When it is time for Thanksgiving, Turkey is one of the most sought-after meats. Turkey Wings make the perfect replacement for chicken wings around Thanksgiving. But have you ever wondered how long they take to bake? You can find that out and more, all in this article! 

Turkey wings aren’t as much of a task to cook as a whole turkey. They take a much shorter time to cook, regardless of the method, and are also not as tedious when it comes to preparations.

As far as baking is concerned, on average, turkey wings should take 45 minutes to one hour to cook completely. This, however, also depends on the method of cooking. 

Turkey wings are truly one of the best appetizers to serve, especially around thanksgiving. They make the perfect little treats for everyone to enjoy on Thanksgiving day, just to get them prepared for the whole meal that is coming after.

Moreover, I personally do feel that turkey wings are extremely meaty and juicy, so they should not really be just a Thanksgiving tradition, but rather, served all year round! But, although it may seem like a simple phenomenon to bake turkey wings, there is actually a lot more that goes into making them right.

As I mentioned earlier, different methods can be used, even to bake turkey wings. So, let us take a look at all of this and much more about baked turkey wings, all in this article! 

How Long To Bake Turkey Wings? 

As I mentioned before, there are actually various methods, even when it comes to simply bake turkey wings. With each method, depending on various factors, the timings may vary when it comes to baking.

However, just like there is an estimate that can be made for a whole turkey as per its weight, the same can actually be applied to turkey wings too! Let us take a look at the general rule that applies while baking turkey wings. 

While baking turkey wings, the general rule that applies is that every pound of turkey takes roughly 13 minutes to bake at a standard temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Taking this into account, a single pound of turkey wings usually has 2, which also depends on the size of the wings.

Hence, considering the fact that you would be cooking at least 3-4 pounds at a time to serve a large crowd, the average time should be 45 – 60 minutes. This is until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

What Are The Different Parts Of Turkey Wings Called? 

Yes, this may sound like an odd phenomenon, but turkey wings do actually have different parts! Well, they are not as many as you would expect them to be, but actually, just three parts.

The reason why it is important to know about the parts of a turkey wing is that, quite often, supermarkets sell them separately. So, knowing about them will help you with buying turkey wings for sure. 

Usually, a turkey wing is sold as a whole wing at most supermarkets. However, some places do quite often separate them into different parts. Basically, a turkey wing is divided into three parts, which are the drumette, wingette and wingtip.

The drumette is a darker portion of the meat that attaches the wing to the rest of the body. It is called so as it resembles a drumstick.

The wingette is the outer portion of the wing, which is away from the body and has a lighter texture. Lastly, the wing tip is a favorite part for many, as it is the crispiest portion of the turkey besides the skin. It is at the tip of the wingette. 

Do You Bake Turkey Wings Whole Or Halved? 

There is a lot that goes into making some delicious turkey wings. Usually, when we talk about good old chicken wings, we don’t usually think of cooking them in halves, as they are really tiny. So, most people can enjoy a whole chicken wing.

A turkey is a huge bird, however, and so is a turkey wing. Hence, some supermarkets also tend to sell them as separate halves. Although can they be cooked whole or is it necessary to cook them in halves? 

When it comes to baking turkey wings, whether they should be cooked whole or half completely depends on you. Depending on who you are serving and how many portions, you can decide whether to bake them whole or as halves.

The baking time for both will be the same, so there will not really be any difference on that front. But, if you do plan on baking halves, make sure to use a sharp knife while cutting them. 

What Are The Different Methods To Bake Turkey Wings? 

Yes, turkey wings can indeed be baked in more than one way! It eventually all comes down to the sort of flavor and texture that you are looking for out of the turkey wing. These wings are really versatile and hence, can be baked following various methods.

This also makes it easier to figure out how exactly you would like the texture of your wings to be. So, let us take a look at some simple methods to bake delicious wings! 

1. With Stock

A lot of recipes often bake turkey wings by braising them in stock, along with a bunch of aromatic vegetables and spices. This method is great if you want your wings to be soft and really juicy.

Moreover, wings made in stock also tend to pair really well with starchy sides like rice or mashed potatoes. Baking turkey wings with this method is usually done in phases

Here the wings are initially cooked in stock while covered with foil for about 1-2 hours, depending on the quantity. Then, the second step is to take off the foil and let the wings bake for another 15-20 minutes until the stock thickens up and the wings are golden brown and crispy. 

