How to Truss a Turkey Using Bamboo Skewers

Some people are really talented just trussing up a stuffed turkey just using string, but if you only make a turkey once a year this might be a difficult skill to acquire.

Trussing a turkey using bamboo skewers makes the job of trussing a turkey much easier. You will still need the string but it is just to tie up the ends. The bamboo skewers will hold together the turkey so you can secure it. The skewers are also easy to pull out after the turkey is cooked unlike the string that can get cooked in to the meat and be hard to remove.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Turkey
• stuffing
• Bamboo Skewers (aprox. 5)
• string

1. Very carefully break the wooden skewers in half. Don't use any halves that are too splintery.

2. After stuffing the turkey (the turkey should be breast side up) bring the skin hanging from the bottom of the turkey on the back side up and around the stuffed area of the turkey. Begin at part closest to the breast and insert a skewer to seal the area shut and to hold the folded over skin in place. Start at on side of the separation pushing the skewer through and then pushing it through the other side to seal. Continue doing this until you get to the bottom.

3. If you like you can also fold the wing tips up and in front of the bird over the breast as much as you can and seal them in place with the skewers as well.

4. Starting at the skewer at the top loop a long string around the skewers. Cross the strings and lace back and forth (kind of like you are lacing up a shoe), then pull tightly to firmly close the two flaps of skin.

5. Wrap the string around the bottom of the leg of the turkey. Start with the one on the left if you are right handed and if you are left handed start with the one on the right. Wrap the string around the leg once then go to the other leg and do the same thing then go back to the other leg and do it again repeat about 4 or 5 times or until you feel the legs are secure. The legs should be snuggly against the bird.

6. Tie a quick knot in the string making sure it is tight and secure. Your know should be in center of the bottom of the legs.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to keep everything as tight as you can from beginning to end.
• Make sure to use a really long string, it has to be long enough to weave through all of the skewers and to tie around the legs several times while still leaving room to tie a decent knot, so keep all that in consideration when cutting the sting.
• Make sure when you break the skewers that you keep your hands towards the edges and not where they break will occur or you might end up with broken skewer poking you in the palm of your hand.
• If a skewers break is completely un-clean and looks splintery don't use it. You will not likely get perfect breaks but just look out for extensive splintering.

[juliemcmurchie]

on 11/17/2009 Great tips for trussing a turkey using bamboo skewers.

[jenng]

on 11/17/2009 GREAT ARTICLE ON How to Truss a Turkey Using Bamboo Skewers5*

[kims3003]

on 11/16/2009 NEAT ARTICLE AND IDEA a+++

[hmkoct5]

on 11/11/2009 Awesome tips! I've never even thought about doing that before.

[survivoryea]

on 11/9/2009 Good tips for using bamboo to truss a turkey-thanks