Let’s talk turkey.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner there are lots of questions to be answered when it comes to the feast’s centerpiece. From choosing to cooking to carving, this is your complete guide to every step of feeding your family a totally tasty turkey.
WHAT TYPE OF BIRD SHOULD I BUY?
Choosing the right type of turkey is easy. Whether you want organic, heritage, kosher, or something else, we have plenty of fresh birds to choose from. Check out some of our faves below:
• Organic, Local: Hidden Camp Farm
At Hidden Camp Farm, turkeys are free to forage in the fields, to scratch in the dirt, and to nestle themselves in the shade on sunny days. While their diets are supplemented with minerals and grains, Hidden Camp Farm takes great care to serve them only certified organic grains. The quality of care used throughout raising the turkeys will be immediately apparent when you experience the superior taste and texture of the meat.
• Humanely Raised: Diestel Family Ranch
Sourced directly from Diestel Family Turkey Ranch—a family-run fourth-generation farm in Sonora, CA—these birds are humanely raised without antibiotics and fed only the highest quality feed available. These all-natural, slow-growing birds are given plenty of time and space to develop naturally, resulting in a juicy, tender turkey with our signature old-fashioned flavor. These turkeys are known for “all that white meat.” You can count on them being tender and juicy with real turkey flavor!
• Raised without Antibiotics: Honest Turkey
These turkeys are raised by independent family farmers who are certified on animal handling to ensure the birds are properly cared for. None of the flocks are ever given steroids, hormones, or antibiotics, and they are fed an all-vegetarian diet.
• Heritage Birds: Joyce Farms
These Heritage Black Turkeys are hand-raised without antibiotics at Joyce Farms, a small artisanal producer of the most distinctive heritage poultry in America. The birds are raised following the strictest natural guidelines, which means they are slow grown in the old-world tradition. They eat an all-natural, vegetarian diet with no animal by-products, growth promoters, hormones, or antibiotics. And they’re treated in the most humane manner, raised in low-stress comfort so they grow up happy and healthy.
WHAT SIZE BIRD SHOULD I BUY?
As a general rule, we recommend buying one pound of turkey per person. But if you have family members with big appetites and/or want leftovers, then you’re going to want to buy about a pound-and-a-half per person. Check out our size guide chart below to figure out how big a bird to buy.
HOW DO I COOK AND CARVE MY BIRD?
Now you’ve chosen your bird, you need to get ready for the main event… cooking it! This can be a little intimidating, but really all you’re doing is following a set of simple instructions. Head over to our post here and learn how to cook and carve a beautiful Thanksgiving turkey.