2. With A Dry Rub

Another method that quite a lot of people prefer when it comes to making turkey wings is with a dry rub. This is, indeed, quite similar to roasting a whole turkey in the oven for Thanksgiving dinner.

While baking turkey wings with this method, the first step is to cover them in oil and then marinate them with a spice rub. The oil will help give them a crispy skin and will also help keep the spices intact on the turkey wings.

Unlike the method that is followed with a stock, here, you don’t need to cover the turkey with foil as that will end up making the skin soggy rather than crispy. With this method, depending on the number of turkey wings you bake, a single pound will take an average of 13 minutes to be thoroughly cooked. 

3. With Sauce

Turkey wings with sauce are truly juicy and delicious! Think turkey wings smothered in bbq sauce, hot sauce, or even cajun sauce, and they make the perfect messy yet delicious appetizer for any party.

Here too, it is better to first coat the wings with some oil or butter, as that will give them a crispy outer texture. Initially, you will have to cover the wings with foil while baking them, as if you leave them open, the sauce could burn when subjected to very high temperatures.

After cooking them for close to an hour, you can remove the foil and bake them further, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until they reach the internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This method will ensure that your sauce does not dry out and also that your turkey remains crispy and juicy. 

4. With Breadcrumbs

Usually, whenever coating anything with seasoned flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, most people prefer frying as the cooking method. But, if you want to take a slightly healthier route while getting the same crispy texture-out of turkey wings, you can instead bake them too!

Yes, this method actually works! So, the first process remains the same as it would while frying. You cover the turkey wings with your favorite spices, flour, eggs and finally, breadcrumbs. Sprinkle some oil onto the wings to make sure they remain crispy.

Then, bake them at 325 degrees for the estimated time as per weight. Here, initially bake the wings with aluminum foil, covering them, for 15 minutes and then take it off. This will ensure that the wings retain moisture and don’t dry out. 

Does It Take Longer To Bake Frozen Turkey Wings? 

Thawing is an important part of cooking a whole turkey or even parts of a turkey, for that matter. However, it can happen that you forget to thaw your turkey on time. Does that mean your turkey wings cannot be baked just because they are not thawed?

Not really! You can very easily also bake frozen turkey wings. Just that you will have to be prepared for a longer baking time! 

Yes, it does take a longer time to bake turkey wings that are fully frozen. However, it is better to bake them while they are still fully frozen rather than thawing them partly. If you thaw the turkey wings just partly, they will not cook evenly and also ruin the texture. 

So, if baking fully frozen turkey wings, the first step will be to bake them in the oven for one hour without any sort of oil or seasoning. This way, they will come down to a regular temperature.

Once the one-hour mark is up, you can take them out of the oven and cover them with whatever you like. Then further bake for the estimated time as per their weight until the internal temperature is 165 degrees fahrenheit. 

How Can You Prevent Turkey Wings From Overbaking Or Getting Dry? 

As turkey can be more tedious to cook compared to other types of poultry, it can indeed sometimes be tough to get it just right. The same principles apply for turkey wings as well. Considering the fact that they are much smaller than an actual whole turkey, getting them just right can be a task.

While undercooked turkey is already not great, overcooking ends up making it extremely chewy and devoid of all its natural juices. However, is there really a way to prevent this from happening? Yes, there surely is! 

It is indeed quite easy to overbake turkey wings, which makes them dry and really chewy. There are, however, good ways to prevent this from happening. The first way is to always cover the turkey while it is being baked.

Covering the turkey with foil will not prevent overbaking, but it will keep the juices in the turkey intact, which in turn, will result in a soft and juicy texture. If you cannot cover your turkey wings for too long, you should check their internal temperature around 10 minutes before they are fully cooked.

Once the internal temperature reaches somewhere between 155 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, you can take them out of the oven. While the wings are resting, they will continue to cook from the internal heat and, eventually, bring them to the optimal temperature without drying them out. 

Conclusion

Turkey wings are an incredible way to amp up your appetizer way on Thanksgiving, which also happens to be turkey day! Turkey wings are small and hence, take very less time to bake as compared to the fleshy parts of the bird. 

However, the method of cooking also somewhat determines the amount of time turkey wings would take to bake. On average, if you apply an estimate by weight, a pound of turkey wings will roughly take 15 minutes to cook at a temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 

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