Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

We are hosting Thanksgiving this year in our new house. We'll have approximately 12 adults.
I've never cooked a turkey before, so I'm nervous.
Why type of turkey do you get (fresh or frozen) and why? And is their a taste difference??

How do you prepare your turkey?? I want I make a kick butt turkey that is moist inside and has good flavor

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

I always buy fresh so I don't have to worry about thawing it for days. It cost a little more, but is worth it in my opinion. I also always use this brine recipe (for a 10-12lb turkey):
Brine:
1 cup salt
1 cup brown sugar
2 oranges, quartered
2 lemons, quartered
6 sprigs thyme
4 sprigs rosemary

To make the brining solution, dissolve the salt and sugar in 2 gallons of cold water in a nonreactive container (such as a clean bucket or large stockpot, or a clean, heavy-duty, food grade plastic storage bag). Add the oranges, lemons, thyme, and rosemary. Note: if you have a big turkey and need more brine than this, use 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup brown sugar for every gallon of water.

Remove the neck, giblets, and liver from the cavity of the turkey and reserve for the gravy. Rinse the turkey inside and out under cold running water.

Soak the turkey in the brine, covered and refrigerated, for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. (I usually do 24)

Let me know if you want the rest of the recipe I use for cooking the turkey. It is a bit involved, but worth it! Good luck!

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

I would love the recipe! Thank you!

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

Thanksgiving Turkey

1 large orange, cut into 1/8ths
4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
Salt and pepper
1 large yellow onion, cut into 1/8ths
1 stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large carrot, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs thyme
2 sprigs rosemary
1/2 bunch sage
3 or 4 sprigs parsley
1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken or turkey stock, for basting

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse well under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels both inside and out. Place turkey, breast side up, in a large, heavy roasting pan. Rub breast side with orange segments and rub on all sides with the butter, stuffing some underneath the skin. Season lightly inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the turkey with the onion, remaining orange, celery, carrot, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, sage and parsley. Loosely tie the drumsticks together with kitchen string. Roast the turkey, uncovered, breast side down for 1 hour.

Remove from the oven, turn, and baste with 1/2 cup stock. Continue roasting with the breast side up until an instant-read meat thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the largest section of thigh (avoiding the bone), about 2 3/4 to 3 hours total cooking time. Baste the turkey once every hour with 1/2 to 3/4 cup chicken or turkey stock.

Remove from the oven and place on a platter. Tent with aluminum foil and let rest for 20 minutes before carving.

Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

I always make a fresh turkey, and it has to be Bell & Evans.
Comes out great every year.

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

I always buy fresh from the butcher. It's easier not to have to thaw it and I am always afraid it's not going to thaw in time. DH insists fresh tastes better.

I use this recipe, it is fantastic. Alton Brown roast turkey . It's super juicy and the skin comes out golden brown and crispy. This year I'm using a different brine recipe though. I bought a gourmet brining kit from Home Goods of all places so I'm going to try that with some apple cider vinegar & sugar.

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

Milosky's farm in Calverton has the best fresh poultry - turkeys or chicken. Not cheap.. but there is absolutely a difference.

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

Always Fresh, I get it from fairway, its already cleaned, seasoned and ready to cook

Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

Fresh supermarket Turkey is actually less fresh then a frozen turkey and not really a fresh turkey. Fresh turkeys sit around for days before they are bought. The only time i would use a fresh turkey is one from a farm like rojerono suggested. This is the only type of turkey that I would consider to be called fresh.
We usually go to a turkey farm for fresh. This year I am just getting a frozen one

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

I should clarify the fresh turkey if we do it would be from milowski's (we live very close)

Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

Go with Milosky's

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

Posted by DumpsterBaby

Posted by rojerono

Milosky's farm in Calverton has the best fresh poultry - turkeys or chicken. Not cheap.. but there is absolutely a difference.

It makes me so sad. I drive by there weekly since I live in the area, and when I hit the outlets on Black Friday...they're all...gone

Re: Fresh Turkey or Frozen???

I do feel the same way as above. Going there is gonna be hard, DH is all about a turkey from there.