Fresh Whole Turkey (2024)

FAQs

What does it mean when it says fresh turkey? ›

Knowledge Article. The term fresh may ONLY be placed on raw poultry that has never been below 26° F. ( -3.3 °C) Poultry held at 0° F (-17.7°C) or below must be labeled frozen or previously frozen.

While the production of fresh turkeys is expected to be down 1.4 percent compared with November 2020, a spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that calling this a turkey shortage is an overstatement.

History of Butterball's turkey hotline

Butterball says it answers more than 100,000 questions every November and December.

Information. It takes approximately 24 hours for every four to five pounds of whole turkey to thaw in the refrigerator. Once the turkey is thawed, you can keep it in the refrigerator for one to two additional days before cooking. For more information about thawing a turkey, go to Turkey Basics: Safe Thawing.

Fresh turkeys hold their moisture better, making them more tender and flavorful than their frozen counterparts. During the freezing process, crystals form within the meat, causing fibers to break down and some of the natural flavors to escape once thawed.

Select fresh: The “fresh” label means the turkey has never been chilled below 26 F. Fresh turkeys should not be purchased until one or two days before you cook it, unless the manufacturer's tag has a “Best by” or “Use by” date that indicates the turkey will be okay on the date you plan to cook it.

Buy a fresh turkey one to two days before the day you plan to cook. If there is a 'best-by' or 'use by' date on the manufacturer's label, then you can keep fresh poultry, unopened, in the refrigerator until that date. Do not follow the 'sell by' date on the label.

Fresh turkeys will hold their moisture better than frozen turkeys, bringing out a meaty texture with deeper natural flavors. It is best to preorder a fresh turkey with your local butcher and arrange to pick it up a few days before the holiday.

Remember, though, this is for a kosher turkey, so a different standard applies. Costco usually gets its fresh, never-frozen turkeys in at the local stores around a week before Thanksgiving. And based on past years, those birds are likely to come in at a lower price point that's more on par with what other stores offer.

Storage Instructions

Storing Fresh Turkey: Fresh turkey should be refrigerated at 35° to 40°F. The lower temperature is preferred. If you are not confident about the temperature of your refrigerator, cook or freeze the turkey within 4 days of purchase.

Should you baste a Butterball turkey? ›

Butterball Cook from Frozen Premium Whole Turkeys do not need to be basted, brined or seasoned; they are ready to roast straight from the packaging and result in a tasty and tender Thanksgiving turkey.

Butterball is a brand of turkey and other poultry products produced by Butterball LLC. The company manufactures food products in the United States and internationally—specializing in turkey, cured deli meats, raw roasts and specialty products such as soups and salads, sandwiches, and entrées.

The USDA recommends using frozen turkey within the first year of storage for the best quality.

So, if the turkey weighs 12 pounds, plan for it to defrost in the fridge for about three days. If 16 pounds or more, make sure it's placed in the fridge four to five days before the holiday arrives.

multiply in the “danger zone” between 40 -140°. steps to food safety - cook, clean, chill and separate your turkey to avoid cross-contamination in your kitchen which can make people sick. be sure to cook a stuffed or unstuffed turkey to a minimum to an internal temperature of 165°.

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. Turkeys chilled at 0°F must be labeled “frozen.” If a turkey is stored between the 25°F – 1°F, it may or may not be labeled “previously frozen.”

The 'sell-by' date is used by the store and is not a storage recommendation for consumers. For longer storage, freeze a fresh turkey within one to two days of purchase or by the 'best by' date on the label. It will stay safe in the freezer indefinitely. Use within 12 months for best quality.

Look & Color. Raw turkey meat should be light pink or beige, depending on the type of meat and its fat content. The meat color becomes dull as time passes, which is normal. However, if the meat has a brown, gray or yellow or green hue, you will want to part ways with it.

Terms like "premium" and "raised without hormones" tell you little about the quality of the turkey or how it was raised. What it actually means: "Fresh" has nothing to do with the time between slaughter and sale. Instead, it means that the turkey has not been cooled to below 26 degrees Fahrenheit.