It is estimated that over 45 million turkey will be served up this Thanksgiving -that’s a lot of turkey dinners! But how do you pick out the right turkey for your family holiday meals?
Running into the grocery store and grabbing the first bird you see is tempting, there are a few points that you might want to take into consideration for your needs. From deciding whether to buy a frozen nor fresh turkey to figuring how many pounds of turkey you will need… here are a few tips to keep in minds as you head into that grocery store:
- How Big: Generally you should figure 1 pound of bone-in turkey per person, or 1&1/2 pounds per person if you want to have leftovers.
- Oven Size: If your oven is not a standard size, be sure there nis enough room for the turkey you buy and the roasting pan you plan to use.
- Frozen or Fresh: For frozen turkeys, plan for 24 hours of refrigerator thawing time for every 5 pounds of turkey, or submerge in cold water that you change every 30 minutes (calculate 30 minutes per pound). Fresh turkeys are usually available right before Thanksgiving and should be purchased within one or two days of the holiday.
- Expense: Self-basting or injected turkeys are generally the least expensive option, while heritage turkeys (breeds that were originally raised on farms before commercial meat processing plants) are the most expensive option..
