Hosting Thanksgiving This Year? Consider This Your Ultimate Turkey Guide, From When to Buy Your Bird to How to Store Your Leftovers!

Before diving into the bird of the hour, timing is everything!

While many prefer savory sides, Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without the centerpiece synonymous with the day: the turkey.

In November, you suddenly have an urgency to rush to the grocery store to grab a bird off the shelf and secure the coveted turkey in front of the crowd. However, there are important safety guidelines to keep in mind before purchasing—and, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), “Turkey is the food category that consumers ask the most questions about.”

To help answer your burning questions, PEOPLE spoke with former National Turkey Federation President and CEO Joel Brandenberger — who will retire in June 2024 — about some of the most common questions and topics people bring up, from defrosting techniques and cooking temperature until leftover storage.

For more insider tips, PEOPLE also reached out to Butterball Turkey Talk-Line Director Nicole Johnson — who has worked for the company for more than 20 years and says Thanksgiving is “our Super Bowl” — for her thoughts on the matter.

For a hassle-free holiday, read on for Thanksgiving turkey season tips!

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Should I buy a fresh or frozen turkey for Thanksgiving?

Turkey served on a silver platter with stuffing and cranberry garnish.

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Some people prefer a fresh or frozen turkey, while others don’t have a choice because it simply comes down to what’s left on the shelves in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Fortunately, Butterball’s Johnson says there’s “no difference” between the two when it comes to taste and food safety.

“The only difference between fresh and frozen is whether you thaw it or not. Fresh is really convenient because it’s already thawed for you,” explains the mom of four, who says she’s personally “fresh all the way” because she’s “all about multitasking and taking it easy .”

Whether you buy fresh or frozen, Johnson assures consumers that both turkey options are “tender, juicy and delicious!” (That is, if you take the proper steps to prepare your bird before cooking time!)

When should I buy a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving?

Farm fresh local free range turkey for sale at Rob Rattray Butchers in Aberystwyth, Wales, UK

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It’s definitely worth strategizing when to buy a fresh turkey, especially with the mad rush to the grocery store to secure one in November. Brandenberger, a former member of the National Turkey Federation, tells PEOPLE that it varies depending on whether the turkeys are purchased at a store or on a farm.

“If you’re buying directly from a specialty farm that sells direct to consumers, contact the farm directly for ordering recommendations,” he says. “If you are looking for a specific type or brand of fresh turkey at the supermarket, we recommend that you ask the store manager about the reservation process as soon as possible.”

“If the turkey is truly fresh and has never been frozen, you probably won’t be able to pick up your turkey until Thanksgiving week,” adds Brandenberger. Johnson, however, says Butterball fresh turkey usually hits shelves in early November.

She eased concerns about buying a fresh turkey “too early” in the month, explaining that Butterball specifically has an “extended shelf life due to the cooling process they undergo at the factory before leaving.”

So if you want to claim your turkey in early November, you can do so — however, Johnson advises consumers to consider the “sell by” or “use by” date on the label before buying a fresh turkey.

“We tell cooks they can leave that wrap in the refrigerator and use it safely until Thanksgiving,” she says. “Usually that date will be Thanksgiving, but many will even be the day after because many people want to have a Friends Day celebration.”

In fact, Johnson admits to celebrating the day after Thanksgiving because he answers Turkey Talk-Line calls on the holiday! “Our core value here at Butterball is bringing people together.”

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What questions should I ask before buying a farm-fresh turkey?

Grow fresh local free-range turkey on the scales at Rob Rattray Butchers in Aberystwyth, Wales, UK

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Brandenberger tells PEOPLE that “it’s reasonable to ask the circumstances under which the turkeys were processed” before buying a farm-fresh turkey, such as “whether a state or federal inspector was present.”

However, Brandenberger says testing to that degree is “personal preference.” But he also suggests checking directly with the supplier or retailer if the consumer has any “specific requirements or needs.”

