How do you remove the plastic from a turkey leg?

Use a pair of kitchen shears or sturdy scissors to slide the plastic off the turkey legs. Remember to wash any utensils that have come into contact with raw poultry before putting them away. It’s even simpler to remove the hock lock after the turkey is finished cooking. At this point, the piece should slide right off.

Do you leave the hock lock on when cooking a Turkey?

Many turkeys that you purchase in the grocery store will come with the legs tied together using a hock lock. The hock locks are most often made of heat resistant materials and can be left on during the cooking process. However, leaving the hock lock on during cooking can make it much more difficult to cook the bird evenly.

What exactly is that plastic thing on turkey legs?

What Exactly Is That Plastic Thing? That piece of plastic is called a “hock lock.” It’s designed to keep the turkey’s legs (also known as hocks) from flopping around while the bird is processed and packaged. These are sometimes made of metal, but more often than not, companies use heat-resistant nylon to make the hock locks.

Is it safe to leave the turkey leg holder in place?

Yes, it’s fine to leave this piece in place as long as you’re not deep-frying the turkey. It’s made of heat-resistant nylon, so it’s safe at temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Should you decide to deep-fry the bird, you should remove both the leg holder and the plastic pop-up indicator. What Exactly Is That Plastic Thing?