© 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. When To Buy a Frozen Or Fresh Thanksgiving Turkey + 4 More Prep Questions Answered, Butcher and author of "The Everyday Meat Guide," Ray Venezia, store it on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator, WHAT SIZE THANKSGIVING TURKEY SHOULD I BUY. A turkey will only be considered as “fresh” if the bird hasn’t been chilled below a temperature of 26°F. The preordering is important, as there is only so much supply to go around. Turns out, there are pros and cons to both, so it’s more a matter of what works best for your situation. Turkeys chilled at 0°F must be labeled “frozen.”. Always check vacuum-packed turkeys before buying by running your hand along the underside seam to check for air pockets. Therefore anything less than that must be labeled as “previously frozen.” However, if it is stored at 0°F then it has to be labeled as fully “frozen.”. As for how big of a bird to buy for your guests, the USDA recommends buying 1 pound of turkey for every person at dinner. To figure this out, stick a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the turkey: the thigh. Turkeys run in two-pound increments, Ray says, so for 10 people you'd want a 16-18 pound turkey. If the seal is tight against the back of the turkey, you should be good to go, Ray says. With the recent emphasis on healthy foods, many people have switched to fresh. A: CHECK THE VACUUM SEAL, The turkeys are all going to be vacuum sealed, so you want to make sure you choose one with a seal that's nice and tight. A: IN THE FRIDGE, 24 HOURS PER 5 POUNDS. When purchasing the turkey, it’s best to get one from a local butcher or small family farm instead of a chain grocery store. When it comes to thawing your Thanksgiving turkey, there are two ways to do it, according to Ray. Q: HOW DO I CHOOSE A GOOD TURKEY? Who it comes to buying frozen birds, flash-frozen is what is recommended because it helps to preserve quality and flavor. If you’re freezing your turkey way ahead of Thanksgiving, then it’s best to keep your freezer at the ideal temperature of 0°F. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means if you haven't already, it's time to decide whether you want to buy a frozen or fresh turkey this year. Are you a fresh or frozen turkey person? • Fresh turkey is more juicier and tastier than frozen turkey. Butcher and author of "The Everyday Meat Guide," Ray Venezia, explains how to plan accordingly depending on your choice — from how far in advance you should buy, to how long it will take to thaw. How a Doctor Stays Healthy During Cold + Flu Season. Please support this website by adding us to the whitelist in your ad blocker. We didn't think we'd be talking about a Black Friday sale before Halloween, BUT Home Depot is kicking things off early, and we had to give you a heads up. Then, open it, clean it and you're good to go, Ray continues. So wait a little bit, let the first surge go by, then buy your frozen turkey and take it home. Hens are more flavorful and more tender than the Toms," Ray says. 20 of OUR faves from Oprah's Favorite Things 2020—including gold-dusted chocolate bars, adult painting kit, self-care must-haves + picks for pups & kids. If a turkey is stored between the 25°F – 1°F, it may or may not be labeled “previously frozen.”. ", By signing up, I agree to the Terms & to receive emails from the “Rachael Ray” show. As Thanksgiving gets closer, the great debate rages on as to which is better: fresh or frozen turkeys. These Pumpkin Spice Muffins Are Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free! A: WAIT UNTIL CLOSER TO THANKSGIVING. • Fresh turkey eats fresh and organic foods while frozen turkeys eat processed corns and growth enhanced foods. When it comes to fresh versus frozen, there is actually a little more to it due to labeling laws. Additionally, there is less likely a chance that they’ve been frozen, thawed, then refrozen somewhere along the transport process. And with frozen it would be hard for you to tell that.". Frozen Or Fresh Thanksgiving Turkey: Which Should You Buy & When? "Basically, I go a pound per person, and then six to seven pounds over that," Ray explains. A: IN THE FRIDGE, 24 HOURS PER 5 POUNDS. Once fully thawed, frozen turkeys will still take longer to cook than fresh ones. Bonus Turkey Tip: "I like to use the hens. Typically, especially nowadays, turkeys that are dubbed ‘fresh’ tend to als… However, if it is stored at 0°F then it has to be labeled as fully “frozen.”. In the refrigerator, it takes about 24 hours for every five pounds. He suggests purchasing a fresh turkey the weekend before Thanksgiving. Therefore anything less than that must be labeled as “previously frozen.”. If you want a fresh turkey, Ray says you should still buy it ahead. 5 ways to prepare for cold and flu season—what to do so you stay healthy this fall + winter, according to Dr. Ian Smith. So what do fresh turkeys have that frozen ones don’t? In the refrigerator, it takes about 24 hours for every five pounds. This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. • Fresh turkey needs to be cooked immediately to maintain its juiciness and freshness while frozen turkeys can be bought weeks before the preparation day. We rounded up 66 of the best Christmas gifts any cook, griller—or food & wine lover!