Have you ever ground Turkey breast like hamburger?

[Sasquatch Boogie Outdoors]

Just curious if anyone ever does this. I've never. but had visions of shredded turkey frying in a hot skillet.

 

[knightrider]

Just curious if anyone ever does this. I've never. but had visions of shredded turkey frying in a hot skillet.

Brother you need to repent for just having those kind of thoughts

 

[Popcorn]

I raise heritage turkeys to help feed an extended family. I usually supply 8 to 10 for thanksgiving then the rest are fed till spring to maximize the exchange ratio and then send 30 or so to the processors who debone backs, thighs and breasts and grind it all. The heritage birds get fat so the mix has white meat, dark meat and fat in the grind. It's a long way fro wild but we love it. We go thru 200 to 300 lbs a year in burgers, chili, meatloaf, meatballs, tacos. It's really good but needs a little Worcester and brown mustard

 

[woodsman04]

Never. Thats worst than grounding the backstrap from a deer

 

[ZachMarkus]

I have alpha gal so I eat a lot of store bought ground turkey but I'll be danged if I grind up a wild turkey breast!

 

[megalomaniac]

Best stuff ever. Between me and my kids, we take several birds each year, so I grind a couple. I debone the thighs and legs, mix those with the breast, and grind 5 strips of Applewood smoked bacon per 1/2 bird. Makes some of the best turkey burgers you've ever had.

Adding the bacon really makes a difference in keeping it sticking it together and keeping it moist even though cooked completely.

Grinding the legs and thighs alone also makes for some good chili or spaghetti meat.

 

[Joe2Kool]

Yep. Makes awesome white bean chili. While grinding, I douse it liberally with some sort of poultry rub.

Actually makes good burgers also. Gotta be careful cooking them so they don't fall apart.

 

[Spurhunter]

Most turkey hunters: "It's sacrilegious to even consider grinding a wild turkey breast."

Me: "How do you cook your wild turkey breasts?"

Also Most turkey hunters: "Cut it in strips, batter it, and deep fry it."

I love to turkey hunt and kill turkeys, and I eat what I kill, but I'd rather eat a Butterball. I've tried a hundred different recipes and none of them are that great. If you have to cut something into strips, batter it, and deep fry it, it ain't that great. I like Mega's idea above. Flame away!

 

[Sasquatch Boogie Outdoors]

Most turkey hunters: "It's sacrilegious to even consider grinding a wild turkey breast."

Me: "How do you cook your wild turkey breasts?"

Most turkey hunters: "Cut it in strips, batter it, and deep fry it."

I love to turkey hunt and kill turkeys, and I eat what I kill, but I'd rather eat a Butterball. I've tried a hundred different recipes and none of them are that great. If you have to cut something into strips, batter it, and deep fry it, it ain't that great. I like Mega's idea above. Flame away!

I have to disagree pal, I'd take wild bird any day over butterball. We ate some this week and my family of gals all agreed that it was better than any we had over the holidays.

 

[Spurhunter]

I have to disagree pal, I'd take wild bird any day over butterball. We ate some this week and my family of gals all agreed that it was better than any we had over the holidays.

We'll agree to disagree. I will say my first turkey, which was a jake that I plucked and deep fried, was delicious, but generally speaking wild turkey is tough and dry. That's why everyone cuts it in strips and deep fries it. How did you cook yours?

 

[megalomaniac]

Spur... it's a lot of work, but produces a very servicable product with better flavor than a butterball...

Scald, gut, and pluck the bird.
brine for at least 12 hours.
stuff cavity with onion, celery, apple slices.
inject the bird with a butter or oil based marinade. Mustard binder on outside of bird then rub with seasoning of choice.
place in a browing bag (super important to retain all possible moisture)
cook at 250 until internal temp 160
rest in bag until cools back down to 90 deg or so

slice and enjoy!

