What Does Undercooked Turkey Taste Like? Good or Bad to Eat?

When you think about the Thanksgiving Day holidays, the first thing to pop into your mind is a turkey.

And rightfully so, because turkey is the main dish everyone loves celebrating Thanksgiving with.

But not just for occasions, you can also have turkey on other days, but it can be quite a task to cook it to perfection.

In fact, as a first-timer cooking turkey, you are bound to make a few mishaps here and there.

One of the most common mistakes is undercooking the turkey.

But how would you know if it is undercooked? What Does Undercooked Turkey Taste Like? And is it safe to eat undercooked turkey?

If these are some of the questions you wonder about, you are in the right place.

Continue reading and learn more about turkeys.

What is Undercooked Turkey?

It’s not the most appetizing to think about undercooked food, let alone undercooked turkey.

While it is a food many love, it takes a little effort and practice to cook the perfect turkey.

Undercooked turkey is precisely what it sounds like- a turkey that is not cooked properly.

Undercooked turkey can not only taste bad, but it can even carry a lot of health complications with it.

Hence, it is best to avoid undercooked turkey at all costs.

The thing with cooking turkeys is that it requires you to have a lot of patience.

Many people think a turkey can’t be that hard if you can roast a chicken.

Mainly because they’re both poultry, people have this misconception.

However, you need to consider the difference in texture and even the sheer size difference.

So it’s a long waiting game when you cook turkey, which might take a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the size.

What Does Undercooked Turkey Taste Like?

Undercooked turkey tastes bland and unflavorful.

Even if you have stuffed a truckload of spices and stuffing in your turkey, if you haven’t given it enough time to cook, none of the flavors would have reached where they should have.

Hence, you end up with a flavorless turkey that is tough and chewy.

A perfectly cooked turkey is juicy and tender all the way through, but an undercooked turkey will be very firm without flavor or juiciness.

If the turkey is undercooked, you probably won’t be able to properly carve into the meat as easily as a properly cooked one.

Undercooked turkey will also be colder on the inside than the outside parts of the flesh.

So the moment you take a bite, you should be able to tell if the turkey is undercooked.

Is It Safe To Eat Undercooked Turkey?

While some people believe that medium rare turkey is safe to eat, others prefer not to eat anything slightly raw.

And rightfully so, raw meat can contain many bacteria that can cause several food-borne illnesses.

Salmonella is one of the most common diseases associated with eating raw or partially cooked meat like turkey.

Severe cases of salmonella can even cause death.

What Can You Do With Undercooked Turkey?

If you carve into a turkey but find it undercooked, don’t worry, there are many ways you can still make it work.

You can always re-cook the turkey by popping it back in the oven.

Remember to add a little moisture by adding oil, butter, or water to the baking tray.

If you have already carved the turkey, slice the meat and sear it in a pan with other spices to avoid drying out meat.

How To Know If Turkey Is Undercooked?

There are many ways to tell if a turkey is undercooked.

Here are a few foolproof methods you can use to ensure you have perfectly cooked turkey all the time:

Look At The Color:

It is undercooked when you carve into your turkey and find that the meat is quite pink or red.

Properly cooked turkey is pale and white all the way through.

Use A Probe Thermometer:

The simplest and most obvious way to know if a turkey is properly cooked is by using a probe thermometer to check if the inside is cooked.

When using the thermometer, make sure you probe into the thickest part of the turkey to tell what the temperature is inside the turkey.

Ideally, anywhere between 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit is a good sign.

Use A Fork:

If you don’t have a probe thermometer, you can use a fork to tell if your turkey is undercooked.

All you need to do is poke a hole with your fork into the turkey.

See if any juices are oozing out of the turkey.

If this is red or pink, you need to cook it for a little longer.

Do this until the juices run clear.

Conclusion

Now you know what undercooked turkey tastes and looks like; preparing a perfectly cooked turkey will be easier the next time you have guests over.

With this knowledge, you also know when to avoid eating undercooked turkey, so you don’t risk your health with food poisoning.

If you ever find yourself in such a debacle and need a quick fix, you can always follow the tips for salvaging an undercooked turkey and save the day.