Get the Trader Joe Free Range Pre-Brinded Bird - always comes out great!

How far in advance can you buy a turkey if you plan to keep it in the fridge?

And if you are having 8 people how many pounds would you buy?

If you get a brined turkey, make sure you follow cooking times for brined and not just regular. They differ. Make sure you know where to insert the thermometer (check YouTube or food network online) to check temps (note that the temp will continue to rise after removing from oven).

Organic from whole foods, thawed or fresh. No need to order ahead. I get a smaller turkey. Have not had a butterball since 1980s.

Anonymous wrote:Where do you get a Kosher turkey?

Many Giants and Safeways sell kosher empire turkeys. Also, TJs usually has them (at least the one in DC on 25th and the one on colesville always does).

You can also go to a kosher market like Shaloms's Kosher Market in Silver Spring (off Arcola and Lamberton) or Koshermart in Rockville (on Boiling Brook Lane). There, you can get a really fresh one, not just the packaged empire ones (although those are fresh too).

Prices are comparable to organic, I think - usually b/w $2.59 and 3.99lb.

Where do you get a Kosher turkey?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kosher, kosher, kosher!

where do you get a kosher turkey in the DC area? Do you need to special order it? Would love to get my hands on an Empire Turkey.

Don't know where to get one, but the great thing about a Kosher turkey is you don't have to brine it. The Koshering process takes care of that for you.

This year, I want to add flavor to the brine, so I'm doing it myself, but we did a Kosher turkey for many years and it was great. Only other downsides to Kosher turkeys is I find they have more feathers to removes. (Give youself 30 minutes a good pair of pliers.) And, they don't come with giblets. (Which makes total sense if you actually keep Kosher or once someone points it out, but was a suprise to me when I went to make giblet stock!)

Anonymous wrote:Do men fret about this shit?

My DH is an avid (and great) cook. He would!!!

Do men fret about this shit?

Anonymous wrote:farm-raised turkeys (as opposed to industrially-raised turkeys) are going to taste MUCH MUCH better. Get one if you can. Butterball is flavorless in comparison.

I agree 100%. I've been making Thanksgiving dinner for 25 years and in the old days always had Butterball. The past 10 years I've ordered farm-raised, organic and what a difference. The past 3 years I've brined them and that's even better! I'll always brine now before roasting.

farm-raised turkeys (as opposed to industrially-raised turkeys) are going to taste MUCH MUCH better. Get one if you can. Butterball is flavorless in comparison.

Anonymous wrote:Kosher, kosher, kosher!

where do you get a kosher turkey in the DC area? Do you need to special order it? Would love to get my hands on an Empire Turkey.

bump