Enjoy this product 3-5 days after delivery or freeze upon arrival, and use within the year.
This product ships deep chilled to arrive fresh in a biodegradable liner. Arrival temperature of bird will vary depending on your location, & turkey may feel hard upon arrival – this indicates it is still deeply chilled.
That suggested roasting times may vary. If the turkey is unstuffed, decrease the roasting times listed above by approximately 30 minutes.
To remove the truss just lift the ring and pull it up and over the end of the drumstick. To secure the truss, hold the drumsticks together, lift the ring and pull it over the drumsticks. The nylon truss is oven and microwave safe and can withstand oven temperatures of up to 450º F.
Preheat oven to 325º F. Remove soft oven ready turkey from the bag. After removing the neck and giblets from the body cavities rinse the bird with cold water. Pat turkey dry with a paper towel. If you choose to stuff your bird this would be the time to do so.
The holidays are a time for gathering with friends and family and enjoying delicious meals together For many, a roasted turkey is the centerpiece of holiday feasts like Thanksgiving and Christmas But not all turkeys are created equal. Organic, free-range turkeys offer superior flavor and quality compared to conventionally raised birds. If you want the juiciest, most flavorful turkey on your table this holiday season, buying an organic turkey is the way to go.
In this article, I’ll explain what makes organic turkeys different, where you can find high-quality organic turkeys for your feast, and share some tips for selecting the perfect organic turkey for your next holiday meal.
What Makes Organic Turkey Different?
Organic turkeys are raised under strict USDA-certified organic standards. This means:
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They are fed only organic, GMO-free vegetarian feed without any animal by-products. Conventionally raised turkeys may be fed antibiotics and animal by-products to boost growth.
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They have access to the outdoors and fresh air. Many conventional turkeys are raised crowded indoors in factory farm environments their whole lives.
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Organic turkeys are raised without antibiotics, added hormones, or other drugs. This helps produce a leaner, healthier bird.
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Organic standards require turkeys have room to engage in natural behaviors like perching, dust bathing, and foraging for food. This produces a more active, muscular turkey with great texture and flavor.
Because of their superior feed and humane living conditions, organic turkeys tend to be more flavorful with a firm, dense texture. By choosing organic, you can serve a holiday turkey you can feel good about.
Where to Buy Organic Turkey
You have several excellent options for purchasing a delicious, humanely-raised organic turkey:
1. Direct from an Organic Turkey Farm
Buying direct from a local organic turkey farm, like Mary’s Free Range Organic Turkeys, will provide you with the freshest, highest-quality organic turkey available. Though pricier than a grocery store turkey, you’ll be supporting a small family farm and getting a unique heritage or heirloom breed bird with incredible flavor.
Mary’s Turkeys offers organic and heritage turkeys available to ship nationwide from their California farm. Their birds are allowed to roam freely and grow naturally on a GMO-free organic diet. Mary’s has been raising premium turkeys since 1954 and offers 8 organic turkey options perfect for holiday feasting.
2. Your Local Specialty Health Food Store
Many smaller health food stores and co-ops partner with regional organic turkey farms to provide fresh birds for the holidays. Check with your local specialty grocer to see if they offer preorders of local organic turkeys. This is often the most affordable route to buying organic and supports your community.
3. Whole Foods Market
For those without access to a local organic farm, Whole Foods Market carries an excellent selection of high-quality organic and free-range turkeys. They partner with family farms across the U.S. to offer organic turkeys in a variety of sizes to feed any holiday gathering.
Whole Foods’ store brand organic turkeys are raised on an all-vegetarian diet with no animal by-products. Their turkeys meet Global Animal Partnership standards for humane raising and handling. Whole Foods turkeys are flash frozen at the peak of freshness after air-chilling to preserve juiciness and flavor.
