With Thanksgiving right around the corner, you may be building your grocery list for the food-filled event. Of course, this includes the usual star of the meal , the turkey . As you walk through the aisles of your local store, you may be going back and forth on whether to buy a fresh or frozen turkey.
While it doesn’t necessarily matter which bird you pick for Thanksgiving, there is a significant difference between the two. When you buy a turkey that’s labeled “frozen,” that means it has been “cooled at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower,” according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Meanwhile, a turkey with the “fresh” label “has never been chilled below 26 degrees Fahrenheit.
” The main difference between the two turkeys is when you buy them. A frozen turkey can be bought weeks before the holiday, as long as you give it enough time to thaw. However, fresh turkeys are chilled at a higher temperature, so they should be bought only a few days before Thanksgiving.
While there’s no issue with buying a frozen turkey, there could be some downsides. Here’s how to know whether the turkey you purchase this year is perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner. The major benefit of buying a frozen turkey is how long it lasts, meaning you can store it in your freezer for weeks before Thanksgiving.
That way, you can spend the days before the holiday buying other ingredients for beloved side dishes. While planning ahead, it’s important to leave enough time .