The best part of Thanksgiving is undoubtedly the leftovers. There are so many new dishes you can make with the components of a Thanksgiving menu! Ree Drummond especially loves to put leftover turkey to good use—just check out her recipes for Thanksgiving leftover pot pies, leftover turkey soup, and leftover turkey and cranberry flatbreads! But if you just want to keep it simple and eat a big plate of leftovers, then you're probably wondering how to reheat turkey.

When it comes to reheating your holiday bird, not all methods are the same. Try one and you could end up with slices of juicy turkey that taste freshly cooked. Try another and your turkey may just dry right up into a tough, unsalvageable mess. So just which method works best? Hint: it's not your microwave! Keep reading for must-know tips on how to keep your Thanksgiving turkey perfectly juicy after the big feast is over.

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how to reheat turkey
Caitlin Bensel

How do you reheat turkey without drying it out?

Quicker is not always better, and that's especially true when it comes to reheating turkey. The best way to keep leftover turkey moist and delicious is reheating it low and slow. Yep, that means stepping away from the microwave! Microwaves may heat turkey in record time, but they also dry out the meat and leave the skin unpleasantly chewy. Instead, turn to your oven return your Thanksgiving turkey to hot, juicy, just-baked perfection. Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes. Before you know it, you'll have fresh turkey once again!

What is the best way to reheat a turkey dinner?

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If you're looking to heat up different components of a turkey dinner at the same time (like mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, and green beans), your best bet is to reheat them all separately rather than throwing a plate of everything into the microwave. The best way to reheat the stuffing and the turkey is in the oven, and green beans and mashed potatoes would best be reheated over low heat on the stovetop until they're warmed through. If the microwave is your only option, be sure to drizzle a little giblet gravy over the turkey and cover with a microwave-safe plate while heating.

How do you keep a turkey warm and moist after carving it?

If you've already carved the meat, cover it with foil to trap the heat and moisture; just keep in mind that the skin will start to soften. When ready to serve, you can douse the carved meat with a little warm chicken broth or turkey stock to make it taste like it was freshly carved. If you can, though, hold off on carving your turkey until as close to serving time as possible. If the turkey is ready to go but the rest of your sides are still cooking, you can either keep it in a 200-degree oven (whole, uncarved) while you wait, or cover it loosely with foil on the countertop. Just remember not to leave the turkey out longer than two hours or one hour in over 90 degree heat.