 

[Soft Talker]

Never. Thats worst than grounding the backstrap from a deer

;) Absolutely Ludacris

 

[Sasquatch Boogie Outdoors]

We'll agree to disagree. I will say my first turkey, which was a jake that I plucked and deep fried, was delicious, but generally speaking wild turkey is tough and dry. That's why everyone cuts it in strips and deep fries it. How did you cook yours?

What we ate this week was skinned breast. Marinated a day with olive oil and red wine vinegar along with salt, pepper, a pinch of cayenne, and blackened seasonings. I did cut 1 breast in strips and the other breast into 2 equal pieces. Fried in the skillet. Wow…. Warmer weather I use the grill. I agree that if it's cooked to long it's like any other meat…..dry

 

[Spurhunter]

Spur... it's a lot of work, but produces a very servicable product with better flavor than a butterball...

Scald, gut, and pluck the bird.
brine for at least 12 hours.
stuff cavity with onion, celery, apple slices.
inject the bird with a butter or oil based marinade. Mustard binder on outside of bird then rub with seasoning of choice.
place in a browing bag (super important to retain all possible moisture)
cook at 250 until internal temp 160
rest in bag until cools back down to 90 deg or so

slice and enjoy!

That sounds good, but yes, a lot of work. I do typically bake the breasts in a baking bag.

 

[Popcorn]

Best stuff ever. Between me and my kids, we take several birds each year, so I grind a couple. I debone the thighs and legs, mix those with the breast, and grind 5 strips of Applewood smoked bacon per 1/2 bird. Makes some of the best turkey burgers you've ever had.

Adding the bacon really makes a difference in keeping it sticking it together and keeping it moist even though cooked completely.

Grinding the legs and thighs alone also makes for some good chili or spaghetti meat.

Mega
There aare 2 medallions of premium meat, small but delicious on the back above the hips don't forget to include them!

Yep. Makes awesome white bean chili. While grinding, I douse it liberally with some sort of poultry rub.

Actually makes good burgers also. Gotta be careful cooking them so they don't fall apart.

joe
Add a little fat or bacon grease to hold those burgers together and add great flavor!

with better flavor than a butterball...

if y'all ever try a heritage turkey, you will never eat butterball again!
Brine it first, there is no bad way to cook it. We deep fry most but my favorite is in the oil less fryer.
Or started in the smoker and finished in the oil less fryer.
Always tent and rest, they are by far the better bird.

 

[themanpcl]

Just curious if anyone ever does this. I've never. but had visions of shredded turkey frying in a hot skillet.

noooooo

 

[megalomaniac]

Mega
There aare 2 medallions of premium meat, small but delicious on the back above the hips don't forget to include them!

I call those the 'turkey oysters', and yes, the very best part of the bird!!!!!

 

[Creek]

I call those the 'turkey oysters', and yes, the very best part of the bird!!!!!

If there are any pictures showing these morsels, I would like to see exactly where they are located and approx. size.
I cleaned a few deer before someone told me about the inner loins. Not very big but very yummy.

Here is our youngest son several years ago cleaning a bird. We try to save and use everything we can.
We haven't killed a lot of turkey so that might be why we never noticed what yall are referring to.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Never have a wild bird but I would like to try it.....Wife buys ground turkey and even ground chicken....great in chilli and soup.

 

[Creek]

Never have a wild bird but I would like to try it.....Wife buys ground turkey and even ground chicken....great in chilli and soup.

The wife would cut them in strips like some others have mentioned and we all thought it was way better than store bought.
Maybe its because the wild turkey was cooked while still fresh, idk. We have never tried it ground but might consider that in the future.

 

[DoubleRidge]

The wife would cut them in strips like some others have mentioned and we all thought it was way better than store bought.
Maybe its because the wild turkey was cooked while still fresh, idk. We have never tried it ground but might consider that in the future.

Yeah...we love it stripped or cut in nuggets and fried....homemade honey mustard dipping sauce....and some fried morels on the side....spring time feast! (Blooming onion dipping sauce is fantastic as well)...never thought about trying it ground.

