Salt inside the turkey...why and how much?

Question

My girlfriend says her uncle always salted the inside of the turkey to "kill germs" which i don't think it works that way. I have not heard of salting the inside before. Wouldn't that make the turkey too salty tasting? Is there any good reason to salt the inside of the turkey?

Answer 1

It probably comes from the days before refrigeration - if you salted meat it would keep longer. Salt doesn't kill the germs but it slows the spoiling process. I think your uncle probably saw his parents or grandparents doing this and got the wrong idea as to why it was done.

Kind of like that old story about the woman who was cutting the end off of the roast and her husband asked her why. She told him it was because that's what her mother did so the husband asked his mother in law why she cut the end off of the roast and the mother in law said it's because that's what HER mother did so finally the husband goes to the wife's grandmother and asks why she cuts the end off of the roast. You know what the grandmother said? "Because the pan was too small."

Answer 2

It wouldn't kill any germs as far as I know. If you use a normal amount of salt inside and outside the turkey it shouldn't be too salty, you would have to use a lot.
Its actually pretty common to do that with turkey and chicken (I've always done it). It helps the meat get salted from the inside as well as the outside, and makes it tastier:).You can also put herbs, lemon juice and other stuff inside the bird to help season it.

Answer 3

Do you know that salt will absorb about 3 time its weight in moisture? Turkey gets dry enough on its own. I put the salt on the table and will add it after the meat is cooked whether it be steaks, chops or whatever. Season with your herbs and spices but forget the salt.

Answer 4

I have never heard of putting putting salt inside. However when I make my turkey rub salt is one of the ingredients I use and I rub both the inside and outside.

Answer 5

i have heard of this before, and it is really funny. all these cooks go to all this trouble to make sure food is kept at a certain temperature when they have to do is throw salt on it.

the only reason i can think of to salt the inside is to add a taste of salt to it. some people believe salt is a seasoning and it brings out the taste of food. all it really does if give them a heart attack.

Answer 6

so the bird will be seasoned inside as well as the outside of the bird. it gives it a better tasting flavor.