There is no need for leftover ground turkey to go to waste. In just a few minutes, reheat ground turnkey in the microwave for a quick meal to satisfy your hunger.
How do you reheat ground turkey in a microwave? To reheat ground turkey in the microwave, use a microwavable dish with a lid. Nuke on high for 1 minute, stir and continue microwaving for another minute or until the internal temperature registers 74°C or 165°F.
However, there are a few necessary steps to follow when it comes to reheating ground turkey in the microwave safely. The fact that you are reheating a previously cooked food presents certain risks to safe food handling so that you avoid potential food safety hazards.
The good news is that it is safe to reheat ground turkey using a microwave, and this article explains the microwave tips in detail. Answered below are the frequently asked questions about microwave reheating ground turkey along with the best way to heat the meat safely.
Can you reheat ground turkey in microwave?
Yes, you can reheat ground turkey in a microwave and the microwave is the quickest way to safely reheat ground turkey. Microwave for a minute, stir and continue nuking for another minute or two until the internal temperature reaches 74°C or 165°F.
Whether the ground turkey is in meatballs, a casserole or on top of a stir-fry, leftovers are a valuable resource that can be quickly heated back up. In addition, it can be challenging to accurately estimate the amount of ground turkey that is required to feed the group.
When you have filling side dishes, it is quite possible that you end up having leftover ground turkey when all the bellies are full.
Fortunately, the good news is that leftover ground turkey does taste great and there are simple yet tasty ways of enjoying them. However, you must know how to go about it the correct way.
To begin with, make sure that the turkey should be stored properly. It would be wrong to toss it on a plate and then stash it in the refrigerator.
Is it safe to reheat ground turkey in the microwave?
Yes is it quite safe to reheat ground turkey in the microwave. However, the ground turkey must be store properly and in good condition.
To be considered safe to eat, the microwaved ground turkey needs to be reheated to an internal temperature of 74°C or 165°F. To achieve this temperature throughout the dish, it is recommended to stop the microwave every 30 to 45 seconds to stir the contents in the middle of reheating.
Stirring prevents hot spots from developing that could lead to overcooking parts of the ground turkey. Overheating will dry out the ground meat and make it taste tough, chewy and rubbery.
How do you know when ground turkey is reheated in the microwave?
Sizzling meat, steam rising from the surface and the unique aroma of cooked meat are perhaps the easiest way by to know whether the ground turkey has fully reheated. According to the USDA, reheat ground turkey to an internal temperature of 74°C or 165°F for safe food handling.
Ground turkey that is already cooked should not take more than two to three minutes to reheat. Avoid overcooking the leftover ground turkey by cooking it for much less time than when it is fresh.
This will certainly lead to problems and you could end up burning the precooked ground turkey and it may become unfit for serving.
However, before reheating, keep a few more things in mind.
Take the leftover turkey out of the refrigerator so it may come to room temperature for 10 to 20 mins beforehand. This will make the thermodynamic temperature transition easier to go from room temp to hot rather than starting below 40 degree Fahrenheit.
If the cooked meat is frozen, then defrost ground turkey in microwave before starting to reheat the meal. This will lead to better result when reheating that will help to prevent inevitable overcooking.
How To Store Cooked Ground Turkey
According to the USDA, leftover ground turkey is an extremely perishable food. To safely store leftover ground turkey, it must be cooled and stored below 40°F within 2 hours of being cooked
If the ground turkey is left overnight, it absorbs air you can be sure that it will start develop a dry crust on the surface. Hence, the leftover turkey must be properly cooled and sealed in an airtight container.
It is not considered safe food handling practice if the cooked ground turkey is left out for longer than 2 hours. The leftovers should be discarded and not stored for future usage.
If the cooked meat is kept out for longer than 2 hours, the microorganism growth could surpass the recommended levels. High amounts of bacteria could potentially cause food borne illness.
We have mentioned the importance and would like to reiterate a few points that could help in reheating the ground turkey.
To begin with, ensure that the leftover turkey is properly cooled before storing it in the fridge or freezer. If the meat is steaming hot when it is refrigerated, then the condensation will build up inside the container and make the meat soggy.
Do not just place it in the refrigerator without being fully covered as the meat will dry out and share undesirable flavors with other foods in the fridge.
Keep the uneaten ground turkey in an airtight container for better preservation. Cook ground turkey is a perishable food that requires proper handling to keep it safe for consumption, otherwise the entire leftovers will spoil.
We often make the mistake of improperly storing the leftover ground turkey. Unless this is done safely, we can forget about the task of reheating the ground turkey as properly storing ground turkey is of paramount importance.
If the ground turkey is stored the right way, it will maintain its taste, texture and quality. Therefore, you can safely remove it and heat in a microwave for a quick and easy meal prep.
Tips to reheat ground turkey in the microwave
There are some proven and time-tested ways for reheating of ground turkey in the microwave. The moot point that we have to bear in mind is that the ground turkey has already been heated and cooked, therefore the insides will be cooked but need proper reheating.
These microwave tips should be good enough to ensure that the leftover ground turkey is thoroughly reheated in a microwave.
- Take out the ground turkey from the refrigerator well in advance so that it acclimates to room temperature.
- If necessary, defrost the ground turkey in advance of cooking it.
- Use a microwave safe dish and with a microwave cover on top to reduce splatter and lock in the heat.
- Set the microwave to the right temperature for reheating.
- Place the ground turkey in the microwave and set the time limit to 1 minute.
- Stir the dish, before continue to nuke any further.
- It should take around 2 minutes to completely reheat, but stirring in between helps reduce the risk of overheating or burning.
Best way to reheat ground turkey in the microwave
After safely cooking and storing the ground turkey, it comes time to reheat the leftovers in the microwave. To make the process a bit easier, we have included a few microwave tips for you to keep in mind.
If the leftover ground turkey was refrigerated, then placing it at room temperature will help ease the transition to fully reheated temperatures.
- Allow the ground turkey to come to room temperature.
- Place the meat on a microwaveable dish with a lid loosely fitting over the top.
- Nuke on high for a minute.
- Stir the meat
- Continue nuking for 30 second increments and stirring after each interval.
- The ground turkey is safely reheated when the internal temperature reaches 74°C or 165°F.
- Do not overheat it or it will dry out, and underheating can expose the food to potential hazardous food borne bacteria.
Reheating Ground Turkey in Microwave: Final Thoughts
To conclude, there is no doubt that microwaves can be safely used for reheating ground turkey. But, you must make sure that you are following the right steps.
The most important thing is to make sure that the leftover ground turkey is stored properly in an airtight container inside the fridge or freezer to avoid the negative effects of atmosphere, air contact and temperature danger zone.
It is best to remove the ground turkey from cold storage and allow it to come to room temperature before reheating in the microwave. This reduces the transition from cold to hot, making it easier to achieve without overheat.
Use a microwave safe container with a lid when reheating in the microwave. Materials like glass and ceramic are safer to microwave than plastic, but stick with dish ware you are familiar with in your appliance.
Nuke for a minute, stir and continue reheating until the ground turkey reaches an internal temperature of 74°C or 165°F. As a perishable food, it is important to fully reheat the meat for it to be considered safe to eat.
Safe storage and safe reheating are part of the essential food handling procedures. Follow these microwave tips when reheating ground turkey and your leftovers will turn out fantastic every time.