How to Pick the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey at the Grocery Store

Knowing how many people you are going to feed is key in looking for the right size of turkey. The general rule of thumb is to buy one pound of turkey for each person. You could also interpret this to mean a half pound for each child. If you are the kind of host that prefers to send your guests home with left over food feel free to increase this to two pounds per adult.

If you are going to be feeding a large party you may need to purchase two turkeys.

For my own family's Thanksgiving we prefer to typically buy a 10 to 15lb bird. We generally only feed about six. I like to have the leftovers to eat on Black Friday and over the rest of the weekend.

When choosing between purchasing a fresh or frozen turkey consider how long you will store it before cooking. With turkey's sometimes fresh can correlate to wild. If you are concerned about the origin of a turkey just ask someone in your grocer's meat department. Many people insist that a fresh turkey always tastes better than a frozen one, but some aren't used to the tastes of a wild turkey. The USDA recommends purchasing a fresh turkey only when you will be cooking it within two days. Always check the sell by date on any fresh or frozen meats you buy. Purchasing a fresh turkey is a always a risk at my local grocer. I am always afraid that if I wait to purchase a fresh they may all be gone! I may be stuck with a frozen bird that does not have enough time to thaw and prepare. When it comes to the big holiday meals for my family - I am no gambler and stick to what I know.

If you are going to be feeding a large party you may need to purchase two turkeys.

For my own family's Thanksgiving we prefer to typically buy a 10 to 15 lb bird. We generally only feed about six. I like to have the leftovers to eat on Black Friday and over the rest of the weekend.

When purchasing a frozen turkey be sure to consider the amount of time it will take to thaw. If thawing is necessary for your turkey always do so in the refrigerator or by giving the turkey an ice bath in the sink. Butterball suggests using one day of thaw time for every four pounds of bird. For thawing the turkey in an ice bath fill a sink with cold water. You will need enough cold water and some ice to cover the bird completely. Change water and ice often to keep the bird's temperature from rising above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. One half hour for every pound of turkey is a good estimation of thawing time when using an ice bath.

The last step to picking out the perfect turkey is sometimes the first for many. Dedication to brand name may be a family or local tradition. Your brand name choice may also be decided by price.

Determining whether you grill, fry or roast your turkey will also give you options on flavor and tenderness. The turkey may be the center piece of the Thanksgiving dinner, but there are still plenty of more decisions to make. Has all the stress from picking the turkey left you in the mood to cook it?

Sources: www.butterball.com
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