Last Update: 07/29/07

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How to Carve Your Turkey

Thank you to the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line (1-800-BUTTERBALL)!

Carve a picture-perfect turkey like a professional by following these four simple steps from the turkey experts.

Hint:  To help make carving easier, use a straight and sharpened knife.

  1. Cut band of skin holding drumsticks. Grasp end of drumstick. Place knife between drumstick/thigh and body of the turkey and cut through skin to joint. Remove entire leg by pulling out and back, using the point of the knife to disjoin it. Separate the thigh and drumstick at the joint.

  2. Insert fork in upper wing to steady turkey. Make a long horizontal cut above wing joint through to body frame. Wing may be disjointed from body, if desired.

  3. Slice straight down with an even stroke, beginning halfway up the breast. When knife reaches the cut above the wing joint, slice will fall free.

  4. Continue to slice breast meat, starting the cut at a higher point each time.