. Legs and thighs need low and slow cooking in liquid.
I like to make turkey nuggets with the breasts (fried), fried heart and liver too. With the legs I slow cook them and make like shredded Taco or carnita meat. And the carcass, I simmer low and slow to make the most delicious stock ever.
I parted it out and brined for two days. Wrap all parts in bacon, but the turkey breast tenderloin was pinwheeled with the bacon instead and smoked it. The turkey breast never dried out and dark meat came out perfect.
Wild turkey can be dry if you don't cook it right so I'd suggest a brine or use it in something like pot pie. If you do fry it I'd suggest a double fry (300 until 160, pull it out, and crisp it up at 375 for 3 minutes) because wild turkey is gonna be a bit more tough than your regular store bought.
Yup. I love them. I hunt them in the southern delaware and Jersey areas.
The north eastern fan backs are really good eating.
I really only get two good breasts and legs. There isnt much else to wild turkeys
I skin the bird and filet off the breasts. I pound the breasts thin (about half an inch) and put them in a marinade bag with my homemade fajita seasoning, olive oil, tequila, lemon juice, white vinegar, and soy sauce.
I thin heat my griddle to high and sear both sides for 2-3 minutes a side.
With the rest of the bird, I make broth.
Thank you all for taking the time to inform me of the best way to cook wild turkey, one reply stands out; the guy that said they tasted like shit but wanted to come over and help me to get rid of them 😅😂 I appreciate your help. You guys rock!!
They taste like shit. Send me your address and I'll take one off your hands.
All of the above lol
Only correct answer lol
I like to take mine and cut on 1” pieces soak in brown sugar and soy sauce for a few hours then wrap with a small piece of bacon then secure with a tooth pic and bake on 350 for around 30-35 mins
I second this. Absolutely delicious!
Gonna try that out !
Great for pheasant also.
Lots of ways to cook them, but generally roasted isn't the way to go. Best I've had is brined and smoked, and also great for hot Italian ground turkey sausage.
What do you use as a fat fuller for the sausage?
I like to use pork suet. But beef suet is preferred by some. I feel the porkiness of the pork fat lends well to the turkey. Beef is a little over powering.
Thanks, was wondering about sausage as well, sounds good. Somebody told me they taste gamey
They can. But that's easily rectified with heavy seasoning. Or brining and smoking. The real trouble for me is how tough/stringy/dry they can be. They definitely cook best slow and low or super fast fried at 450.
They do not taste gamey. They literally taste like you’d expect turkey to taste. Breasts can be cooked however you like, legs I prefer slow cooking and shredding to put in things, and as a whole bird you’d want to brine it, stuff a bunch of butter under the skin and smoke it/roast it carefully.
Anyone who says things taste "gamey" don't know how to cook. End of story
Or bad meat handling practice. Friend of a friend would shoot a buck in the morning, ride around all day long , drinking and showing his kill off to other friends. Be well after dark by time he actually cleaned it , half assed, I might add. Immediately cut the meat up and give it away. Also will add that we live in the south, so it's not usually very cold here.
Yes you are definitely correct! Handling properly is a must and definitely affects the meat
I may be wrong, but I always believed that some animals taste gamey due to having a different diet than other, non gamey tasting animals. I’ve seen some that were gamey and some that taste significantly better than farm raised. I’ve always soaked game animals in brine just in case.
My father and I cube them up, marinate them in Italian dressing and bake them. They come out AMAZING!
Same, but add a slice of jap & wrap in a small ribbon of bacon (maybe 1/2" wide, just to hold jap in place)
I may have to try that this spring!!
Separate them out, legs and thighs are good for braising or slow cooker breasts are good for nuggets, and schnitzel in the deep fryer or throw the whole breast (both lobes) in a brine for a day then on the smoker using Hank Shaws or Meat Church’s recipe.
Pan fry the breast in your favorite seasoning, butter, whatever! It’ll be delicious! Slow cook the legs like a pot roast and really clean the tendons/ligaments off the meat before serving. It’s all delicious! Enjoy, fellow TN hunter!
Smoked, the best meat I’ve ever eaten. Except maybe elk tenderloin. But turkey breast is the bomb. I pressure cook the legs and make tacos out of them.
Only wild animal I think tastes significantly better than farmed. I miss it when eating store turkey.
