How to Cut Up a Raw Whole Turkey for Faster Roasting

Raw turkey legs in a white casserole dish, garnished with lemon slices — Photo: Getty Images

A broken-down turkey roasts much faster than a whole one, cutting hours off your cooking time. While a butcher can sell you ready-to-roast pieces, it's not hard to tackle sectioning an entire turkey at home. Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to cut up a raw turkey in no time flat.

This strategy is great for cooking your Thanksgiving turkey, especially if the bird didn't defrost in time.

Benefits of Cutting a Whole Turkey

If you've never thought about sectioning an entire turkey while still raw, consider that there are a few benefits to cutting a whole turkey before cooking.

The turkey will cook faster and more evenly. Since the turkey is divided into smaller pieces, the meat will cook more evenly and quickly (compared to hours for a whole turkey). Now, you won't have to wait as long before enjoying your juicy turkey.
Your oven will have more space. Smaller turkey sections can be placed in baking or casserole dishes, leaving more room in the oven for other baking needs. (Maybe you can roast vegetables and cook your favorite stuffing recipe at the same time as the turkey.)
The defrost time will be reduced. It's much easier for a turkey breast or legs to defrost than waiting for an entire turkey to thaw. Plus, this works great for those with smaller refrigerators or if you purchased your turkey last minute.

What You Need:

1 whole turkey, raw
Cutting board
Sharp chef's knife
Kitchen shears
Bowl or container

How to Cut an Uncooked Whole Turkey

01 of 06

Remove Turkey Wings

Illustration of a person cutting off and removing wings from a whole turkey — The Ellaphant in the Room

Pull one of the turkey wings away from the body and wiggle it to locate the joint. With a sharp knife, cut through the joint where the wing meets the body. Repeat with the other wing.

02 of 06

Cut Off Turkey Legs

Illustration of a person cutting off and removing the legs from a whole turkey — The Ellaphant in the Room

Pull each leg away from the turkey body; slice between the leg and breast until you hit the thighbone. Bend the leg away from the body to pop the joint out of its socket. Then, cut through the joint and skin to remove the leg.

03 of 06

Halve the Legs

Illustration of a person cutting turkey legs in half into thighs and drumsticks. — The Ellaphant in the Room

Cut each turkey leg to divide it into thighs and drumsticks. First, turn each leg skin-side down, then cut through the joint at the top of the drumstick.

04 of 06

Extract the Backbone

Illustration of a person cutting and removing a turkey backbone with kitchen shears — The Ellaphant in the Room

With kitchen shears, cut down both sides of the backbone where it meets the rib cage and remove it. Place the bird breast-side up and press to flatten.

Save the backbone and other trimmings, like the giblets in the cavity, to make stock for turkey soup.

05 of 06

Split the Breast

Illustration of a person cutting a whole turkey breast in half — The Ellaphant in the Room

Flip the bird over, breast-side down, and with a knife, cut through the cartilage that runs between the two breasts. Use a firm pressing motion to snap the breast in two through the wishbone.

06 of 06

Set Turkey Meat Aside

Now that the turkey is sectioned into pieces, you'll want to place the breasts, wings, thighs, and drumsticks into a bowl, baking pan, or other container. Either season and prep your turkey for roasting or freeze the meat for future use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you rinse a whole turkey?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), you should not rinse or wash your turkey. It's ineffective for washing off any bacteria, and it can cause cross-contamination from splashing that lands on kitchen surfaces, utensils, or other food.

Do wash your hands with warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat. And be sure to cook the turkey to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees to destroy bacteria.
Is it OK to leave raw turkey uncovered in the fridge?

While it's OK to leave a raw turkey uncovered in the fridge overnight, it's best to thaw your turkey in its original packaging. A thawed raw turkey can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days. Leaving it uncovered can dry out the skin, making for a crispier turkey.
Is it better to cook a whole turkey or cut it up?

This comes down to personal preference. Many people like the look of a whole roasted turkey on their table or prefer to stuff the turkey before cooking. However, if neither of these scenarios apply, cutting a turkey before cooking will work just as well.