Frozen vs Fresh Turkey
Thanksgiving is coming soon and it's time to talk turkey. Some ponder the question, should I get a fresh turkey or a frozen one? Now is the time to decide. If you get a frozen turkey, you'll need to allow time for it to thaw in the refrigerator. DO NOT LEAVE the turkey out at room temperature or in hot water to thaw. Both of these methods are not safe. It allows the outer layer of the turkey to sit, and bacteria breeds in temperatures of 40°F and 140 °F. We're not serving salmonella as a side dish this year!
I tend to get a frozen turkey because it's offered for FREE (my favorite word) from my local supermarket with a rewards program. When thawing your turkey, use this as a guideline: 4-12lbs turkey needs to thaw in the refrigerator for 1-3 days. When it's thawed, the breast is tender and the wings move freely. A turkey weighing 12-16lbs will thaw 3-4 days in the refrigerator, as where a 16-20lbs needs 4-5 days. I normally get 20-24lbs and that needs 5-6 days to thaw, which will bring us to getting the frozen turkey by this Friday, November 16th. Allow yourself one day of "oops" if the turkey isn't thawed completely and give it an additional day in the refrigerator to continue thawing.
For a stress-free holiday always allow yourself a buffer time for the unexpected and keep your sense of humor. One of the requirements for making a Thanksgiving turkey is having a bottle of wine nearby. It's not used in the recipe but keeps the cook calm and productive!
If you prefer a fresh, raw, turkey, it should be stored for no longer than two days in the refrigerator. That leaves you buying fresh turkey just a few days before Thanksgiving. Unless it's pre-ordered with a butcher, this is risky since you may not get the size you need for the amount of people you're having for your feast.
Let's explore that statement, "how much per person" of turkey on Thanksgiving. I use the rule of 1-1/2lbs of turkey per person. So if I'm having 10 people for Thanksgiving, I'll purchase a minimum of a 15lb turkey. I tend to go a little more because we enjoy leftovers from the big meal. Nothing like a sandwich late at night in your pj's after the company leaves. We also send "doggies bags" home with our guests so they too can enjoy a late-night snack.
One year, we went to my sister's down the shore for Thanksgiving. We got stuck in terrible traffic on the Garden State Parking heading home. After two hours of not moving, we realized we had our "doggie bag" from my sister and ate like animals with our hands in the car. It was so much fun and we still laugh about it to this day.
Now you've had a successful Thanksgiving dinner with your family and you put the leftover turkey in the refrigerator. How long does it stay good?
If you wrap the leftovers tightly in plastic wrap and your refrigerator is set at 34-38 degrees (normal), they should last up to 3 days. I won't eat it beyond that time frame because I don't like to play food Russian roulette. You know, it might be good and I'll be fine, or it might have gone bad and the next few days I'll be living in the bathroom.
If you don't know if you're going to use it within 3 days, freeze it in a zip-top bag. My friends and family will tell you, I love my zip-top bags! I use them for everything and love to write myself notes on them: "Turkey from 11/2, was dry, needs gravy". It's all about keeping things light and having fun in the kitchen! Cooked turkey can stay in the freezer up to 6 months if sealed properly. Frostbite is never a good sign and it means air has gotten into your zip-top bag and altered the taste. It's time to throw away the turkey or refer to the paragraph above on food Russian roulette.
Welcome to STRESS-FREE THANKSGIVING 2024- we got this. Do you have a question for me? Leave it on the FB page or PM me. All is good and we're going to conquer the bird!