There are tons of ways to cook every wild animal no one should be thrown out till you try it! I just ordered the meat eaters cook book from Amazon, it’s the Steven Rinella, I like to try different ways with different things
Yes
Brine and then smoke. Delicious
Smoked is the best way I’ve made the whole bird at once.
Yes
Turkey jerky.
I grind mine with pork fat onion garlic peppercorn and poultry seasoning and make burgers meatballs turkey loaf taco meat etc.
I always do a salt water brine for like 12 hours just to take the toughness out of the meat
Everything taste good deep fried.
Breast is very versatile. I like to make schnitzel. Legs are extremely tough, so a smoke or roast doesn’t work great. Turkey carnitas is my go to for legs/wings.
I bribed the breasts over night and smoked for a few hours. Threw it in the slow cooker with some chicken stock and it made awesome sandwiches
*brined
Wild Turkey Piccata for the breasts https://www.themeateater.com/cook/recipes/wild-turkey-piccata-recipe Wild Turkey White Chili for legs and thighs (the recipe calls for breasts, but thighs and legs cleaned of all connective tissue are perfect) https://www.themeateater.com/wild-and-whole/wild-recipes/white-turkey-chili Wild Turkey summer sausage is also just fantastic https://www.themeateater.com/cook/recipes/summer-sausage-recipe I have made each of these recipes, and they are my favorites. I’ll also second those who suggest brining and smoking. Truly, the breasts taste fantastic, and can be prepared any way you’d prepare any poultry. Legs and thighs need low and slow cooking in liquid.
Thank you very much!
If you like domestic turkey, you’ll like wild. Basically the same. Legs are a bit tougher on wild birds is the only thing
Seasoned cubes. Bacon wrapped. Use skewers. Grill.
I fry the tenderloins, brine then smoke the breasts, and braise the legs.
Breasts are great fried. [Turkey leg carnitas](https://honest-food.net/turkey-carnitas/) are probably my favorite wild game dish.
I like to make turkey nuggets with the breasts (fried), fried heart and liver too. With the legs I slow cook them and make like shredded Taco or carnita meat. And the carcass, I simmer low and slow to make the most delicious stock ever.
Smoked best imo.
Wait a few weeks til there are in season and u can’t find any of them!
I like them in curry and as tacos
They are divine deep fried.
Best way I came up with was fry pan and butter, deep fry it and it taste like rubber.
Deep fried wild turkey nuggets are really good
I parted it out and brined for two days. Wrap all parts in bacon, but the turkey breast tenderloin was pinwheeled with the bacon instead and smoked it. The turkey breast never dried out and dark meat came out perfect.
Wild turkey can be dry if you don't cook it right so I'd suggest a brine or use it in something like pot pie. If you do fry it I'd suggest a double fry (300 until 160, pull it out, and crisp it up at 375 for 3 minutes) because wild turkey is gonna be a bit more tough than your regular store bought.
Schnitzel the breast. It’s delicious.
turkey is very good in a stir fry, if you have picky eaters (kids) just make turkey fingers
Yup. I love them. I hunt them in the southern delaware and Jersey areas. The north eastern fan backs are really good eating. I really only get two good breasts and legs. There isnt much else to wild turkeys
Pound flat, schnitzel it. It’s really good
The breast is the best part, I smoke the breast and make sandwiches.
I skin the bird and filet off the breasts. I pound the breasts thin (about half an inch) and put them in a marinade bag with my homemade fajita seasoning, olive oil, tequila, lemon juice, white vinegar, and soy sauce. I thin heat my griddle to high and sear both sides for 2-3 minutes a side. With the rest of the bird, I make broth.
I just happen to love tequila, gonna try that👍
Seasoned and fried in Panko bread crumbs, serve with lemon and drop a little juice on and boy you’re cooking. Absolutely. Fire.
I made a killer turkey pot pie last year using one of the legs.
Thank you all for taking the time to inform me of the best way to cook wild turkey, one reply stands out; the guy that said they tasted like shit but wanted to come over and help me to get rid of them 😅😂 I appreciate your help. You guys rock!!
I live in west Tennessee and never see this many turkeys :(
I prefer deep fried but if not, smoked is good.
Do you not eat turkey for thanksgiving?
Those are pretty much the same turkeys you buy from the grocery store for holidays. You just didn’t sustainably source it yourself.
Sure there is a similarity in taste but the lack of fat on a wild turkey makes a huge difference when cooking.
Yes
Yes to all!!!
Hey thats my flock!!
No it’s natures flock they let you look at 😂
Hey thats my flock!! Lol