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Over 95% of Americans eat turkey as the main course of their Thanksgiving dinner. That's a lot of turkey! So how do you choose the right one for you and your guests to enjoy? There are actually a number of considerations to make when selecting your turkey.
Size. This is one of the most important things to consider when you are choosing your turkey. You don't want one that weighs too much, but you also don't want one that is too small, leaving your family hungry. Generally speaking, you want to factor in about 3/4 of a pound of meat for each guest. To figure out the weight of the turkey you need to buy, simply multiply the number of guests times .75. You might also want to buy a turkey that is slightly bigger than your required weight. Some people might eat more than 3/4 of a pound of turkey, and you might also want leftovers to enjoy.
Grade. While all turkeys in the store are USDA approved, you really want to buy a Grade A turkey. Like eggs, A signifies the very highest quality.
Refrigerated versus frozen. You can purchase turkey both refrigerated and frozen. While both are good, they each have their own specific benefits. A refrigerated turkey tends to be a little more moist and juicy than a frozen one, and it also does not have to thaw for three days, because it is essentially already thawed out. A frozen turkey can be purchased and stored further in advance, and tends to taste a little bit fresher. This is because most stores receive their supply of Thanksgiving turkeys a full two weeks before Thanksgiving.
Pre Basted versus Un Basted. A Pre basted turkey has been injected with a sodium solution to plump it up a little bit and make it juicer. This solution could be a broth, a stock, or a flavor enhancer. A pre basted turkey is USDA required to tell you on the packaging what it has been injected with.
Pre Stuffed versus Un Stuffed. Some turkeys can be purchased pre stuffed, but I do not recommend doing this. This is primarily because home made stuffing tastes far better, and also because pre stuffed turkeys can be a breeding ground for bacteria while baking.
Size. This is one of the most important things to consider when you are choosing your turkey. You don't want one that weighs too much, but you also don't want one that is too small, leaving your family hungry. Generally speaking, you want to factor in about 3/4 of a pound of meat for each guest. To figure out the weight of the turkey you need to buy, simply multiply the number of guests times .75. You might also want to buy a turkey that is slightly bigger than your required weight. Some people might eat more than 3/4 of a pound of turkey, and you might also want leftovers to enjoy.
Grade. While all turkeys in the store are USDA approved, you really want to buy a Grade A turkey. Like eggs, A signifies the very highest quality.
Refrigerated versus frozen. You can purchase turkey both refrigerated and frozen. While both are good, they each have their own specific benefits. A refrigerated turkey tends to be a little more moist and juicy than a frozen one, and it also does not have to thaw for three days, because it is essentially already thawed out. A frozen turkey can be purchased and stored further in advance, and tends to taste a little bit fresher. This is because most stores receive their supply of Thanksgiving turkeys a full two weeks before Thanksgiving.
Pre Basted versus Un Basted. A Pre basted turkey has been injected with a sodium solution to plump it up a little bit and make it juicer. This solution could be a broth, a stock, or a flavor enhancer. A pre basted turkey is USDA required to tell you on the packaging what it has been injected with.
Pre Stuffed versus Un Stuffed. Some turkeys can be purchased pre stuffed, but I do not recommend doing this. This is primarily because home made stuffing tastes far better, and also because pre stuffed turkeys can be a breeding ground for bacteria while baking.
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