4. Online Retailers Like Organic Prairie
For convenience, you can order an organic turkey online from retailers like Organic Prairie and have it shipped frozen right to your door. Online ordering makes finding an organic turkey for the holidays easy. Just make sure to factor in ample shipping time and have a plan to thaw your frozen turkey safely.
Organic Prairie offers USDA certified organic turkeys in multiple size options from 10-24 pounds. Their turkeys are raised on family farms in Wisconsin using organic practices. Online ordering lets you skip the grocery store crowds.
Tips for Picking the Perfect Organic Turkey
Once you’ve selected a reputable source for your premium organic turkey, keep these tips in mind to choose the ideal bird for your holiday feast:
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Allow 1 pound of turkey per person when estimating the size needed for your gathering. It’s better to have leftovers than not enough.
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Make sure your fridge or freezer has enough room to thaw larger birds safely. Thawing can take several days.
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Smaller 8-12 pound organic turkeys are best for smaller gatherings of 4-8 people.
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For a crowd, choose a 15-18 pound turkey. Birds over 18 pounds are difficult to cook evenly.
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Heirloom breed turkeys have more dark meat and rich flavor. They have a slightly longer cook time than commercial broad-breasted turkeys.
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Estimate 1.5-2 hours cook time per pound for a moist, perfectly cooked organic turkey.
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Brining your turkey for 12-24 hours before cooking helps ensure a flavorful, tender bird.
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Roasting your turkey at a high temperature for 30-40 minutes at the end will crisp the skin beautifully.
Give Your Holiday Feast an Organic Upgrade
Skip the mystery meat conventional turkey this holiday season and treat your guests to a premium organic turkey they won’t soon forget. The small splurge for organic is well worth it for the memorable meals and flavors these humanely raised birds offer.
By choosing organic, not only will you serve a tasty, high-quality turkey, you’ll also support sustainable family farms and humane practices. With so many excellent options for purchasing organic turkeys from reputable sources, it’s easy to upgrade your holiday spread. Here’s to memorable feasts this holiday season with the best organic turkey!
Family Recipe: Simple Rub
Rub the exterior of turkey with a blend of your favorite herbs and spices or with a paste made of the following ingredients:
4 Tbsp oil, (melted butter, margarine, olive oil, etc.) 4 tsp. salt, or to taste 2 tsp. paprika
Place the turkey in an open roasting pan, breast side up. Cover the bottom of the pan with approximately 2 cups water or broth. Place your beautiful turkey in the oven.
Use a 325º F oven. We would encourage you to check the internal temperature throughout the roasting time to be careful not to over-roast. The internal temperature typically increases more rapidly during the last half of roasting.
There is no need to turn the bird while roasting as it will brown to a rich, golden color. A foil tent can be placed loosely over the turkey during the last hour of roasting to prevent over browning. For truly marvelous gravy, heat (do not boil) 1 cup white wine. Pour this over your turkey halfway through the roasting time. When the turkey reaches the desired internal temperature, remove from the oven. Cover and let stand for at least 15 minute before carving.
How To Shop For Beef, Chicken, Pork, & Turkey At The Grocery Store
FAQ
Is it worth it to get an organic turkey?
Can you get organic turkey?
Does turkey meat need to be organic?
Are our turkeys organic?
They’re fed only 100% certified organic feed. The birds are raised according to the strictest organic production and humane treatment standards. A holiday favorite praised for being tender, juicy and delicious, our organic whole turkeys have an unparalleled farm-fresh flavor.
Where are certified organic turkeys raised?
Our certified organic turkeys are raised in the Midwest, on a 5 generation family farm. They’re fed only 100% certified organic feed. The birds are raised according to the strictest organic production and humane treatment standards.
Why should you buy certified organic turkeys?
If you want a bird that satisfies your hunger and your conscience, then you’ve found your match. Our Certified Organic Turkeys are raised the way nature intended—slowly—with an all-vegetarian feed blend, giving its full, hearty flavor time to develop. It’s the way turkey ought to taste (which is to say not like any turkey you’ve ever tasted).