The word "turkey" usually conjures up images of holiday feasts and extravagant meals, but that's not the only way to use the bird. It's also a versatile ingredient that can be used in a wide range of dishes. Some cooks like to chop and freeze leftover turkey after the holidays, as a quick ingredient for light and easy meals. Others freeze uncooked chopped turkey, which can be used in a wider range of dishes. Both are easy ways to add high quality protein to a meal, but they should be treated differently.
Thawing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service recognizes three safe methods of thawing frozen foods such as chopped turkey. The recommended method is thawing the food in the refrigerator overnight or longer. This is safest because the refrigerator keeps the turkey at a food-safe temperature while it thaws. A second option is to thaw the turkey under cold water, which usually takes only an hour or two. The third method is microwave thawing. This is less desirable because it creates uneven "hot spots" in the meat, where the temperature is no longer food-safe.
Cooked Chopped Turkey
For food safety purposes, cooked chopped turkey should be treated like other leftovers. Don't thaw it and use it directly on a salad or sandwich, because there is always at least a moderate risk of food-borne illness. Heat the turkey first to a food safe temperature of 165 F. To prevent it drying out, heat it in a small amount of turkey broth or lightly salted water. A saucepan on a stove works well, or wrap the turkey in foil or parchment and heat it in the oven. A microwave is less certain because it heats unevenly.
Uncooked Chopped Turkey
If you've thawed the frozen uncooked turkey in a microwave, it must be cooked immediately to maintain food safety. If you've used the fridge method, it will keep safely for a few days in its original packaging. Roast or saute the thawed turkey meat, skewer it on kebabs or add it to soups, stews or stir-fries. In the case of soups and stews, you can add the chopped turkey directly to the pot without thawing it first. Cooked chopped turkey is excellent in salads, sandwiches and wraps.
Commercial Chopped Turkey
Major food service wholesalers carry chopped and diced turkey in bulk for the restaurant trade. If you have friends in the business, sometimes it's possible to purchase one through a restaurant for home use. Usually the pieces are individually frozen, so you can scoop them into serving-sized portions without having to thaw them first. The pieces can be bought cooked or uncooked, with the uncooked pieces having a fresher flavor. The commercial product should be handled and cooked in exactly the same way as chopped turkey prepared at home.
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