Where to Buy Turkey Wings: The Best Places to Shop for Delicious, Juicy Wings

Turkey wings make for a tasty, budget-friendly meal. Their rich flavor and juicy meat make them perfect for braising frying or grilling. But finding high quality turkey wings can require some searching. Where are the best places to buy turkey wings? From grocery stores to butchers to online mail order, you have options when sourcing these flavorful poultry parts.

Check Your Local Grocery Store Deli

Your neighborhood supermarket is a convenient option for picking up turkey wings. Most grocery store deli sections will carry vacuum-sealed packages of raw turkey wings.

Brands like Tyson, Perdue and Jennie-O are commonly stocked. Try to avoid pre-seasoned wings to control sodium and flavors. Look for plump, meaty wings without much excess skin or fat.

Inspect the use-by date and pick the freshest package furthest from expiration. The wings should not have any slimy texture or foul odor. When stored properly in the refrigerator, fresh wings will keep 5-7 days uncooked.

While convenient, grocery store wings vary in size, quality and freshness. Shop early to avoid picked-over packages with all small wings. The deli counter will have the freshest supply.

Check the Frozen Section Too

If the deli is out of wings, check the frozen foods aisle. Frozen wings are often more consistently sized versus deli packages. Brands like Perdue, Tyson and Walmart stock frozen bags of turkey wings.

Frozen wings stay fresh 6-9 months in the freezer. Thaw wings in the refrigerator 1-2 days before cooking. Avoid thawing at room temperature which allows bacteria to grow.

While frozen wings are acceptable for cooking, they won’t be as juicy or flavorful as fresh never-frozen wings. Use frozen only if you can’t source fresher wings.

Ask Your Local Butcher

For the best quality wings, check with a local butcher shop or meat market. Their turkey wings will be fresher than the grocery store.

At the butcher you can personally inspect wings for plumpness and freshness. You can request wings sliced to your desired thickness. Freshness is key for juicy, robust turkey wing flavor.

The downside is butcher shops tend to have pricier wings than the grocery store. You may have to buy larger bulk packages. But the quality difference in truly fresh wings is noticeable.

Order Online for Convenience

Online retailers offer the convenience of turkey wings delivered direct. Brands like D’Artagnan, Porter Road and Holy Grail Steak Co. ship premium wings overnight on ice.

Online wings cost more than the grocery store but the quality is superb. You can order exactly how many wings you need with no waste. Delivery is fast, often in 1-2 days.

Check the company’s sourcing and ratings before ordering. Make sure they quick-freeze wings after harvesting for freshness. Price out added shipping costs before purchasing.

Shop at Specialty Markets

If you have access to specialty food markets like Whole Foods, Central Market or Trader Joe’s, check their meat counters for turkey wings. These retailers often have higher quality poultry than standard grocers.

You’ll pay a premium price tag, but the wings will likely be superior. They source from smaller regional providers versus mass-market brands. Don’t expect budget prices, but the wings may impress you.

Ask when they get deliveries in and shop on those days. Look for plump, evenly sized wings without blemishes or tears. Pass on shriveled wings that indicate dryness.

Can You Buy Direct from a Turkey Farm?

Buying direct from a local turkey farm is ideal for truly fresh wings. A few family farms sell quality wings direct to consumers in season.

Bowman and Landes in Ohio offers fresh or frozen wings shipped nationwide from their farm. The minimum is 15 pounds, so this works best for large groups or meal prepping. Expect to pay premium prices, but the just-harvested wings will be worth it.

Check around farmer’s markets as some vendors may carry local turkey wings. You can also order whole pasture-raised turkeys online and butcher them yourself. This takes work but yields the highest quality.

Choosing the Freshest, Best Quality Turkey Wings

Whatever your source, look for plump, meaty wings with smooth skin and no blemishes or tears. They should have a fresh, mild smell with no unpleasant odor.

Avoid shriveled wings with dry, dull skin indicating freezer burn and age. Be wary of low prices on old, poor quality wings. With fresh, high quality wings, you’ll have juicy, richly flavored results using your preferred cooking method.