Sometimes overlooked when it comes to dinners are turkey necks. The majority of individuals don’t know how to treat them after purchasing them together with their entire turkey. They ultimately discard them. However, some knowledgeable cooks have mastered the art of cooking turkey necks in ways that have people clamoring for second helpings.
Turkey necks should be marinated before being roasted, smoked, or slow-cooked if you want to prepare them correctly and create a mouthwatering delicacy.
You may purchase them either separately without the remainder of the turkey or along with the entire bird.
Because they are the primary determinants of how stringy, chewy, rough, or soft your ultimate product will be, preparation techniques are crucial to take notice of and pay close attention to.
The necks are available for purchase once they have been smoked and packed. The preferred alternative is to get untreated, fresh necks since it provides you the freedom to select the spices you want to use. This allows you to regulate the amount of smoke the meat is exposed to, which in turn controls the flavors that are absorbed.
Methods of Preparing Turkey Necks
Smoking
Wood chips with light and sweet flavors such as cherry, maple, and apple are recommended for smoking turkey neck.
Before this process, ensure that the meat is well cleaned and cut into equal portions.
A marinade containing different ingredients and seasonings such as salt, olive oil, and onions is used to coat the meat for additional flavors and tenderness. The set temperature should not exceed 275° F on the smoker. Smoking time varies between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the thickness of the turkey necks. When the correct procedure and recipe are followed, your smoked turkey neck will be savory and the meat can peel off the bone.
Slow Cooking
This method involves mixing the turkey necks with vegetables and stock and then bringing them to cook under medium-hot temperature.
The time used in slow cooking should be between 3 to 4 hours depending on the number of necks being cooked. The readiness of the food is determined by the meat’s ability to detach from the bones due to tenderness.
Roasting
The first step to achieving a properly roasted turkey neck is by browning it. The next step is the addition of stock or water to the cooking pan. Vegetables and seasonings are also included in the mixture to improve the flavor of the meat. The pan should then be put in the oven for roasting. This type of cooking takes about 150 minutes and a temperature of 325° F.
Learn how to smoke a turkey in an electric smoker in 8 easy steps
Recipe for Smoked Turkey Neck
Ingredients
- 8 Clean turkey necks
- Seasoned salt- 4 teaspoons
- Brown sugar- 2 tablespoons
- Worcestershire sauce- ½ cup
- Garlic powder- 4 teaspoons
- Black pepper (ground)- 2 teaspoons
- Olive oil (extra-virgin)- ⅔ cup
- Malt vinegar- 4 tablespoons
Smoking Instructions
- Put all the marinade ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and stir them to create a thick mixture. These ingredients include pepper, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and vinegar.
- Add olive oil to the paste and whisk to a blended texture.
- Marinate the turkey necks evenly by placing them in the bowl with the mixture.
- Transfer the meat to a shallow baking pan and refrigerate it for 10 to 12 hours.
- Turn the smoker’s heat to 275° F. Add wood chips to the smoker box or the pellet tube and place it on the burner to heat.
- When smoke starts forming on the grill, place the pan that holds the turkey necks on the opposite side of the smoking burner.
- Let it cook for ½ an hour before lowering the heat to a temperature of 180° F. You can also minimize the vent’s airways at this point to lock in more smoke.
- After smoking for 30 minutes, open the smoker’s top and place a digital thermometer in the meat. Record the internal temperature and leave the necks to smoke for 60 more minutes.
- The meat’s internal temperature should be about 170°F for it to be considered ready.
- Take the pan out of the smoker and rest the meat for about 20 minutes before serving.
- Compatible side dishes such as roast potatoes and steamed vegetables can be served alongside the meal.
Another recipe that can be followed to prepare a crowd-pleasing turkey neck dish is the southern-style smoking recipe. Working with such recipes provides you a great chance to put your culinary skills to practice.