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How to Reheat Turkey in a Crock Pot (Without Going Dry!)

ByClaire Lore Posted on Updated on :
How to reheat turkey in a crockpot

The best part of the holidays is eating turkey till you’re ready to explode! And the next best thing is… turkey leftovers! Most people enjoy them days or even weeks after cooking your turkey. However, they’re not quite the same cold, are they? So, what do you do when you have cold turkey leftovers and a crock-pot? You learn how to get perfect, reheated turkey in a crock-pot.

You can reheat the turkey by covering the bottom of the crock-pot with broth or water, then setting it on low and allowing the turkey to warm for 30 to 45 minutes. 

Before you heat your turkey using a crock-pot, you need to take certain steps. Also, there are other methods you can use to reheat your turkey. Lastly, you need to learn how to store your leftover turkey. Read all about it in this article.

How to Reheat Turkey in a Crock-pot

Reheat roasted turkey in a crockpot

You need to be careful when reheating turkey using a crock-pot because of how slow it cooks. The crock-pot might not heat the food enough to kill bacteria, which can lead to salmonella. 

So, if you must use a crock-pot, ensure the turkey is at room temperature or as warm as possible. Also, ensure to cut the turkey into smaller pieces.

Here’s how to reheat turkey in a crock-pot:

  1. Cover the bottom of the crock-pot with water or broth after defrosting the turkey or getting it to room temperature and maybe cutting it.
  2. After that, set your crock-pot to low and place the turkey in it.
  3. Apply the lid and let it heat for about 30 to 45 minutes.
  4. If your turkey isn’t warm enough after 45 minutes, you can leave it in a bit longer. However, ensure to keep an eye on it.
  5. When your meat is warm enough for you, you can set the pot to “Keep Warm” until you are ready to serve.
  6. Serve your reheated turkey.

Tips for Using a Crock-pot

Crock pots on a table
  1. Never put a frozen turkey in a crock-pot. The pot will not get hot enough to heat it and bacteria are more likely to swarm your protein.
  2. Only open the pot’s lid to check if the turkey is hot enough. This is because the more you open the pot, the less likely your pot will retain heat and cook the turkey.
  3. You can use a thermometer to check the temperature of your turkey. It should reach 165°F, which is the safest temperature for reheating.
  4. You can leave the turkey bones in the crock-pot the night before you reheat your turkey. This will give you fresh turkey stock and enhance the flavor of your meat. 

Other Ways to Reheat a Turkey

Just in case you’re wondering, here are the best procedures for reheating a turkey in the oven or microwave.

How to Reheat Turkey in an Oven

Using an oven is another way you can use to heat your turkey.

Here is how to reheat turkey using an oven:

  1. Ensure your turkey is at room temperature. This way, your meat will reheat evenly.
  2. Preheat the oven to 325°F
  3. Now, carve the turkey into smaller pieces. Try as much as possible to cut the turkey uniformly. After that, place the turkey pieces in a single layer on the baking tray, 
  4. You can add a little stock or broth to the turkey, then cover the tray with foil. The foil will help keep moisture in the tray and the low heat will help keep the flavor of the turkey.
  5. Leave the turkey in the oven for 20 minutes. 
  6. Check if the turkey is hot enough and leave longer if need be.
  7. Serve your reheated turkey.
Reheating a roast turkey in the oven

How to Reheat Turkey in a Microwave

Using a microwave is also a great alternative for reheating your turkey.

Here is how to do it:

  1. Allow your turkey to reach room temperature. If you had the turkey in the fridge, this should take about 15 to 20 minutes.
  2. Carve your turkey into smaller pieces and place them on a microwave-friendly plate.
  3. Cover the turkey with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel. This will keep your turkey from drying out.
  4. Set the microwave on low heat and leave the turkey in for about two to five minutes.
  5. If the turkey isn’t hot enough, you can leave it in longer. However, ensure you heat it at 30-second intervals.
  6. Take the meat out of the microwave, place it on a plate and serve.

How to Store Leftover Turkey

Who doesn’t love a second round of leftover turkey? Luckily, there are several ways you can store your leftover turkey. Unfortunately, leaving it out is not one of these methods.

If you didn’t carve your turkey before heating it, you could do so now for easy storage.

You can store the turkey in the fridge or freezer. Place the turkey in a ziplock bag or an airtight container and leave it in the refrigerator or freezer. It will last for up to 3 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.

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