Buying A Turkey

Bringing home the best bird for your Thanksgiving table can be a daunting task. Let us try to make it a bit easier. All of the turkeys we sell are raised with these standards:

• No antibiotics — ever

• No added growth hormones*

• No animal byproducts in feed

How does that compare to your average supermarket turkey? Take a look:

Pretty compelling, don’t you think?

Now to choose: frozen, fresh, organic, kosher, heritage? Our Bird for Every Budget chart breaks down what each of these means and helps you pick the one that’s right for your table.

	Value frozen turkey	Chilled brined turkey	Our basic fresh turkey	Kosher turkey	Organic turkey	Heritage or heirloom turkey
Relative price	Lower price per lb					Higher price per lb
Fresh or frozen?	FROZEN From this year's turkey harvest	FRESH Birds are raised to reach the perfect size just before the holiday season, then processed and stored just above the freezing point, which can create a thin layer of soft ice on the skin, but allows us to offer to you the freshest, juiciest turkey
How it was raised	Whole Foods Market® standards for turkey: no antibiotics ever, vegetarian diet, no added hormones*, no added solutions** or injections
Flavor	as good or better than a conventional supermarket bird	brining adds extra flavor and moisture	our delicious, fresh poultry that customers come back for time and time again; allows you to brine or season to your taste			breeds chosen specifically for flavor
Cooking notes	prepare as you would any turkey	fresh turkeys cook a little faster than frozen				take much less time to cook
Additional benefits	a great price for turkeys raised to better standards than you'll find most anywhere else	we've done the brining so you don't have to ... in a traditional mix of sea salt and water	our standards require sufficient space for natural behaviors such as flapping their wings instincts	two Kosher certifications: Rabbi Babad and OU	organic certification requires that feed, farm and processing all meet organic standards	birds grow at a slower rate than most other turkeys and develop flavor naturally
Size range	10-20 lbs	16-20 lbs	8-30 lbs	10-20+ lbs	10-20+ lbs	up to 14 lbs

* Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising turkeys.
** Except for pure sea-salt solution brining where indicated.

How Much Turkey Should I Buy?

When ordering or selecting a whole turkey, allow at least 1 pound per person, plus an extra 1/2 pound per person if you want leftovers. (No, your guests won’t eat a full pound of meat. That number takes into account bones, skin, etc.) Remember to think about the size of your fridge and oven before coming home with a huge bird!

Fast Facts

• 12 lb turkey serves 8 with leftovers

• 18 lb bird serves 12 with leftovers

• 24 lb bird serves 18 with leftovers

• 6 lb bone-in breast serves 8 with leftovers

To ensure you get just what you want, make sure you place your turkey order early — size, type and availability vary by location.

We think about turkey all year long so when it comes time for the quintessential turkey holiday, you know you can depend on us for the best.

Learn how to Cook a Perfect Turkey and How to Carve a Turkey.

Ready to get cooking?

• Ginger Glazed Turkey with Roasted Fruits

• Golden Roasted Turkey

• Honey and Rosemary Brined Turkey

• No-Basting Roast Turkey

• Roast Turkey with Chiles and Citrus

• Roast Turkey with Sage Butter and Rapini-Rice Stuffing

• Roast Turkey with Apples and Onions

• Turkey Breast with Mushroom-Leek Stuffing