Frozen vs. Contemporary Turkey: Which Ought to You Purchase?

If you happen to’re studying this on the day of your feast, cease what you’re doing and go purchase a contemporary turkey! However for those who’re nonetheless making your Thanksgiving sport plan, you may be questioning if you can purchase a frozen or contemporary chook. 

Whereas contemporary turkeys provide a scrumptious method to assist an area farmer (and supply a sigh of aid for last-minute buyers), many Individuals decide to purchase frozen turkeys. It’s for good motive: They’re sometimes extra reasonably priced and could be saved in your freezer for as much as a yr earlier than your feast.

Josh Turka, a butcher and proprietor of fifth Quarter Butchery & Charcuterie in Waitsfield, Vermont, stresses that you’ll find wonderful contemporary and frozen turkeys. Whichever you select, he says, “you’re going to do your self the most effective service by simply getting the highest quality chook you possibly can afford.” 

However frozen and contemporary turkeys every provide their very own professionals and cons. Right here’s every thing it is advisable know that will help you make an knowledgeable Thanksgiving buy. 

Contemporary turkey: a breakdown

Contemporary turkeys are sometimes slaughtered inside per week of constructing it to your Thanksgiving desk, and are by no means chilled under 26°F. 

The U.S. Division of Agriculture recommends utilizing a contemporary turkey from the grocery store by the best-by or use-by date on the label; and, if there isn’t a best-by date, inside one to 2 days of buy. Nonetheless, for those who’re buying a freshly butchered turkey from a farm, it is going to final in your fridge as much as 10 days, based on Turka. Place it on a tray or pan to lure juices, ideally on the underside shelf, to stop it from leaking on different meals.  

Whereas a contemporary turkey shouldn’t be inherently a better option, shopping for one makes it just a little simpler to attain crispy pores and skin and juicy meat, Turka notes, because you’re not coping with the additional moisture from a frozen chook. He suggests dry-brining contemporary turkey and permitting it to sit down uncovered within the fridge for a minimum of a day, which can enable air to flow into and yield even crispier pores and skin. 

Frozen turkey: a breakdown

Frozen turkeys are processed in a lot the identical approach as contemporary turkeys, however producers begin slaughtering them for storage as early as the start of the yr. Although they’re accessible on-line year-round, they’ll begin displaying up at most supermarkets in early November, and could be saved in your freezer for as much as a yr. 

Whereas a frozen turkey lets you cross off an merchandise in your Thanksgiving procuring listing properly upfront, you’ll need to funds time for thawing it within the fridge — a minimum of someday per 4 kilos of meat, which equates to about 4 days for a 15-pound turkey. (If you happen to’re in a pinch, you possibly can safely thaw it with chilly water — extra on that under.) 

And, whereas a frozen turkey can find yourself simply as scrumptious as a contemporary turkey, it wants some extra TLC to get there. 

“If you happen to like crispy pores and skin, a frozen turkey can simply require just a little bit extra consideration and care in an effort to get that pores and skin dry sufficient [so] that it’ll crisp up. All that defrosting can put plenty of water again into the pores and skin,” Turka explains. Defrosting additionally damages the cells of protein, which may result in dry meat.  

“The bottom line is to get your turkey brined properly upfront,” he says. Some frozen turkeys, corresponding to Butterball, are already injected with a salt resolution; make sure to learn the label so that you don’t find yourself with overly salted turkey. But when your turkey isn’t pre-brined, you possibly can brine and thaw it on the similar time. 

“For a frozen chook, I like to recommend a moist brine simply because it’ll pull in just a little little bit of moisture,” Turka says. “If I had a frozen turkey, I’d be placing that into brine in all probability on Sunday or Monday,” he says. He pulls it out of the brine on Tuesday, then leaves it uncovered within the fridge. “It’s going to present that pores and skin the chance to dry out,” he says.

Butcher and chef Steve Sabicer, who writes a weekly publication, Enlightened Omnivore, on sustainability and meals with a deal with meat, recommends a dry brine for frozen turkey, which takes longer than a moist brine however makes your turkey a lot simpler to retailer and clear up.

Take away the chook from its packaging whereas nonetheless frozen and sit it on a baking sheet, then enable the chook to thaw barely to be able to entry the cavity. Apply one tablespoon of kosher salt for each 5 kilos of chook, placing half the salt within the cavity and half everywhere in the outdoors of the chook. Thaw, lined, within the fridge for per week. 

How lengthy does it take a frozen turkey to thaw? 

If thawing your turkey within the fridge, you must funds for a minimum of one full day per 4 kilos of meat. If you happen to’re brief on time, you possibly can thaw your turkey by inserting it (nonetheless in its authentic packaging) in chilly water inside a big food-safe container. It will take six to 10 hours (one hour for every pound of turkey). Refresh the chilly water each half-hour. After your turkey has thawed, it’ll final in your fridge for about two days.