Should You Choose a Fresh or Frozen Bird for Thanksgiving This Year?

Choosing the right type of turkey is an important part of your Thanksgiving meal.  You have two choices here: fresh and frozen.  Which is better?  Does a fresh turkey offer you more benefits than a frozen turkey?  Here are a few tips to help ensure that your Thanksgiving is as enjoyable as possible.

Fresh Turkeys

Fresh turkeys have some significant benefits.  For instance, they are often organic, which means that they contain fewer growth hormones and freezing-related chemicals than you will find in a frozen Thanksgiving turkey.  In addition, they require no thawing, so you can go straight from the fridge to the oven with an easy cooking recipe.  However, they are also more expensive, and they usually have a different (some say better) flavor than frozen birds.  Fresh turkeys can be brined the day before Thanksgiving to make the meat truly succulent.

Frozen Turkeys

Frozen Thanksgiving turkeys are the most common.  They have the flavor that you’re accustomed to, and they are cheaper than their fresh brethren.  You will also find that frozen turkeys are more widely available during Thanksgiving.  However, frozen turkeys require more preparation time due to the need to thaw the bird.  Also, they are not usually organic, so you can expect them to have been raised on a diet of commercial food and kept confined in small pens or cages most of their life. This is why the farmers are able to sell them so cheaply, by packing as many birds as possible into their farming area.

Deciding which turkey type is right for your Thanksgiving table is an important choice.  Use the information provided above to ensure that your Thanksgiving meal is as delightful as possible, whether you use a fresh or frozen bird.