Turkey Day Carving & Serving Tools

[New_Windsor_NY]

What do you carve, trim your Thanksgiving bird with? A knife that has been in your family for generations? A knife that you bought when you started your family? The knife and serving fork below, have been in my family since the late 1950's or early 60's. I don't use them because it's just me and I don't cook a turkey. I cook a Cornish game hen. Using this knife and fork on a Cornish game hen would be like using a chainsaw to prune a rose bush, it's overkill. But it's an heirloom so I keep the set. They are stainless steel and made by a company called Carvel Hall.

[tongueriver]

We have some elegant china and antique sterling that we serve with at table, but for carving turkey breast, I use one of my Schrade U.S.A. Sure Grip fillet knives. I have been known to occasionally use an electric knife. I have some generic bank-give-away two tine forks to help with the carving. For the rest of the turkey it is mostly rip tear gouge and pull apart behavior (guests do not look). The next day all the bones and associated detritus go into a big stock pot with a mirepoix for 12 hours for the best broth you ever had, ready for soup and gumbo. One year the guests had just arrived. I had a 22 pounder in a countertop electric roaster. Came time to crack the lid and voila! RAW COLD turkey. Jumped into the old Ford to Albertsons and bought 4 rotisserie chickens freshly presented. Best turkey I ever had. So... the 22 pounder did get cooked and the Goodwife and I struggled through it for a LONG time. Turkey gravy secret ingredients: dry white wine and marjoram. Bon Appetit! By the way, there is another subforum called "In the Kitchen."

[New_Windsor_NY]

Sounds like you experienced Murphy's Law big time. You and yours have a nice Thanksgiving.

[rea1eye]

Good topic.

We use an electric knife we have had for about 40 years. We won it as a give a way at a party
40 years ago. Never thought it was very expensive but works like a charm. Still have the
original box -kinda worn and ragged. Sharp blades!

Funny how something so inexpensive has been used so frequently and is still with us.

Bob

[tongueriver]

Funny how something so inexpensive has been used so frequently and is still with us.
Bob

I have more of that kind of stuff around here than I should be admitting!

[jerryd6818]

Nah. We use an electric knife or what ever else is handy. Sometimes it ain't Purdy but that don't change the taste.

[FRJ]

Jerry, you know you're supposed to use the tip of the saw for the wings, right.

[jerryd6818]

Now I do. Thanks for that tip, Joe.

[1967redrider]

You guys remember ol' Rocky? Last year he helped in the turkey preparation. Earlier today he was getting a workout on the farm.

[rarefish383]

About 30 years ago my wife bought me a 9" Rapala Martini fillet knife and that's what I have used on the turkey ever since. I also use it to butcher my deer. Just finished cutting up a bunch of jerky strips.