When to Buy Your Thanksgiving Turkey for the Best Quality Meal

Thanksgiving is approaching fast, which means it’s time to start planning your holiday meal. The centerpiece of any Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey. Buying your turkey at the right time is crucial to ensuring you have a high quality, delicious bird to serve on Thanksgiving day. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about when to purchase your Thanksgiving turkey.

Should You Buy a Fresh or Frozen Turkey?

The first decision you need to make is whether to buy a fresh or frozen turkey. Both have their pros and cons.

Frozen turkeys can be purchased well in advance of Thanksgiving. As long as you have ample freezer space, you can buy a frozen turkey weeks or even months before Thanksgiving. Frozen turkeys will keep for up to two years in the freezer as long as they stay frozen solid. Just make sure to allot enough time to safely thaw your turkey before cooking. Plan for about 24 hours of thawing in the refrigerator for every 4-5 pounds of turkey.

The benefit of fresh turkeys is that there is no thawing necessary before cooking. However, because they are unfrozen, fresh turkeys have a much shorter shelf life. Fresh turkeys should be cooked within 1-2 days of purchasing for best quality.

When to Buy a Frozen Turkey

If going the frozen route feel free to purchase your frozen turkey 4-6 weeks in advance of Thanksgiving. Turkeys bought in early/mid-November will still taste great on Thanksgiving as long as properly thawed. Buying frozen early allows ample time to find the best price and ensure availability.

If short on freezer space, you can buy a frozen turkey a few days before Thanksgiving Allow 24 hours of thawing time in the refrigerator for every 4-5 pounds. Just be aware, leaving it this late allows less time to find the right turkey

When to Buy a Fresh Turkey

Fresh turkeys should be purchased only 1-2 days before cooking. Any longer and quality can suffer. For the best flavor and texture, only buy fresh birds right before Thanksgiving.

Some grocery stores allow you to pre-order and reserve fresh turkeys for pickup closer to Thanksgiving. This helps ensure you get the right size bird but still maintain freshness.

Where to Buy Your Turkey

You can buy turkeys from grocery stores, butcher shops, specialty food stores, or direct from farms. Here are some turkey buying options:

• Grocery store – Most convenient option. Good availability of frozen turkeys. More limited on fresh turkey selection.

• Butcher shop – Great fresh turkey availability. Can sometimes pre-order birds. More expensive.

• Specialty food stores – Wide selection of premium bird options like heritage breeds. Order early for best selection.

• Direct from farm – Pasture-raised heritage breeds. Ultra fresh but need to order well ahead.

• Mail order – Buy turkeys online from farms and ship to your door. Check order deadlines.

How to Store Your Turkey Properly

Proper storage preserves freshness and quality. Here are turkey storage guidelines:

Storing Frozen Turkey

• Keep frozen at 0°F until ready to thaw
• Can keep frozen for up to 2 years (for quality, cook within 1 year)
• Place on tray or pan when thawing to catch juices

Storing Fresh Turkey

• Keep fresh turkey refrigerated at 40°F or below
• Cook within 1-2 days of purchasing
• Place on tray or pan to catch juices
• Don’t let juices touch other foods

Frequently Asked Turkey Buying Questions

When should I order a turkey for Thanksgiving?

If ordering a mail-order turkey, order 4-6 weeks before Thanksgiving. This allows ample shipping time.

Is it cheaper to buy a turkey before or after Thanksgiving?

Pricing varies by retailer. Check both pre-Thanksgiving sales and post-holiday sales for best deals.

What if my turkey is still partially frozen on Thanksgiving?

See our tips for cooking a partially frozen turkey safely.

How much turkey do I need to buy per person?

Plan on purchasing 1-1.5 pounds of turkey per person. Our turkey calculator helps with portions.

The Takeaway

Allow enough time when buying your Thanksgiving turkey to ensure optimal freshness, flavor, and food safety. Follow these guidelines:

• Buy frozen turkeys 4-6 weeks ahead or fresh turkeys 1-2 days before cooking.

• Store frozen turkeys at 0°F until thawing; store fresh turkeys at 40°F.

• Shop early for best selection and pricing.

• Order mail-order turkeys 4-6 weeks ahead to allow shipping time.

Follow proper purchasing and storage times, and your Thanksgiving turkey will be a delicious highlight of your holiday meal!