To avoid any possible foodborne illness after buying the turkey and before cooking it, Brandenberger says it’s “imperative” to follow the National Turkey Federation’s “Four Basic Food Safety Guidelines.”

They include: “Clean, separate, cook and cool.” When it’s finally time for the turkey, Brandenberger stresses that “you should always cook the turkey to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.”

He then emphasizes that chefs check at least three parts of the whole turkey to see if it’s done. He recommends “the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing.”

How to store fresh turkey?

Fresh raw plucked turkey in the fridge.

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You’ve secured your turkey … now what? Caring for your bird in the days leading up to Thanksgiving is just as important as deciding when to buy it.

Johnson suggests keeping fresh turkeys “unopened” and “refrigerated” until the sell-by date on the tag or until the chefs are ready to cook! As for the fridge temperature, she says “ideally it should be between 35 and 40 degrees”, noting that “a lower temperature is preferable”.

Whether the turkey is fresh or frozen, Johnson advises cooks to put a tray underneath it “in case there are little holes in the package.” She explains, “Some of that juice from the raw poultry can leak into the fridge. Having a tray underneath it will help catch some of those juices.”

When pulling a turkey out of the refrigerator on Thanksgiving, Johnson says many people assume they need to wash their turkey as part of the preparation process before cooking—however, she claims, “that’s not the case.”

One of the benefits of Butterball turkeys is that “they’re already cleaned for you,” Johnson says. “It’s already prepared for you.” While she claims that “additional basting or brining can be done,” she explains that “it doesn’t have to be” because Butterball “has already done that work for you.”

For those who bought a fresh turkey and had Thanksgiving delayed, fear not! Johnson says they “can go ahead and cook” their turkey ahead of time if they want, then “cut the turkey meat off the bone and refrigerate or freeze it for longer storage.”

When should I buy a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving turkeys on sale at D’Agostinos in New York 2022.

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If you opt for a frozen turkey, Johnson advises buying one “as soon as you see them” on the shelves in November. “That way you’ll have a better chance of getting the size turkey you want,” she says.

Meanwhile, you can buy turkey months in advance because of its extended shelf life; however, there is a suggested time frame for buying turkeys in the week leading up to the holidays due to the time it takes to thaw.

“It would be ideal if you bought it now,” Johnson tells PEOPLE for those who haven’t yet caught their frozen bird exactly one week before Thanksgiving. “Or if you don’t want to go through the defrosting process, you can also opt for a fresh turkey.”

“Those turkeys are still soft, juicy, delicious, but they don’t need to be thawed,” she continues. “They go straight from the grocer’s fridge to your own home fridge, so it’s really convenient.”

When to start thawing a frozen turkey?

A retail warehouse purchase, a frozen turkey waits in the freezer section of the refrigerator to be unwrapped, thawed, and prepared.

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If the turkey is frozen at any point, Brandenberger says “the key is to make sure you have enough time to thaw the turkey completely” and that it should always be done “in the refrigerator or cold water.”

“Allow 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of turkey,” he notes. “For example, if you have a 15-pound turkey, you should allow 3 days of thawing in the refrigerator.”

Of the number one question Johnson and her team ask on the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, she tells PEOPLE, “How do I defrost my turkey?” A common question—which Johnson admits “never wanders from year to year”—includes an answer that’s easy to remember.

“We actually declare the Thursday before Thanksgiving to be ‘National Thawing Turkey Day,'” she says. “People may laugh about it, but it’s a really clever way of reminding people.”

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How to store frozen turkey?

Smoked turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes on a wooden table.

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When it comes to storing a frozen turkey, it’s not much different than storing a fresh one. Again, Johnson suggests “leaving the wrap on throughout the defrosting process.”

From a food safety standpoint, Johnson says that frozen turkey can actually “be safe to cook for quite a number of years” — that is, only if it’s “stored in its original packaging and you haven’t had major power outages.”

Although you can store a frozen turkey for years, Johnson says, “it may not be as tender and juicy as when you just bought it.” However, she assures that “you can definitely still cook safely.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education