Can you eat smoked turkey without cooking it?
In this brief blog we will answer the question, “Can you eat smoked turkey without cooking it?” We will discuss how to reheat smoked turkey and the nutritional value of turkey. We have also looked at the health benefits of turkey.
Can you eat smoked turkey without cooking it?
Yes, you can eat smoked turkey if it has been hot smoked and if store-bought the label clearly says that your turkey is ready to eat. If so, your smoked turkey is ready to consume as it is fully cooked.
Hot smoked turkeys can be store bought and are very convenient because they have already been pre cooked and cured and have good flavors from the aromatic wood chips with tender textures.
How do you reheat a smoked turkey?
There are many ways that you can reheat smoked turkeys, let us take a look at some ways:
Reheat smoked turkey in an oven
This is one of the most convenient ways because it gives you control of your turkey as you get to control the temperatures and do not get to affect the texture of the turkey. The steps are as below:
Step 1: Thaw your smoked turkey
If you are using smoked and frozen turkey make sure to first thaw it. You can have it thaw in the fridge for a day or just leave it on your counter for an hour before the reheating process.
Step 2: Grease your smoked turkey
After thawing, use a roasting tray to enable you to grease your smoked turkey. Grease the bottom and turn your turkey breast down and also grease. Also grease some of the foil and use it to cover up the turkey. This is crucial to lock in the moisture and keeps the turkey moist and juicy.
Step 3: Set the temperature of the oven
This is one of the most important steps in reheating your turkey. Reheating a smoked turkey in a low temperature setting is the best way as this ensures that it does not end up dry and lose its juiciness.
The best temperature to reheat your turkey is 250 degrees fahrenheit, if you want to quickly reheat you can use temperatures as high as 325 degrees fahrenheit. Take care not to use high temperatures as this will dry out your smoked turkey.
Always make sure that you first preheat your oven so that the temperatures are well distributed when you put in your turkey. Now, proceed to heat your turkey until the breast gets to an internal temperature of 140 degrees fahrenheit. You can use a probe thermometer to check for the temperature.
Step 4: Remove your turkey from the oven, ready to serve
After the internal temperature is reached, remove your turkey from the oven and let it rest for some 20 to 30 minutes before trimming it into pieces as desired.This is essential to prevent the juices from seeping as soon as you cut the meat.
What is the nutritional value of turkey?
Turkeys are highly nutritious birds and are a good source of high quality protein. A 84 grams serving of turkey which is equivalent to two thick slices can typically contain nutrients as below:
- Calories: 117
- Protein: 24 grams
- Fat: 2 grams
- Carbs: 0 grams
- Niacin (vitamin B3): 61% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin B6: 49% of the DV
- Vitamin B12: 29% of the DV
- Selenium: 46% of the DV
- Zinc: 12% of the DV
- Sodium: 26% of the DV
- Phosphorous: 28% of the DV
- Choline: 12% of the DV
- Magnesium: 6% of the DV
- Potassium: 4% of the DV
What are the health benefits of consuming turkey?
Reduced cancer risk
Turkey is an excellent source of selenium. Studies have shown that people who consume diets that are high in selenium have a lower risk of cancer. Selenium can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer such as breast cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer and stomach cancer.
Good source of minerals
Turkey is loaded with minerals such as zinc, selenium and phosphorus. These minerals play vital roles in the body for example selenium helps in the production of thyroid hormones which regulate growth and metabolism. Phosphorus is essential for good bone health.
Help in Diabetes Management
Turkey has a low glycemic index which is a measure of how much a carb containing food increases the blood sugar levels. Turkey therefore does not result in a spike in the sugar levels as you would expect from a carb rich or sugar rich food. So consumption of turkey if you are diabetic is safe.
Other FAQs about Turkey that you may be interested in.
Can you eat turkey with diverticulitis?
Conclusion
In this brief blog we have answered the question, “Can you eat smoked turkey without cooking it?” We have discussed how to reheat smoked turkey and the nutritional value of turkey. We have as well briefly looked at the health benefits of turkey.
