Fast delivery
Get in as fast as 1 hour
It’s all local
Shop your favorites
Direct chat
Connect with shoppers
Turkey Tail Products
The Instacart guide to turkey tail products
About turkey tail
Turkey tail, also known as the pope's nose, parson's nose, or sultan's nose, is literally the hind-end of the turkey. It's the part of the turkey that attaches the feathers to the body. A turkey tail is made up of approximately 80 percent meat and 20 percent bone. It also contains a gland filled with oil that the bird uses to preen itself, which explains why the turkey tail also has a very high amount of fat.
These fatty pieces of flesh and bone were never popular in the U.S. In fact, turkeys always arrived at the grocery stores with their tails removed. Rather than waste this portion of the turkey, the U.S. poultry industry decided to market them to the Pacific Island community. Apparently, it was rare to find animal protein in this part of the world, and it was therefore considered a luxury food item. After World War II, poultry companies began shipping turkey tails to the Pacific Island market, and they became a hit with the Samoan people. By 2007, Samoans were eating more than 44 pounds of turkey tails each year.
Turkey tail cooking tips
Preparing and serving turkey tails often depends on your location. A popular way to cook them is to braise them until the meat is tender and then fry them, so the outside is nice and crispy. In the southern U.S., they are often smoked and then served over steamed greens, such as spinach or collard greens. If you've never tried turkey tails, you may want to experiment with some of these traditional cooking methods.
- Marinate them for more flavor: A great way to cook turkey tails is to marinate them first. Make cuts into the thickest part of the tail on both sides. Start a pot of boiling salted water and simmer the tails until they are tender. Take them out and let them cool. For the marinade, you can use a store-bought variety or make one of your own. Marinate the turkey tails overnight in the refrigerator and then simply reheat them.
- Add smoked turkey tails to greens: Many people, especially in the southern U.S., use smoked turkey tails as they would bacon or ham hocks by adding them to their chopped greens of choice. Boil a pot of water with chopped onions, garlic, or any other seasoning you like. Stew the turkey tails in boiling water for about an hour. Once the tails are cooked, add your chopped greens and cook for another hour.
- Roast the turkey tails: Season the tails with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning and roast them in the oven for an hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook them in the slow cooker: Because turkey tails have a lot of fat and water, a great way to cook them is to use the slow cooker. Season the tails with salt, pepper, liquid smoke, and hot sauce. Broil or fry them until they are crispy. Place them in the slow cooker on low until they fall apart, which typically takes about two hours.
Turkey Tail Near Me
Buy your favorite Turkey Tail online with Instacart. Order Turkey Tail from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about turkey tails
Turkey tails were never that popular in the U.S., but they are slowly making a comeback. You can now find them at butcher markets, grocery stores, and specialty stores. Typically, they're available smoked, but if you don't want to purchase smoked turkey tails, you can ask your local butcher if they have non-smoked ones available.
There is one important tip you should know before you even begin cooking with turkey tails. You'll want to remove the oil gland that the turkeys use for grooming themselves. If it's not already removed, be sure to cut it off before cooking.
A few other things to consider to add flavor to your turkey tails before cooking includes:
- Rinsing the tails and patting them dry.
- Adding your choice of seasonings such as salt, pepper, and a variety of herbs and spices.
- Smothering them with your choice of dressing or your favorite barbecue sauce.
While turkey tails are a great source of protein, they have a high saturated fat level. If you consume food with large amounts of saturated fat, this could raise the "bad" LDL cholesterol in your blood. A diet high in saturated fat also increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
When you want to try a new recipe using turkey tails, let an Instacart shopper purchase them for you. In as little as 2 hours, you can have turkey tails waiting for you at your front door! Simply open your Instacart app, add them to your cart, complete your purchase, and choose your delivery time. It really is that easy! Instacart helps you save both time and money by having your groceries delivered right to your home.