with the Thanksgiving Just around the corner, you could be. Creating your grocery list For a food-filled event. Of course, this includes routine. Food starthe Turkey.
As you walk the aisles of your local store, you may be going back and forth on whether to buy a fresh or frozen turkey. Although it doesn’t matter which bird you choose for Thanksgiving, there is one important difference between the two.
When you buy a turkey that’s labeled “frozen,” it means it’s been “chilled to 0 degrees Fahrenheit or less.” United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Meanwhile, a turkey with a “fresh” label “has never been chilled below 26 degrees Fahrenheit.”
The main difference between the two turkeys is when you buy them. A frozen turkey can be purchased weeks before the holiday, as long as you give it enough time to thaw. However, fresh turkeys are chilled at a higher temperature, so they should be purchased a few days before Thanksgiving.
While there is no problem with buying a frozen turkey, it can be lacking. Here’s how to know if the turkey you bought this year is perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner.
Are there benefits to buying a frozen turkey?
One of the biggest benefits of buying a frozen turkey is how long it lasts, meaning you can have it in your freezer before Thanksgiving. That way, you can spend the days leading up to the holiday shopping for other ingredients for cute side dishes.
When planning ahead, it’s important to leave plenty of time for your turkey to rot. According to USDAyou should refrigerate your turkey and let it rot for about 24 hours for every four pounds. So, if you have a 12-pound turkey, it will take three days to thaw.
Because frozen turkeys are “fed on corn and grain,” they’re “sweeter and more tender” than fresh ones, according to the company. Southern living.
In general, you’ll pay more for a fresh turkey than a frozen one. “Because fresh birds are free-range and organic, they are the most expensive to raise,” he said. Southern living Reported.
Is there anything wrong with buying a frozen turkey?
The downsides of buying a frozen turkey are based on personal preference. If you’re not excited about thawing a turkey several days before Thanksgiving, the frozen option may not be for you.
For those who want to prepare dinner closer to Thanksgiving, it may be best to buy a fresh turkey. The USDA recommends buying an unfrozen bird at least two days before Thanksgiving and storing it in your refrigerator. Once the holiday rolls around, you can pull it out of the fridge, season and fill it to your liking, and pop it in the oven on Thanksgiving Day.
Although fresh turkeys have a “harder texture” than frozen ones, they “retain more moisture, which means more flavor.” Southern living.
Is fresh turkey better than frozen?
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong decision when it comes to what type of turkey you buy. Depending on your holiday schedule and taste preferences, the option is entirely up to you.
However, one brand recently launched a frozen turkey line that anticipates the thawing principle. last month, Butterball announced the arrival of their “Kick from Frozen”. A whole turkey, which can be stored in your freezer. Instead of thawing the turkey in the fridge a few days before Thanksgiving, you can take it out that day and prepare it yourself before putting it in the oven.