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Are you confused about what type of turkey to get for Thanksgiving? Is fresh turkey moister than frozen- and what should you look for? How big a turkey should you buy? Relax! This page as the answers you need to make sure you select the right Thanksgiving turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner. Read on to learn how to pick out a Thanksgiving turkey.
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Tips
- Plan on 1 - 1 1/2 pounds of turkey for every guest
- Frozen turkeys take one day to thaw for every four pounds
- Don't rely on a pop up thermometer to indicated doneness
- Inspect the package for rips and tears before buying a turkey
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Turkey Glossary
- Fresh: Must never have been stored at lower than 26 degrees F
- Frozen: Must never have been stored at more than 0 degrees F
- Kosher: Complies with Jewish dietary laws.
- Natural: No self basting fluids
- Organic: Raised on a certified organic diet with no antibiotics
- Free range: Had access to the outdoors to graze
- Pasture raised: Exclusively raised by grazing
- Heirloom: One of several turkey breeds with a smaller breast to body ratio
- Self-basting: Injected with fluids and fats for moisture
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Fresh vs Frozen: The Tastiest Turkey
The chef in this video expresses his preference for a fresh turkey, because he does not like frozen turkeys that are injected with basting solutions. There are frozen turkeys which do not have additives, however, and he does not comment on those. He also warns you to avoid relying on the free turkeys given out as part of supermarket promotions for Thanksgiving, as he feels they may be of inferior quality.
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Introduction
You have a number of choices when you go to select a Thanksgiving turkey, whether you're purchasing a turkey at the supermarket or at a specialty store. You also have an option of selecting a fully cooked turkey, but this page will focus on what to look for if you're purchasing a fresh or a frozen bird.
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Step 1: Should You Get a Fresh or Frozen Turkey?
Many people swear by fresh turkeys, and others rely on frozen. Many "fresh" turkeys have been previously frozen. Turkeys labeled as "hard chilled" or "refrigerated" are actually turkeys that have been stored at temperatures between 0 and 26 degrees, above the 0 degrees that USDA labeled frozen turkeys are stored at, but at a temperature most people would consider frozen.- Fresh turkeys are available from supermarkets, butchers and local specialty markets. They are usually more expensive than frozen turkeys.
- Most turkeys in the U.S. purchased by consumers are frozen. Frozen turkeys are usually flash frozen to below 0 immediately after processing, and if kept at this temperature has a shelf life 12 months. http://www.norbest.com/turkey_tips.aspx?lid=326 http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/turkey_from_farm_to_table/index.asp
Step 2: How to Select a Fresh Turkey
- Make sure to check the "sell by" date on fresh turkeys to make sure it is beyond the date you will be using the turkey.
- Purchase the fresh turkey within one-to-two days of when you will be cooking it.http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/turkey_from_farm_to_table/index.asp
- If purchasing a fresh turkey from the supermarket, reserve it in advance. The ones in the case on display are constantly being sorted through, so you can't tell which have been kept well chilled on the bottom, and which may have been at the top of the stack where they may not have been kept cold.
Step 3: How to Select a Frozen Turkey
- Make sure the turkey is rock hard and solidly frozen.
- Read the label to understand what has been added to the turkey—water, oil and other substances are frequently in injected to keep turkeys moist. Frozen turkeys can have up to 3% of their weight in additives before the fact must be prominently displayed on the label.http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/turkey_from_farm_to_table/index.asp
- Check the packaging for leaks that have refrozen. Pink ice crystals means that the turkey has been thawed and refrozen, and shouldn't be used.
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