Processing my turkey

[R2elk]

Hey folks,
This morning I decided to process my turkey (first time for me) and I accidentally cut the crop, which was full. I emptied the crop and pulled it out from the front and then immediately cut the back side to pull the guts.
I'm pretty sure some of the food that was in the crop, got into the cavity. Once I got all the internals out, I rinsed out the cavity.
Did I ruin the turkey by doing this or am I good to eat it?
Thanks

In the future, pen your bird for the night without food. This will eliminate the full crop when you process it the next morning.

 

[rjohns39]

In the future, pen your bird for the night without food. This will eliminate the full crop when you process it the next morning.

X2 and best to use something with a bottom as grass=food. Another embarrassing lesson learned.

 

[Parront]

X2 and best to use something with a bottom as grass=food. Another embarrassing lesson learned.

Better, a cage. Even sawdust and/or dirt = food to a hungry bird!

 

[Maeschak]

A lot of folks I know and respect say to cook the bird breast side down, I haven't had the courage to try it yet.

I am no turkey chef but I have cooked a turkey breast side down and it worked wonderfully.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC @Theoverseer!
Congrats on your first slaughter, or first turkey slaughter.

Busting crop during processing is not a problem, just messy.
Busting an intestine or bile gland is a problem.

I use a large cooler with ice water bath directly after killing. Then, dunk in scalding water and pluck.

Never heard of chilling carcass before scalding to pluck, makes no sense.
Soon as bird stops twitching and dripping it goes in the scalder here.

In the future, pen your bird for the night without food. This will eliminate the full crop when you process it the next morning.

I put birds in wire bottom crates suspended over poop hammock overnight to empty intestines, but then give a tablespoon of scratch grains 15 minutes before kill to fill crop...find it easier to see, grab, and remove crop if it's got something in it.

 

[Parront]

Never heard of chilling carcass before scalding to pluck, makes no sense.
Soon as bird stops twitching and dripping it goes in the scalder here.

I wanted to kill several, then dunk and pluck them in the house later. I guess it was not needed to ice them, but I wanted them cooling down while I was working on their flock mates. No helpers. It did not seem to make it any harder to scald and pluck them. Too many microbiology classes, I want them cooling.

 

[aart]

I wanted to kill several, then dunk and pluck them in the house later. I guess it was not needed to ice them, but I wanted them cooling down while I was working on their flock mates. No helpers. It did not seem to make it any harder to scald and pluck them. Too many microbiology classes, I want them cooling.

Me too!
Why I want those feathers off then guts out pronto...then into the chiller chest.
BTW adding a good bit of salt to chillers ice water will keep it cooler longer.

 

[Parront]

Me too!
Why I want those feathers off then guts out pronto...then into the chiller chest.
BTW adding a good bit of salt to chillers ice water will keep it cooler longer.

If I was just doing one turkey, I would scald as soon as it stopped flapping. This is about turkey, and I am guilty of talking to this new BYCer from my Chicken experience. For a turkey, I would be only doing one or two at a time. I would just pluck him ASAP! For 30 pounds of meat, you need to start cooling with no feathers or innards!

 

[rjohns39]

Mine go through a very defined process. Cones, scalder, plucker, feet and head removal, evisceration, pre-soak, QA, Chill Tank.

 

[fairie]

Great post.
Just processed 2 turkeys today.
Messed up the crop on one. He had no food for last 2 days. His crop was a wee bit full. I thought it was empty. So when I pulled the esophagus and the rest out (thru the cavity), I pulled the crop thru and the food emptied out all over inside. Now there is still food in the bird that seems to just be glued to the fat. I rinsed it numerous times and soaked it in ice water.
The second bird had a totally full crop, I didn't keep her away from the food and it was SUPER easy. The crop was big and super easy to get out. Will do that again next time, even with the chickens I can see this being easier.
Processing the turkey was much easier than a chicken, in my opinion.