 

[Creek]

Yeah...we love it stripped or cut in nuggets and fried....homemade honey mustard dipping sauce....and some fried morels on the side....spring time feast! (Blooming onion dipping sauce is fantastic as well)...never thought about trying it ground.

That sounds like a home run right there.

 

[double browtine]

I shot a hen one fall with my bow back when it was legal. Carried it home, filleted the breast out. Sliced it and put it in buttermilk for a couple hours. Then floured it and deep fried it like chicken tenders. Than hen meat was really tough! That was the last hen I ever shot. She would have been better ground for sure!
A Jake is really good for the table! Marinated, wrapped in bacon and grilled!!

 

[Bgoodman30]

Most turkey hunters: "It's sacrilegious to even consider grinding a wild turkey breast."

Me: "How do you cook your wild turkey breasts?"

Also Most turkey hunters: "Cut it in strips, batter it, and deep fry it."

I love to turkey hunt and kill turkeys, and I eat what I kill, but I'd rather eat a Butterball. I've tried a hundred different recipes and none of them are that great. If you have to cut something into strips, batter it, and deep fry it, it ain't that great. I like Mega's idea above. Flame away!

We eat a lot of wild turkey and never fry it. Our family go to is Cajun turkey mardi gras.
Recipe: marinate breast in olive oil, lots of worchesthire and Tony's cajun
Saute 1 chopped onion until soft in butter set aside
Fry 1lb bacon chopped set aside
Cut turkey into 1' or less squares and brown in butter with more tonys
Add onion, bacon cook until done and serve over rice. Delicious

2nd fall favorite is Field & Stream wild turkey pot pie. That's a long one. Google it. Amazing

 

[Boll Weevil]

Ground turkey breast…yes. The lighter colored ones are turkey and are superb.

 

[Tenntrapper]

I tried one of the Steve Rhinella(sp) recipes for turkey sausage. It was on one of his TV specials. I tried to get the "amounts" of each spice from the show, but cross referenced with his cookbook. I don't remember which spice it was, but it was waaay to much. Otherwise, it was pretty good. It's been a few years ago, but I remember it having a lot of bacon in it.
Never have tried it again.

 

[Spurhunter]

We eat a lot of wild turkey and never fry it. Our family go to is Cajun turkey mardi gras.
Recipe: marinate breast in olive oil, lots of worchesthire and Tony's cajun
Saute 1 chopped onion until soft in butter set aside
Fry 1lb bacon chopped set aside
Cut turkey into 1' or less squares and brown in butter with more tonys
Add onion, bacon cook until done and serve over rice. Delicious

That does sound delicious, but I'm sure it's not lost on you how much stuff you are adding. By the time you add all that stuff to the turkey, cut it into 1" squares, and then further dilute it with bacon and rice, it could be mockingbird or crow. Again, I'm not arguing the importance of eating what you kill, what recipe is best, or if wild turkey is suitable table fare. I'm just saying most turkey hunters act like they'd rather eat wild turkey than a Kobe Wagyu filet mignon, and it's just not that wonderful.

 

[Tenntrapper]

That does sound delicious, but I'm sure it's not lost on you how much stuff you are adding. By the time you add all that stuff to the turkey, cut it into 1" squares, and then further dilute it with bacon and rice, it could be mockingbird or crow. Again, I'm not arguing the importance of eating what you kill, what recipe is best, or if wild turkey is suitable table fare. I'm just saying most turkey hunters act like they'd rather eat wild turkey than a Kobe Wagyu filet mignon, and it's just not that wonderful.

I'll agree with you....tough and dry. It's not a flavor issue.
I have tried the fried strips. Not bad, but not great either.
I've smoked a few breasts, and they were pretty good, but again....very dry.

 

[deerhunter10]

Not opposed to it. I'm honestly not a giant turkey eater. But I love turkey nuggets. May try it this year.

 

[knightrider]

Cut breast into 2 inch cubes, wrap in bacon, and fry. All other meat gets crock potted and used in tacos and burritos