Seasoning ground turkey can make all the difference in turning bland ground meat into flavorful burgers, meatballs, or taco filling. There are good arguments for seasoning ground turkey both before and after cooking. Here is a look at the pros and cons of each method.
Seasoning Before Cooking
There are a few advantages to seasoning ground turkey before cooking:
- Saves time – Mixing in all the spices and seasonings ahead of time means you don’t have to worry about it once the meat starts cooking.
- Flavor infuses – When seasonings have time to mingle with the raw meat, their flavors have a chance to fully permeate the turkey.
- Binds better – Seasonings act as a binder to help the ground turkey hold together better for burgers and meatballs.
On the downside, any salt in the seasoning mix can start drawing moisture out of the turkey, resulting in a drier finished texture. The raw turkey seasoning flavors will also taste different once cooked.
Seasoning After Cooking
There are also good reasons to hold off on seasoning until after the ground turkey is cooked:
- True flavor – You can better taste and adjust seasoning once the turkey is fully cooked.
- Avoid dry meat – No moisture will be drawn out prematurely by early salt exposure.
- Food safety – Any bacteria on the raw meat won’t contaminate the seasonings.
The drawbacks are that you need to monitor the turkey closely near the end to get the seasoning timing right. It also takes more effort to evenly incorporate seasonings once the meat is already cooked.
The Best of Both Worlds
For many cooks, the ideal strategy is to use a combination approach:
- Salt and lightly season the raw ground turkey just before shaping and cooking. This enhances flavor and helps bind the meat, while avoiding over-salting.
- Once cooked, taste the turkey and add any additional seasonings needed to perfect the flavor.
When in doubt, it’s hard to go wrong seasoning lightly before and then seasoning again after cooking for well-seasoned ground turkey every time.
Tips for Seasoning Ground Turkey
Here are some tips for maximizing flavor when seasoning ground turkey:
- Layer flavors – Use spices, fresh herbs, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, Worcestershire sauce, etc. The more layers of flavor, the tastier the result.
- Brine if time allows – Soaking ground turkey in a salty brine before cooking boosts moisture and seasoning absorption.
- Sear meat first – Browning ground turkey before simmering or braising helps seal in seasoning flavors.
- Finely mince fresh herbs and aromatics – More surface area means more flavor release.
- Stir in cheese, mustard, etc. – Mix in extra flavors after cooking to taste.
Sample Ground Turkey Seasoning Blends
Ground turkey takes well to endless seasoning possibilities. Try these tasty blends:
| Seasoning Mix | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Taco turkey | Chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper |
| Italian turkey | Oregano, basil, parsley, fennel seed, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper |
| Mediterranean turkey | Oregano, thyme, minced garlic, lemon zest, olive oil, salt, pepper |
Conclusion
While there is no single right or wrong answer, most recipes suggest lightly seasoning ground turkey before cooking and then adjusting seasoning after. This results in the best cooked flavor and texture. Feel free to get creative with unique spice blends and aromatics to make your ground turkey anything but bland.