Turkey Carcass Soup: the delicious healthy no-waste recipe (2024)

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recipe

Total time: 4H20

Difficulty: Low

Serves: 4 people

By Cookist

195

Turkey Carcass Soup: the delicious healthy no-waste recipe (1)

Ingredients

For the turkey stock

turkey carcass cleaned of skin, fat, and meat

1

Carrots

2

Celery

2 stalks

salt

2 tbsp

peppercorns

10

Bay

3 leaves

Parsley

3 springs

Water

For the turkey soup

Butter

1 tbsp

large carrots, sliced into rounds

5

celery, roughly diced

4 stalks

poultry seasoning

2 tsp

turkey meat, diced

2 cups

turkey stock

8 to 10 cups

Rice

1 cup

Potatoes (optional)

Roast turkey makes a wonderful meal, but often we are saddled with leftovers after the feast. Make the most out of your turkey leftovers by making a delicious healthy batch of turkey carcass soup. This simple soup recipe is a clever way to make sure none of your roasted turkey goes to waste and it's packed with healthy veggies, hearty rice, and succulent turkey meat. The secret to this amazing tasting soup is the homemade turkey stock which is made by simmering the turkey carcass with onions, carrots, and celery, plus a handful of herbs and spices. It's the perfect soup to enjoy when the temperature dips and you're in the mood for a mouthwatering soup to keep the cold at bay.

How Long Can I Keep a Turkey Carcass for Making Soup?

Turkey Carcass Soup: the delicious healthy no-waste recipe (2)

A refrigerated turkey carcass will keep up to 5 to 7 days. If you're planning on cooking turkey soup, be sure to make it within this time frame. A frozen turkey carcass will stay good for up to 6 months.

Is Turkey Carcass Soup Healthy?

Turkey carcass soup is a wonderfully tasty, healthy dish that's full of protein-rich lean turkey meat, nutritious vegetables, and rice. Swap white rice for brown rice to make this delicious soup even healthier.

Turkey Carcass Soup: the delicious healthy no-waste recipe (3)

Tips for Making the Best Turkey Soup

– For a more intensely flavored stock, reduce the stock after straining out the solids.

– Make sure to remove all the fat before simmering the carcass in water.

– If you love this simple no-waste soup recipe, try it with leftover roast chicken.

– For an even heartier soup, substitute noodles for rice in this recipe.

– If you have an Instant Pot you can use it to make your turkey carcass soup. To make the turkey stock in an Instant Pot, place the ingredients in the pot and set it to Soup. Cook for 25 minutes then let it natural release for 20 minutes, then do a quick release. Strain the solids and place the stock back in the Instant Pot. Add the soup ingredients to the stock. Set the Instant Pot to Soup, cook for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.

– To make a keto-friendly turkey carcass soup, simply leave out the rice and add extra turkey meat.

How to Store and Freeze Turkey Soup

In the fridge, turkey carcass soup will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days. In the freezer, it'll be good to eat for 4 to 6 months. Whichever option you choose, store the soup in freezer-safe containers or bags.

How to Make Turkey Carcass Soup

  1. Start by making the turkey stock. Cut the turkey carcass into pieces so that it fits into a large stockpot.
  2. Add turkey, onion, carrots, celery, salt, peppercorns, bay leaves, and parsley to the pot.
  3. Cover with water until the turkey is submerged.
  4. Simmer over low heat for 3 to 4 hours.
  5. Remove the turkey from the pot. Strain the stock into a clean pot.
  6. Now, it's time to make the turkey soup. In a separate clean soup pot, melt butter and saute the onions until soft and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  7. Stir in celery and carrots and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the poultry seasoning and cook for 1 minute.
  8. Pour in turkey, broth, and rice, stirring to combine. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the rice and vegetables become soft and tender.

Notes

Skim off any foam that rises to the top when you're simmering the stock.

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Turkey Carcass Soup: the delicious healthy no-waste recipe (2024)

FAQs

Turkey Carcass Soup: the delicious healthy no-waste recipe? ›

Cut the turkey carcass into pieces so that it fits into a large stockpot. Add turkey, onion, carrots, celery, salt, peppercorns, bay leaves, and parsley to the pot. Cover with water until the turkey is submerged. Simmer over low heat for 3 to 4 hours.

How long can you keep a turkey carcass before making soup? ›

If properly stored in the refrigerator, a turkey carcass will last for up to 1 week. Perfect for making turkey soup from a carcass! How long is turkey soup good for? Leftover turkey noodle soup will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

How do you make bland turkey soup taste better? ›

You can add more herbs and different spices to add more flavor to turkey soup, but sometimes a bit of salt is all you need. The other clincher is cooking the carcass low and slow to get as much flavor from the roast turkey as possible. Try sauteeing your vegetables in a bit of olive oil before adding to the soup.

How long can homemade turkey soup last in the fridge? ›

How long is leftover turkey soup good for? Soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to four days.

Can you freeze turkey carcass for soup? ›

you can place your turkey carcass in a bag and tie shut before placing in the freezer. You can freeze your turkey carcass for up to 6 months. When you're ready to make your turkey soup just place frozen turkey carcass directly into the pot. No need to defrost!

Can you eat a 5 day old cooked turkey? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

How to tell if turkey soup is bad? ›

Check the smell: If the soup smells sour or has an off-putting odor, it's a sign that bacteria has started to grow and it's no longer safe to eat. Look for mold: If you see any mold growing on the surface of the soup, it's definitely time to throw it out.

Can I eat 5 day old homemade soup? ›

A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat. A clear, vegetable-based soup with some acidity, such as tomatoes, may last longer. Chicken soup usually lasts three to five days.

Is homemade soup OK to eat after a week? ›

As you work through the rest of a batch, knowing how long your soup stays fresh is crucial to maintaining its quality and curbing food waste. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), soups and stews containing meat and vegetables will be safe to eat for three to four days if refrigerated.

Is it safe to eat turkey soup left out overnight? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating.

Why is my turkey soup gelatinous? ›

Turkey stock will turn into a bit of a gel once it's been in the fridge due to the collagen that was formerly in the bones and skin of the turkey. The collagen (which is thought to have many health benefits) cooks out and ends up in the broth, but will turn into liquid once it's heated again.

How to thicken turkey soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

What is the best way to store a turkey carcass? ›

This Thanksgiving, don't throw away the turkey carcass or leftover bones! If you aren't going to make the stock immediately, put everything into a zip-top bag and keep it in the refrigerator for a couple of days, or freeze for a week or two.

Can you make soup with a 5 day old turkey? ›

Cooked turkey should be refrigerated within two hours after being cooked . Stuffing should be removed and stored separately in air tight containers . Assuming your soup would include the carcass you want to make your soup within three days . And the soup itself has a life of three to four days in the fridge.

How long can I leave chicken carcass in fridge before making stock? ›

How long will uncooked chicken keep in the fridge? Your 40 hours is fine. Don't forget that you can freeze a carcass too, which keeps until it starts to lose its moisture (4-6 months). I often wait until I have a few carcasses, extra veg, and an afternoon off to make my stocks.

How long does homemade turkey bone broth last in the fridge? ›

How long does homemade bone broth last in fridge? If you follow a typical recipe, then bone broth will last around 5 days in the fridge and up to 12 months if stored in the freezer. However, there are some things you can do to extend the best-buy date to 7-8 days in the fridge and 24 months in your freezer.

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