Where does dark turkey meat come from?-Know more

Turkey, belonging to the genus Meleagris is a large bird native to North America. They have two species – the wild turkey, also known as Meleagris gallopavo, which originated from central and eastern North America, and the ocellated turkey, also known as Meleagris ocellata, which comes from the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Turkey meat is the most popular dish for Americans, especially on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now let us see what dark turkey meat is and where they strictly come from. Let’s read Where does dark turkey meat come from?

Where does dark turkey meat come from?

People mostly eat domestic turkeys rather than wild turkeys. Farm-raised turkeys are selectively grown more significant for their meat. Unlike white meat, which includes breast meat and wing muscles, dark meat comes from the thighs and legs. Turkeys spend most of their time walking and running. So, their legs and muscles need more oxygen for sustained activity. Like hemoglobin, myoglobin is an iron-containing protein that delivers oxygen to their leg and thigh muscles. Hence, the meat from these thighs and legs is dark in color due to the rich iron content in the myoglobin protein.

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Health Benefits of dark turkey meat vs. white turkey meat

Dark meat is considered more nutritious than white meat. Let us compare the health benefits of dark meat and white meat.

Dark turkey meat

  • It is full of micronutrients that help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
  • It acts as a good source of iron and is the most efficient food in reducing iron deficiency in our bodies.

White turkey meat

  • It is lower in fats, calories, and cholesterol.
  • It contains less saturated fat than dark meat, thus reducing the risks of heart diseases.
  • It is often considered healthier of its lower fat content.

Origin of turkey

Turkeys are indigenous to the Americas. Initially, the Europeans imported them from Turkey, where they got their name. Before the 20th century, pork ribs were considered the most common dish, but once Turkeys became abundant, Americans ate them throughout the year. Around 10 BC – 10 AD. Aztecs domesticated and ate turkey. They were known to stage a turkey festival every 200 days where they daily traded around 900 – 1000 birds in the markets. Turkey spread from Spain to France and Italy, but Americans eat turkey more than Europeans in today’s world.

Processing of dark turkey meat

The majority of turkey meat is processed. It can be smoked or roasted. A roasted whole turkey is the most popular dish of Americans on Thanksgiving. Let us look at the process of how turkey meat is processed.

Step 1: Tens of thousands of turkey eggs are incubated inside a modern turkey incubator at a time.

Step 2: Then they are vaccinated, and the healthy ones are chosen.

Step 3: Next up, they are taken to the farm, fed with a pre-prepared substrate. The farm is equipped with a ventilation fan and adjustable temperature control system. They are raised in 6-7 months.

Step 4: Then, they are prepared to harvest and process as they grow up. There they undergo many inspections and various stages in the factories where they are gradually cleaned and processed into turkey meat.

Turkeys are sold as a whole with heads, feet, and feathers removed. Turkey meat is also available in sliced and ground form. You can get the dark meat and the white meat separately when sliced. Many people prefer to have dark meat instead of white one. Hence, they can go for the sliced dark turkey meat, which includes the legs and the thighs. 

Factories producing turkey meat

Here is a list of some companies producing turkey meat in The United States.

1. Butterball, LLC

2. Cooper Farms

3. Dakota Provisions

4. Cargill Value Added Meats

5. Foster Farms

6. Farbest Foods, Inc.

7. Hain Pure Protein Corp.

8. Jennie-O- Turkey Store

9. House Of Raeford Farms, Inc.

10. Jaindl Turkey Sales, Inc.

11. Koch’s Turkey Farm

12. Norbest, Inc.

13. Kraft Foods, Inc.

14. Northern Pride Turkey

15. Prestage Farms

Conclusion

Although wild turkeys and domesticated turkeys belong to the same species, they have different tastes from farm-raised turkeys. Most of their meat is dark in color, which gives a strong flavor. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which one is healthier, dark turkey meat or white turkey meat?

Dark meat has more calories and saturated fats than white meat. However, the protein content in dark meat is slightly lower than white meat. Also, both of them contain a lot of essential vitamins and minerals. So, it depends on what types of nutrients you want in your diet. But, if you are suffering from iron deficiency, then dark turkey meat would be a healthier option.

How is dark turkey meat different from white turkey meat?

The primary difference lies in color. It is due to the presence of myoglobin protein in the legs and thighs of turkey. A protein named myoglobin supplies oxygen to the turkey’s leg and thigh muscles. It is rich in iron and hence the dark color. 

Can dark turkey meat prevent heart diseases?

Studies show that dark meat can reduce the risks of heart attacks, especially in women having high cholesterol.

Where does dark turkey meat come from?-Know more

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