How to Remove Turkey Meat

Turkey meat can be a delicious meal. You may not want to cook the whole turkey though. It may be easier for you to remove the meat from the turkey before cooking it to give yourself less work. Follow these steps to remove turkey meat.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Feel for the breast plate with your fingers and use your knife to cut along one side of the plate. Put your fingers in the incision to make sure you're cutting in the right place, as close to the breast bone as possible.
2. Dig the knife down along the side of the breast plate as you pull away the meat with your fingers. Go down further and further as you release the turkey breast.
3. Cut along the top of the turkey leg and wing. Cut through the skin and across the turkey, under the breast, to meet the incision you made down the side of the breast plate. Your purpose is to remove completely the breast from the turkey.
4. Run your knife completely around the turkey leg. Dig your knife in to release it from the carcass.
5. Focus on the second turkey breast. Run the knife along the other side of the breast plate to cut the meat from the carcass. Use your fingers to help the meat along and release it from the bone.
6. Remove the other turkey leg by cutting around it and releasing the skin.
7. Clean up the liquid left behind on your cutting surface. It can cause contamination if allowed to mix in with other foods.

Tips & Warnings

• It's okay if your turkey is still somewhat frozen, but it's easier to remove meat that's thawed out.
• Take your time when you are slicing and don't force the blade. If you do, you may cut your hand.