How to Buy a Thanksgiving Turkey

Roasted turkey is the center focus of the Thanksgiving meal. It gets its popularity from the first Thanksgiving dinner held in 1621, which included turkey, duck, venison, corn, and pumpkin. This year, just before Thanksgiving, grocery stores and butcher shops will stock up on fresh and frozen whole turkeys, turkey breasts and parts for eager shoppers in search of the perfect bird. To help you decide on which turkey to buy for your Thanksgiving dinner, consider these tips.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Purchase a fresh turkey instead of a frozen one. Contact a butcher shop or go to a whole foods market to find the best bird. A fresh turkey has never been frozen and should be purchased as close to Thanksgiving Day as possible. Plan to cook it within two to three days of purchase. Do not freeze a fresh turkey. Instead, store it in the coldest part of your refrigerator until you are ready to cook it.

2. Plan to buy a turkey of sufficient size to serve your guests. Allow one to one and one-half pounds of meat per person. For example, if you are expecting to serve 10 people, then you will need a turkey that weighs 10 to 15 pounds. Add another serving or two if you want leftovers.

3. Watch for sales on turkeys at local supermarkets. The closer you get to Thanksgiving Day, the less you will pay per pound for a turkey.

4. The majority of turkeys sold at Thanksgiving are frozen. Check the relative freshness of the bird by looking at the date on the label to determine how long it has been frozen and to see how close you are to the "sell by" date.

5. Find a turkey that appeals to you. Consider the advantages of buying a Tom turkey over a hen, or a young turkey. In any event, if the bird is fresh, has sufficient weight, fits your Thanksgiving budget, and looks good to boot; then choose it!

Resources

• Simple Solutions for Family & Home

[sneedc]

on 12/18/2008 Crucial tips for serving turkey: whether fresh or frozen. Thank you!

[kkolode]

on 11/14/2008 Yum. Awesome picture. Thanks for the tips!

[kathrynlkovacs]

on 11/3/2008 I like the idea of buying a fresh turkey. It is so hard to defrost a frozen turkey. Here in Florida, I shop at Publix or Petty's Meats. You can call the stores ahead of time and they will hold a turkey for you. This is nice because you can wait until the last minute to pick up your turkey. Once you buy a fresh turkey you will never buy frozen again. Great information just in time for the Holidays. :)

[Alisiane]

on 11/2/2008 I can't believe it's already November and already time to be thinking about this! Good tips for someone working on their first (or fortieth!) turkey :-)

[iamageniuster]

on 10/26/2008 Awesome idea. Thanks. 5 stars!