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Choosing a turkey used to be pretty simple. Figure out how many people were coming to dinner and get the biggest bird possible to feed the crowd. Now it can be pretty daunting. Here’s some advice to help you decide what’s the right turkey choice for you.
The biggest difference for almost any turkey you choose at Whole Foods Market is that they are fresh. Our birds are harvested close to the time of being sold. You may not realize that the FDA allows birds to be harvested in February, kept at 27°F for months and then sold as fresh in November. That’s not what we sell here, but people who are buying our fresh birds for the first time aren’t used to getting turkeys that are really fresh.
Now, you may see ice on our fresh birds because we chill them below 30°F to keep them safe and fresh, but they aren’t frozen. That said, we do offer some value options of frozen turkey, and they are from this year’s harvest, not holdovers from last year like some frozen turkeys sold elsewhere.
So, your first choice is frozen turkey or fresh turkey. Well, actually, your first choice is if you buy your bird from us at all. It’s important to know that all of our turkeys are raised according to our strict quality standards requiring no antibiotics ever, an all-vegetarian diet, no added solutions or injections, and complete traceability to the farm. We think this makes our turkeys a better choice.
Now, what about all those other options: Kosher, Organic, Heritage, Pre-brined, etc? We put together this handy chart to help you figure out what is important to you:
It just makes sense that the more care and time that goes into raising the turkeys, the more they will cost. We bring you a range of options so you can choose a turkey that matches your values and budget.
Oh yeah, one more critically important note! Now that you’ve chosen your turkey, please remember that fresh turkeys cook faster than older ones. You need to plan your feast so the turkey is ready at the same time as the mashed potatoes and dressing! Enjoy your special dinner!
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32 degree is freezing correct?
“Now, you may see ice on our fresh birds because we chill them below 30°F to keep them safe and fresh, but they aren’t frozen.”
just checking to make sure global warming hasn’t changed that
November 12th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I’m trying to avoid buying a roasting pan so I ordered a cooked turkey breast from my local Whole Foods. I should have asked: will I need a roasting pan to cook this?
November 12th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Diestel Turkey are fed corn and soy. Soy is not a natural diet for turkeys. Do you sell any grain fed turkeys?
November 15th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
@Chef KV While the freezing temperature of water is 32°F (and no, to our knowledge global warming hasn’t changed that!), the freezing temperature of foods is lower. Any turkey labeled “fresh” in a food store has never been cooled to a temperature lower than 26°F, which is the point that turkey meat begins to freeze. A turkey labeled “frozen” must be cooled to a temperature of 0°F or below. Hope this helps answer your question.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I am considering purchasing an heirloom turkey this Thanksgiving. I would like to know if those turkeys have access to the outdoors, if they are fed organic feed and how such turkeys are slaughtered. I appreciate your reply.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
So when should I purchase a fresh one?
How should I store it if I purchase it ahead of time?
Can I come to Whole Foods the day of or night before and pick one up/order ahead?
November 18th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
@Mary We don’t allow our birds to be fed any animal by-product and they will need protein in their diet so they use soy as a protein supplement.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
@Jenifer Our heirloom birds do have access to the outdoors and the Diestel Heirloom is organic.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
@Brent The majority of our turkeys are in the store by Sunday prior to Thanksgiving so you can pick them up any time after that. Theo, our resident meat expert recommends that you set your fridge at a slightly lower temperature than usual and put your turkey in a leakproof dish at the bottom of the fridge. We are open on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but I would check with your local store since some of the stores have extended their opening hours for Thanksgiving.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I havent seen how to choose the size (pounds), what is the rule, is it one pound per person?
November 19th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Is it too late to order a turkey from one of your stores, and am I able to do the ordering online, instead of visiting a store in person?
November 19th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I read in Cooks Illustrated that sometimes a frozen turkey is more moist than a fresh because a fresh turkey is chilled to 26-30 degrees which form tiny ice crystals in the meat. Then if the temperature fluctuates (at market or on way home) the crystals can melt, combine with neighboring crystals, and then refreeze. These irregularly shaped ice crystals will start to poke the cell membranes in the meat, make holes and the cell tissues in the muscles will start to lose their internal contents. Then when they are cooked, the bird will be dry.
If I buy a frozen turkey how long should I let it defrost in the freezer?
November 20th, 2009 at 12:06 am
@John http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/holidays/guides/turkey.php When ordering your whole turkey, allow at least 1 pound per person, plus 1/2 pound per person for leftovers. (Remember to take into account the size of your fridge and oven!) For turkey breast, plan on 3/4 pound per person. If it is a boneless breast, allow 1/2 pound per person.
November 20th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
@Audra Ordering deadlines vary between stores. Find more info about your stores online ordering at: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/holidays
November 20th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
@Hollybygolly Frozen turkeys should be defrosted in the refrigerator for two days prior to cooking (larger turkeys may require more time).
November 20th, 2009 at 4:33 pm