The Thanksgiving holiday is synonymous with turkey. In fact, an estimated 46 million turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving in the U.S. alone. But with such high demand, you may wonder – does turkey go on sale after Thanksgiving?
The short answer is – sometimes, Let’s take a closer look at turkey prices and availability after the holiday
Why Do Turkey Prices Drop After Thanksgiving?
It may seem counterintuitive that turkey prices fall after the peak demand on Thanksgiving. But there are a few key reasons:
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Excess supply – Farmers ramp up turkey production for the Thanksgiving rush. Once the holiday passes, there is excess supply that farms and grocers want to sell off.
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Limited shelf life – Fresh turkeys have a shorter shelf life than frozen ones Stores discount fresh turkeys to sell them while they’re still good
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Christmas turkeys – Customers buy more turkey for Christmas dinner too. Stores want to clear out Thanksgiving turkeys to restock for the next holiday.
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Loss leader product – Some stores use turkeys as a loss leader, selling them below cost to lure shoppers and make profits on other items.
What Type of Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Deals Exist?
The availability and discounts on turkeys vary depending on whether you’re looking for a fresh or frozen bird.
Fresh Turkeys
Fresh turkeys often see steep discounts after Thanksgiving because of their shorter shelf life. Look for sales like:
- BOGO free fresh turkeys
- Fresh turkeys for as low as $0.49/lb
- Fresh turkey breast discounts
However, options dwindle quickly. Grab discounted fresh turkeys right after Thanksgiving or you’ll miss out!
Frozen Turkeys
Frozen turkeys hold their quality longer, so discounts aren’t as deep. But you may find:
- Smaller frozen turkeys 10-15% off
- Savings on turkey crowns and boneless turkey breasts
- Buy one get one half off frozen turkeys
- Frozen turkeys discounted $5-$15 overall
Check the freezer section for deals in the weeks following Thanksgiving.
When Are the Best Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Deals?
The best turkey deals are found on Black Friday and the weekend directly after Thanksgiving. Here’s an overview:
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Black Friday – Look for loss leader fresh turkey deals and doorbuster savings on frozen birds.
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Saturday – Fresh turkey discounts continue. Grocers may offer new frozen turkey promotions.
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Sunday – The last day for fresh turkey deals. Limited quantities remain.
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Cyber Monday – Online discounts on frozen turkeys and smaller turkey products.
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Later weeks – Occasional discounts, but selection is minimal by this point. Shop early!
What About Turkey Prices Leading Up to Christmas?
Grocery stores do restock turkeys in the weeks before Christmas to meet holiday demand. However, discounts aren’t as significant.
If you have freezer space, your best bet is to buy an extra discounted turkey after Thanksgiving and save it for Christmas dinner. You’ll get the best savings!
Tips for Finding Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Deals
Here are some tips to help you snag the best turkey deals:
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Ask about holiday discounts – Check with the butcher or customer service about upcoming turkey promotions.
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Check early – Turkey deals sell out fast. Shop early in the day and week for the best selection.
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Compare stores – Check flyers from grocery chains to price compare post-Thanksgiving turkey deals.
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Consider freezer space – Have room to store a frozen turkey if the discounts are better than fresh options.
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Buy smaller turkeys – Discounts on smaller 8-12 lb turkeys are common and feed fewer guests.
Enjoy Delicious Leftover Turkey Recipes
Along with scoring a post-Thanksgiving turkey deal, you can stretch your turkey leftovers into lots of easy recipes. Some delicious ideas include:
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Turkey noodle soup
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Thanksgiving sliders or sandwiches
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Turkey casserole or pot pie
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Turkey tetrazzini
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Turkey enchiladas
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Turkey chili
With the right storage, your leftover turkey can last 3-4 months in the freezer. So get creative with the recipes!
The bottom line? With the right timing and preparation, you can absolutely find post-Thanksgiving turkey deals. Just use these tips to shop at the right time and place to save.
Falling turkey prices and rising restaurant costs may make Thanksgiving more affordable to have at home this year, experts say.
Families have many things to consider when choosing to cook a Thanksgiving meal at home or go out to restaurant. But one of the biggest factors is cost.
Turkeys are cheaper this year compared with last November, but data shows overall food costs are still high, especially when it comes to popular holiday side dishes.
“While inflation is not as extreme as last year, it is still present and grocery store prices have still been somewhat variable,” Bernt Nelson, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation, told USA TODAY in an email.
But before you go thinking that this Thanksgiving may be a good year to dine out, experts also warn that restaurant menu prices have risen even more drastically.
Here are some things to consider when choosing to cook at home or go out this Thanksgiving.
Why is Thanksgiving so expensive? As turkey prices drop, cost of some Thanksgiving side dishes go up
Turkey prices are down from last Thanksgiving
Retail prices for turkeys, the holidays main course for many Americans, have been on the decline after costs for the birds soared in 2022 amid rising inflation and a rapidly spreading avian influenza that limited production. Whats more, economists predict that prices could fall even further as Thanksgiving approaches and businesses try to lure customers with special deals.
Per-pound prices for turkey rose more than 20% in 2022 over the previous year, according to an annual Thanksgiving report from Wells Fargo.
The price increase was spurred in part by overall inflation, but experts say the main culprit was highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The outbreak that began in January 2022 infected 7 million turkeys and wiped out commercial livestock, depleting supplies for last years Thanksgiving, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Overall, average turkey prices reached as high as $1.72 a pound just as Thanksgiving approached, Nelson said. As a result, a Farm Bureau survey in 2022 found that a Thanksgiving feast for 10 cost $64.05, a 20% increase from the previous year’s average of $53.31.
Share your shopping plans: How are you feeling about this holiday shopping season?
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FAQ
Is turkey cheaper before or after Thanksgiving?
What time of year are turkeys cheapest?
What is the best day to buy turkey?
Can you buy a turkey after Thanksgiving?
Do turkeys go on sale after Thanksgiving?
The answer is some might. Fresh turkeys are more likely to go on sale because they will pass their sell by date unlike frozen ones. For years I have been talking on this blog about shopping for a turkey for Thanksgiving. But what if you want to get one after Thanksgiving? Maybe you are having your Thanksgiving late and waited to get the turkey.
Should you buy a Turkey before Thanksgiving?
Purchasing a turkey so that it has time to thaw and can be prepared before the holiday has always involved some planning and preparation. First, you’ll need to decide whether to buy a fresh or frozen turkey. While both birds are very similar taste-wise, they each have their own timeline and storage requirements leading up to the big day.
Can you buy frozen turkeys after Thanksgiving?
According to USA Today, “Retail prices for a whole-fresh turkeys dropped 9% in October compared to the same month last year.” That said, if you’re looking to save even more, you can buy frozen turkeys after Thanksgiving—and they can sometimes be on sale.
Should I buy a Turkey before or after Christmas?
I highly recommend if you have the freezer space and are doing a turkey for Christmas to is buy to ahead. You can even grab one of those clearance sales on a fresh turkey and freeze it. After Christmas, the fresh turkeys will disappear until next Thanksgiving season. I have never seen a fresh whole turkey in a store outside of the holiday season.