Reheating a Fully Cooked Smoked Turkey Leg The Right Way

News Bake Brilliant Beth 2024-12-11

Alright, listen up, y’all. Gonna tell ya how to heat up them smoked turkey legs, the ones that’s already cooked, you hear? Don’t wanna mess ’em up, now. They ain’t cheap, and good eatin’s hard to come by.

First off, the best way, the real way, is using that there oven. Yeah, the one in your kitchen. You gotta heat it up first, mind you. Set it to about 325, maybe 350, not too hot, not too cold. Just right, like Goldilocks and her porridge, you know?

Now, you take them turkey legs, and put ’em on a pan.
A baking pan, that is. Not no fryin’ pan.
Don’t crowd ’em, give ’em some space to breathe.

Then, cover ’em up with some foil. Not too tight, just loose, like a comfy blanket. Keeps ’em from drying out, see? Dry turkey is like eatin’ sawdust, and nobody wants that. Stick ’em in that hot oven for, oh, I don’t know, maybe 15, 20 minutes. Could be longer, depends on how big them legs are. You gotta check on ’em, poke ’em with a fork, make sure they’re hot all the way through.

Reheating a Fully Cooked Smoked Turkey Leg The Right Way

Some folks say you can use that there microwave thing. The one that goes “beep beep.” I ain’t a fan, myself. Dries things out too quick, makes ’em tough. But if you’re in a hurry, I guess it’ll do. Wrap them legs in a damp paper towel, that helps a bit. And don’t nuke ’em too long, just a few minutes at a time. Keep checkin’ on ’em, you hear? You don’t want no exploded turkey in your microwave, that’s for sure.

The thing is, reheating cooked turkey, it’s tricky business. You gotta be careful. Too hot, too long, and you end up with somethin’ you could shoe a horse with. Too little, and you’re gnawin’ on cold meat, and that ain’t right. You want that turkey juicy and tender, like it just came off the smoker.

So, the oven, that’s your best bet. Keeps ‘em moist, heats ‘em even. You want that turkey fallin’ off the bone, not stickin’ to it like glue. Remember what I said, 325, 350 degrees, foil on top, check on ’em now and then. It ain’t rocket science, but you gotta pay attention. Don’t go wanderin’ off watchin’ them soap operas and forget about your turkey, now.

Now, some folks like to add a little somethin’ somethin’ when they’re reheating. A little broth in the pan, maybe. Or some butter, melted on top. That’s fine, I guess, if you’re fancy. Me, I like the taste of the turkey just fine on its own. Good smoked turkey don’t need no help, if you ask me.

And for goodness sake, don’t you go reheatin’ them legs more than once. That’s just askin’ for trouble. Dry as a bone, tough as shoe leather. You eat what you need, and put the rest away. If you got leftovers, well, that’s what sandwiches are for, ain’t it? Turkey sandwich with some mayo and a slice of tomato, that’s good eatin’ right there.

So there you have it. Oven’s the best, microwave will do in a pinch, but be careful, and don’t overcook ‘em. And for Pete’s sake, don’t reheat ‘em more than once. Now go on and enjoy that turkey, you hear? You worked hard for it, you deserve a good meal. And remember what I told ya, juicy and tender is the goal, not dry and tough. That’s all there is to it.

One more thing, when you’re putting them legs on that pan, make sure they ain’t all bunched up. Spread ’em out, so the heat can get to all sides. And don’t forget to take them out of whatever plastic bag or container they came in. You don’t wanna melt plastic in your oven. That’s a mess nobody wants to clean up.

Now get to it, and enjoy your reheated smoked turkey legs. They’re gonna be mighty tasty, if you follow my advice. And if they ain’t, well, don’t come cryin’ to me, I told you what to do.