—could ask for, with picks from our editors, show staff & Rach! Q: WHEN SHOULD I BUY A FROZEN THANKSGIVING TURKEY? Given this year’s COVID-19 restrictions, I think most of us won’t have to worry about any 15-pound turkeys. The difference between frozen and fresh turkeys extends to the cooking methods as well. Why do consumers think that eating a fresh turkey is healthier than eating a frozen bird? "It's an age thing — the only way they get bigger is they get older and older. And because most of them you can't see inside, you wouldn't know that it's going bad until you actually opened it.". Q: WHEN SHOULD I BUY A FRESH THANKSGIVING TURKEY? So depending on the size of your turkey, you'll need to start thawing days in advance. Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DEFROST A THANKSGIVING TURKEY? These Pumpkin Spice Muffins are gluten-free + dairy-free thanks to an almond butter-based batter. This way, you have a better idea as to how long it’s been frozen. Whether you buy a frozen turkey or a fresh turkey, it’s important to store it properly. A: 1 POUND PER PERSON + 6-7 POUNDS EXTRA. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content – thank you! What Tastes Better: A Fresh Or A Frozen Turkey. The rule for thawing is 1 day of defrosting for every 5 pounds of turkey. When it comes to thawing your Thanksgiving turkey, there are two ways to do it, according to Ray. Fresh turkeys normally roast much quicker. A: THE WEEKEND BEFORE THANKSGIVING. So depending on the size of your turkey… “If fresh is an option, always choose fresh,” Aimee Ashley Myers of Ashley Farm in Flanders, New Jersey, told HuffPost. A turkey is considered “fresh” only if it has never been chilled below 26°F to assure consumers that the turkey they buy has never been frozen. "Air has gotten in, so now it's not going to hold up as long," Ray says, "which makes it tough for you because turkeys will come with a month expiration. 67 Christmas Gifts For Cooks — Or People Who Just Love Food & Wine. “You cannot beat a fresh farm-raised turkey,” she explained, noting that fresh turkey tastes better than frozen. If you’re storing a fresh turkey that doesn’t require defrosting, then you need to plan accordingly as an uncooked turkey can only last 1-2 days inside a refrigerator. Q: WHAT SIZE THANKSGIVING TURKEY SHOULD I BUY? If the bag is loose, it means the vacuum seal has cracked. A turkey will only be considered as “fresh” if the bird hasn’t been chilled below a temperature of 26°F. "Change the water every couple of hours and you'll get your turkey thawed in no time," Ray says. "Don't run to go get your frozen turkey," he says, "because every year when they start putting the frozen turkeys out, the first batch that goes out there are the ones from last year that were sitting in the store. A: IN COLD WATER, 1 HOUR PER 2 POUNDS. Recent surveys show that the competition between fresh and frozen is currently running neck and neck’ or gizzard to gizzard, so to speak. When you take a fresh turkey home, leave it in the vacuum seal and store it on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator until you're ready to use it. This prevents bacteria from getting in and keeps your meat fresher. Let us know! Refreezing causes ice crystals to form in the meat, making it tough. When unfreezing a turkey, let the bird sit in the refrigerator at a temperature of 40°F or lower. But keep in mind that your turkey will need additional time to thaw before it goes in the oven. Regardless of frozen or fresh, a turkey isn’t considered done until the meat registers a heat of 165°F. 20 Of OUR Favorite Gifts From Oprah's Favorite Things 2020. If fresh is the route that you prefer to take with your turkey, then it is recommenced that you preorder a fresh bird from your local butcher shop a few days prior to Thanksgiving. "Before it gets handled and all thrown around," he says. The best Christmas gifts for the cooks in your life, pets & pet owners, DIY gift ideas, wrapping inspiration and more. So, which do you prefer cooking with? This means keeping it inside the original plastic packaging until you’re ready to cook it. "So if I'm having 10 people, I'm looking for about a 17-pound turkey." So if your turkey weighs 10 pounds you need to let it defrost for two days. Of course, there are plenty of farmers and butchers alike that would recommend people buy fresh turkeys over frozen turkeys because fresh turkeys will hold their moisture better which means you will get more flavor when you cook it. If you want a quicker way, thawing a turkey in cold water takes about one hour for every two pounds. Q: HOW DO YOU QUICK THAW A THANKSGIVING TURKEY? Home Depot's Black Friday Deals Are Here Early: Get The Scoop! Frozen turkeys can be bought in advance too, of course, but Ray says you actually don't want to purchase a frozen turkey too early.