For holiday meals, do you buy a frozen or fresh turkey?
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
November 22, 2008 8:53am CST
I've often wondered if people actually had a preference. I buy fresh turkeys. I honestly don't know if they taste any better; I simply don't have the room to hold a frozen turkey in my freezer for a week or so. So, I wait until a few days before the big event and buy a fresh one then.
Does anyone else buy fresh and is there a specific reason why you do it? If you get a frozen turkey, is it because you can buy it early so you won't have to worry about it later?
2 people like this
8 responses
@littleowl (7157)
•
22 Nov 08
Hi MW I normally have a frozen chicken, I find its also the ways you cook them that give the taste and normally it is just as good as a fresh one..yet for myself I prefer nut roast...hugs littleowl
3 people like this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
22 Nov 08
Hi, littleowl. I used to buy frozen; I did that for many years. It just seems that the last few years I've never had the room in my freezer to keep it until I was ready to roast it. Maybe I should clean out my freezer more often?
I agree about the taste coming from the way you prepare it. I could never taste any difference at all between frozen and fresh. I guess it's more a matter of convenience than anything else.
I agree about the taste coming from the way you prepare it. I could never taste any difference at all between frozen and fresh. I guess it's more a matter of convenience than anything else.2 people like this
@littleowl (7157)
•
22 Nov 08
Hi MW the only difference in frozen turkey or chicken any meat infact, is that the day they are killed they are frozen, and the fresh ones are just sold fresh both still have the vitamins etc in them the frozen one has them 'locked' in til thawed...have you tried rubbing garlic under the skin of the meat and a bit of honey with rosemary ontop? mmmm yummy..hugs littleowl
2 people like this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
23 Nov 08
I always bought a frozen one until I realized that my turkey was almost never totally thawed when I was ready to stick it in the oven. Even after I realized it, I'd still forget to start thawing it earlier the following year! LOL
So, I find it easier just to buy a fresh one. I usually roast it within 2 days of buying it so it works much better for me.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
22 Nov 08
I have always purchased fresh turkeys, they are just better tasting. I guess frozen is okay but they are not fresh and I love fresh.
1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
22 Nov 08
Well, my dear, you asked! (Hope my goose isnt't cooked, over this answer) As you know, I live on a small Island, and shopping is only for "have to have" items!
The ferry fare is very expensive, so all of my shopping (Xmas and otherwise) is done in one fell swoop! And I usually try & do it 3-4 weeks b4 Christmas! Hence a chest freezer is a necessity...so you guessed it...I buy a frozen turkey! I grew up on a farm, we raised our own, I do not notice that much difference in the quality of flavour! (yes, I am aware of the antibiotics/growth hormones, etc.,)
The one time that I decided to have a Fresh Turkey, I made the costly trip to town,only to find out that all (every store) within range...did not have them! Suffice to say...it was frozen again! If I were in proximity...I think I would choose a fresh, for a change. But heck, I choose to live in the peace of this small Island....! Cheers & a wonderful weekend!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Nothing wrong with that! It definitely makes more sense to buy a frozen turkey in a case such as yours. I would MUCH rather live on an island and buy frozen turkeys than live somewhere where it's so crowded you can't think straight and buy a fresh turkey.
I have a "middle of the road" kind of life... not on an island, but out in the country where the trees hide our neighbors' houses. So, I have the choice.
I'm going to be buying a chest freezer soon, probably next summer, because I've planted all kinds of things including berry bushes and strawberry plants. These things are better frozen when preserved than canned, so I'm going to need a larger freezer. That will probably mean frozen turkeys again, too! I'd love to buy everything well in advance of the holiday to avoid the crowds.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Frozen is cheaper, so frozen is what I buy!
Being just me this year, I may just go buy a cooked chicken. Or I might buy the turkey for all the soups and casseroles and sandwiches I can have in the weeks following.
I'm not sad to spend Thanksgiving alone, I'm just rather overwhelmed with the choices! Although I do wish my boys were here.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Hi mentalward! Yes, I do buy a frozen turkey. And it is for
convenience. It is easier for me to get it about a week in
advance so I don't have to worry about rushing to the store
at the last minute. I don't have a car so I have to go when
I can. I went with my boyfriend last weekend to get ours. It
is a 20 pounder! I put it in my neighbor's freezer since he
is out of town and has an empty freezer! I will take it out
of the freezer tomorrow to start defrosing it! I've always
bought a frozen turkey, but usually I would go about 4 days
before Thanksgiving so I could just leave it in the
refrigerator. So I've got everything that I need and I'm
all ready to cook up our feast! It's is just the two of
us except for the two cats! They are going to eat real
well too! We will be eating turkey all week! I just love
turkey so I don't care!
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
24 Nov 08
Well, I have never eaten a fresh turkey before.
Here, all they ever have are frozen ones.
But they are good too. Love the sauces and stuffings and the roasted meat and all.
My favorite has got to be the chestnut stuffings.
I have yet to master the art of baking a turkey.
Most of the time, I would buy the ready backed ones to heat up at home to serve.
I am sure fresh turkey would be much much better!
@Chevee (5905)
• United States
23 Nov 08
We always buy a frozen turkey, my sister cooks the turkey and she wants it there ahead of time so that she can get started on things and not wonder if my brother is going to buy it or not. So he gets a frozen turkey and put it in the freezer. I don't eat that much turkey.
