fresh vs frozen turkey??

[Chicago526]

I just bought a turkey from Trader Joe's. (Love that place.) My sell by date is Nov. 30, we just stuck it in the back of our fridge. The price wasn't bad for fresh, pre-brined, no-hormones! I had read 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lb. per person, so we got about a 14 lb. bird for our 6 1/2 people. (kids don't eat that much). Now that I'm home now it doesn't seem like that much, though! Hoping I don't regret not making a larger turkey. This is the first time I've cooked one for more than 4 people, never worried about size before.

That's the same bird I bought from TJ's last year, it was the BEST turkey I've ever had, and I'm not just saying that because I'm the one that cooked it. It really was awesome. I'm buying one again this year, in fact I'll be going on Friday night, I want to make sure they still have them available!

That size bird should be fine for 6-7 people. You won't have a ton of leftoevers, but you won't run short either.

 

[Sandy321]

You could also just cook an additional breast or a ham in addition to the turkey too.

That's what I suggest you do Dawn! Cook a breast - that's what most people eat, and the extra breast meat makes great sandwiches!!

oh thanks for the TJ tips - I will say that I love getting under the skin and adding some butter, herbs, and slices of lemon - it was Martha Stewart's tip - the lemon looks so pretty when it comes out of the oven - she had placed sprigs of sage - but I think this year I'm going to chope the sage and rosemary (fresh only) and add it to some softened buter - then get under the skin and spread it around, then add some slices of lemons prettily arranged!!

 

[Sandy321]

Alton Brown Good Eats is doing the "Ask Alton Turkey Special"!!

He prefers FROZEN - because of the process of flash freezing, and from farm, to plant to store to your home - a lot less bad things can happen before you thaw....

and in typical Alton style - its really funny!

 

[lonegirl]

just defrost the frozen turkey in time
when I was still dating DH, we showed up to his house the morning of Thanksgiving and my future MIL asked DH to get in the pool TO GET THE TURKEY OUT!
It was frozen solid, so she threw it in the pool
Did not eat that one, and have managed to avoid eating most food at her house since then