This has prompted a slew of recipes and tips for brining turkeys, which keeps the breast meat moist. Wild turkeys can fly, whereas commercial turkeys, which have been selectively bred for more breast meat. Like chickens, turkeys have traditionally have played a harmonious part in small, integrated farms: they provide protein through eggs (yes, you can eat turkey eggs) and meat, their waste provides nutrients for soil, and they will eat bugs, grass, weeds and kitchen scraps. Due to its disproportionate amount of white meat to dark, turkey is associated with its white breast meat, the leanest part of the bird. The biological effects of using GE crops as feed have not been adequately studied, so it is unclear whether a diet of GE corn affects the birds (or those who eat them). Get the best of Smithsonian magazine by email. Turkey also contains the trace mineral selenium, plus niacin and Vitamin B6. Americans eat roughly 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving, about 17 percent of all turkeys produced in the year. Some Healthy Turkey Facts Turkey is an excellent source of lean protein. That’s why there have been efforts from non-profit organizations as well as determined small farmers who are still raising heritage turkey breeds to keep the strains alive. Along with its cousin the chicken, turkey is hailed as a relatively low-fat animal protein. Experts advise to store leftover, cooked turkey in a refrigerator of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below for no longer than three to four days.

Sign up and be the first to get notified of new updates. High levels of homocysteine damage blood vessels and significantly increase our risk for heart disease. Ground turkey is commonly substituted for beef or pork in hamburgers and sausages; sliced turkey meat is served in sandwiches instead of ham. Problem two: poultry CAFOs generate an enormous amount of waste concentrated in one place, causing water pollution, toxic algae blooms and human health concerns (not to mention the smell). 5 ) Male turkeys are called “gobblers,” after the “gobble” call they make to announce themselves to females (which are called “hens”) and compete with other males. Engineered 'Super Enzyme' Breaks Down Plastic, How Journalists Covered the Rise of Mussolini and Hitler, Fourteen Fun Facts About Love and Sex in the Animal Kingdom, Why Sweden’s Ancient Tradition of Calling Home the Herds Is Women’s Work, Nero, History's Most Despised Emperor, Gets a Makeover. And now, eating turkey throughout the year — not just on Thanksgiving — is on the rise in the US.

It is the #4 protein choice behind chicken, beef and pork. Pastured turkeys are held to have much higher rates of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in their meat, thanks to eating greens like clover amongst the pasture.

Try turkey cutlets for a change of taste. Needless to say, the turkey industry is a madcap place for the month of November; in order to get turkeys into stores the week of Thanksgiving, most birds are slaughtered and shipped out to retail outlets the same day, during late October and early November. One serving of turkey provides more than half your body’s protein requirement, with half the fat of beef and 30% fewer calories. Herbicide-resistant GE crops also contribute to the “superweed” phenomenon (described in more detail in this New York Times article), frequently (and ironically) necessitating the use of even more noxious herbicides. The issue with commercial poultry feed is two-fold.

Niacin and Vitamin B6 prevent the accumulation of homocysteine in our body.

Sarah Zielinski is an award-winning science writer and editor. At home and looking for some easy dinner recipes? 3 ) There are six subspecies of wild turkey, all native to North America. California Do Not Sell My Info Try making a soup, stew or chili — or this divine Turkey gumbo — with the leftover meat. One, as of 2014, upwards of 89 percent of corn grown in the US is genetically engineered. Next Thursday may officially be called Thanksgiving, but you all know what it really is–Turkey Day! Other turkey sounds include “purrs,” “yelps” and “kee-kees.”. Keep up-to-date on: © 2020 Smithsonian Magazine. If you’re able to shop for a heritage breed, you have a chance to eat one of those birds that can have more dark, succulent, and naturally moist and flavorful meat. 1 ) Turkeys are more than just big chickens–more than 45 million years of evolution separates the two species. 97% of the population uses Facebook, and the Turks are known as the most active users. Since purchasing them for food is one way to support these farms (and the survival of heritage birds), heritage breeds have been making a comeback in recent years, even though they only amount to a small fraction of the rest of total turkey production. Give a Gift. If you like this page, I’d love you to Pin it to Pinterest, Tweet about it, Like it on Facebook and leave a comment below. The facts about turkey point to a simple conclusion – turkey is a “super” food and one we should cook up more often. Turkey has the 7th largest number of social media network users in the world despite the fact that the country is only the 37th largest country in the world with around 80,8 million inhabitants. Turkish cuisine (Turkish: Türk mutfağı) is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Eastern European and Balkan cuisines. Add almonds or walnuts for crunch and chopped apricots or raisins to up the sweetness. Meatball Recipe with Dill and Sour Cream Sauce. Wild turkeys can fly, whereas commercial turkeys, which have been selectively bred for more breast meat, are non-avian. For as much turkey as the US eats today, amongst gourmands its meat is generally considered to be lean, tough, and lacking in rich flavor. or 89 percent of corn grown in the US is genetically engineered, slaughtered and shipped out to retail outlets the same day, 99 percent of all domestic turkeys today being of the breed called Broad-Breasted Blondes, biodiversity helps ensure healthier animals, Pastured turkeys are held to have much higher rates of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Turkey is an excellent source of lean protein. Both genders have a snood (a dangly appendage on the face), wattle (the red dangly bit under the chin) and only a few feathers on the head. 6 ) An adult gobbler weighs 16 to 22 pounds on average, has a beard of modified feathers on his breast that reaches seven inches or more long, and has sharp spurs on his legs for fighting.