We have bravely decided to host Thanksgiving at our new house this year. I am still in need of going to go get a turkey. A friend suggested getting a fresh turkey as opposed to a frozen.
What are your thoughts? Where would be a good place to get a fresh turkey that's not expensive? I'm looking at getting two smaller birds since it'll fit into my oven better (plus less cook time).
Thanks for your help!
I've used both fresh (ordered from my butcher shop) and frozen (my local Market Steet) and the one we prefer overall is frozen Butterball.
I really don't think it matters if it is fresh or frozen. It is how you cook it!
Either one when brined and roasted or smoked well, will be delicious.
We actually had a turkey cook off one year..no one could tell the difference.both were tender and delicious..
It has to be defrosted for a few days, so do not purchase it the day before and think it will be ready to roast on Thursday.
At a grocery store. They have fresh and frozen.
fresh or frozen doesn't matter. A "good" price for a turkey is about $1.49/lb (and you can get even better deals than that) but also many places ALOT worse!
Just defrost it, and maybe try brining it before you cook it! Stay simple. Enjoy!
My parents usually spend a lot of money on their turkey but I made a frozen Butterball last year for ourselves and it was delicious! I sprinkled salt on it and let it hang out for a few days in the fridge before baking (after defrosting of course). Right now, A&P is running a promotion where it is 79 cents a lb!
We pre-ordered our fresh turkey (we are smoking the turkey and the fresh ones do better ~ if we were oven cooking we would have just gotten a frozen butterball, but they don't smoke up well) from the local grocery store we do the majority of our grocery shopping at. Just go talk to someone in the meat department.
I get the cheapest frozen turkey I can find. Last year I got it at Wal-Mart for $0.49 a lbs. Often, they have them for $0.20 a lb, but I didn't get there in time. 24 hours before I cook it, I brine it in salt water. I use course kosher salt. Rinse the turkey before you cook it. Cover it in butter. I use at least a stick of butter for a 12lb turkey, sprinkle seasoning on it, and cover in chicken broth. I get rave reviews about my turkey.
Fresh, frozen, ordered from a restaurant... Who really cares? I would just love that you decided to hostess and invite folk over!
Any chance of getting one from a friend who's boss gives them out at holiday time? Many birds go homeless in freezers all year long. :(
We're very fortunate that there's a turkey farm nearby. For years, I've pre-order a fresh turkey and it's the best EVER. Recently, we defrosted & roasted a turkey my husband had been given at work. It was funny how we both noticed a more chemical taste to the bird (due to preservatives, I'm assuming?). It was free. We ate it. It was fine. But it was nowhere near as tasty as the local farm birds.
If there isn't a poultry farm near you, call your supermarket's meat department and just order a fresh one from them.
I'm with everyone else, doesn't really matter whether fresh or frozen, more how you cook it. My mom always bought fresh but she always cooked it way too long and it ended up dry and chewy. lol I'd go for price, most right now are around 1.59 lb. I'll probably buy mine at Kroger or Target depending on the sales. Not sure if you have one in Garland, but Sprouts has theirs on sale too. The last 3 years we used Alton Browns Brine recipe and let me tell you, the BEST turkey I have ever had! Good luck!
Instead of fresh or frozen, have you thought about a Greenberg smoked turkey? I have no idea if it is too late to order them for Thanksgiving or not. They are smoked and ready to serve.
-L.
In Costco - oven roasted turkey breast :)
