Its turkey season, so its time to snag a bird from your local grocery store before theyre all sold out. The choices can feel overwhelming (not only do you have to choose the right size turkey for your gathering, but then you need to decide between fresh or frozen and plan the best way to cook your turkey). Amidst all the decisions, though, there is some good news — turkey prices dropped in 2024. Major retailers, such as Walmart and Target, slashed turkey prices by 20% compared to 2023, likely due to supply chains finally recovering from the pandemic. Advertisement
Before you purchase a turkey, youll need to decide if you want it fresh or frozen. Fresh turkeys, which are sold within a short time of being butchered, tend to be more expensive and have more flavor than their frozen counterparts (although that flavor can be gamey). Frozen turkeys, on the other hand, are often injected with liquid to help them retain moisture, and have a sweeter flavor. The USDA recommends getting a frozen turkey if you plan to purchase it more than a week out from serving.
Here are the top choices for whole turkeys from popular grocers around the country — and a few you should avoid. These turkeys were chosen by comparing price, availability, and customer reviews.
Turkey is a popular centerpiece for holiday meals and family gatherings. With so many options at the grocery store, it can be hard to choose the best brand. Honeysuckle White is one of the major turkey brands available across America. But how does it stack up against competitors like Butterball when it comes to quality, taste, and ethics?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of Honeysuckle White turkeys. You’ll learn about their standards for raising birds, what customers say in reviews, how they compare to alternatives, pricing, and more Read on to decide if Honeysuckle White is the right turkey brand for your family’s next special feast!
Overview of Honeysuckle White
Honeysuckle White is a large turkey brand owned by Cargill. It offers a range of products like whole turkeys, breasts, ground turkey and sausages. Their products are promoted as:
- All-natural with no antibiotics or added hormones
- Humanely raised on family farms
- Free-range for their Whole Turkey line
- Traceable back to the farm of origin
The ability to trace your specific turkey back to its source farm through a tracking code is a unique selling point,
What Customers Have to Say About Honeysuckle White
Reviews of Honeysuckle White are generally positive across various websites. Here’s a balanced look at the pros and cons expressed by actual buyers:
Positive Feedback
- Delicious, tender and moist meat when cooked properly
- Appreciation for the natural approach with no routine antibiotics
- Praise for the traceability feature offering transparency into the source
- Reasonable pricing compared to other major turkey brands
Negative Feedback
- Some complaints about dryness, especially with large birds or overcooking
- A minority find the taste bland or lacking in flavor
- Rare instances of spoiled or semi-frozen turkeys upon delivery
- Not all love the texture, with a few finding it too mushy
Overall most who try Honeysuckle White are pleased with the quality, pricing and ethical raising practices. But experiences can vary based on cooking method and personal preferences.
How Honeysuckle White Turkeys Are Raised
Honeysuckle White turkeys are:
- Raised on family farms in the Midwest and East Coast
- Fed a vegetarian diet with no animal byproducts
- Grown without hormones or routine antibiotics
- Allowed to roam freely in barns with sunlight
- Given enrichment activities like perches to encourage natural behaviors
- Harvested after 5-6 months when fully matured
- Subject to quality checks during processing
Their practices meet the guidelines for Certified Humane and American Humane certified welfare programs. However, the brand isn’t officially certified under these third-parties.
Their premium Whole Turkey line features free-range birds that live outdoors on rotating pastures. This allows them to roam, forage and exhibit natural behaviors.
How Honeysuckle Compares to Butterball
Butterball is the #1 selling turkey brand in America. Here’s how it compares to Honeysuckle White:
Similarities
- Both national brands widely available at grocery stores
- Offer whole turkeys, breasts, ground meat, etc.
- Don’t use hormones or routine antibiotics
- Priced competitively with one another
Differences
- Butterball has more size options for whole turkeys
- Only Honeysuckle White offers traceability to the farm
- Butterball reports more rigorous animal welfare policies
- Only Honeysuckle White turkeys are free-range
- Fans say Butterball is more flavorful, while Honeysuckle White tastes more naturally mild
Overall, Butterball seems to come out slightly ahead according to consumer ratings and welfare standards. But Honeysuckle White remains an excellent alternative with its traceable, free-range options.
Is Honeysuckle White Worth the Price?
Honeysuckle White is competitively priced with other major turkey brands:
- Whole turkey: $1.29-$1.59 per pound
- Turkey breast: $3.99-$9.99 per pound
- Ground turkey: $3.49-$4.99 per pound
Given the natural raising practices and decent quality, most agree Honeysuckle White is a good value, especially for holidays. The prices fairly match the extra care compared to generic options. It costs a bit more than store brands, but provides transparency into how birds are raised.
For budget buyers, it may be pricier than no-name options. But you sacrifice verified standards. For special gatherings, reputable brands like Honeysuckle White are likely worth the splurge in our view.
Is Honeysuckle the Best Turkey Option?
With its focus on quality, traceability and animal welfare, Honeysuckle White is an excellent turkey brand. But is it the absolute best choice?
The Pros
- Delicious and moist meat when cooked properly
- Natural with no routine antibiotics
- Free-range, pasture-raised whole birds
- Farm traceability
- Competitive pricing among major brands
Potential Cons
- Inconsistent moisture and flavor feedback
- Not certified for welfare standards by third-parties
- Less size options than some competitors
- Mixed reviews on taste compared to rivals
Honeysuckle White is a very good turkey brand, especially for naturally-raised birds with verified origins. But other reputable options like Butterball, Norbest and Jennie-O also have advantages.
We recommend buying Honeysuckle White turkeys when they’re on sale or you want to take advantage of the traceable, free-range attributes. There are no major red flags for quality or ethics. But it comes down to personal priorities and taste preferences.
The Bottom Line
Honeysuckle White offers high-quality, ethically-raised turkeys with transparency into the source farm. Their products are natural with no routine antibiotics. Whole birds are free-range and pasture-raised. While not the undisputed best turkey for all needs, Honeysuckle White remains a solid choice for your holiday table.
Buy: Butterball Premium Whole Frozen Turkey
Butterball is a household name, and its turkeys hold up to the hype. The Butterball Premium Whole Frozen turkey gets stellar reviews, and its readily available at most grocery stores. Its also available in a wide variety of sizes, making Butterball an option no matter what size gathering youre hosting (Albertsons sells it in four sizes, offering a 10-14 pound option, a 14-16 pound option, a 16-20 pound option, and a giant 20-24 pound option). Prices vary among retailers, but it maintains a reasonable, middle-of-the-road price point at most locations, costing a little more than $1 per pound at Walmart, while being closer to $1.50 per pound at Albertsons. Advertisement
Butterballs frozen turkey has hundreds of five-star reviews. One happy reviewer said their entire table of guests agreed it was the most tender turkey they ever had.
Buy: Member’s Mark Hickory Smoked Whole Turkey
One of the more costly options at about $2.98 per pound, Members Mark Hickory Smoked Whole Turkey might be a little more expensive up front, but it comes fully cooked and just needs to be reheated before eating. Customers rave about the flavor of this turkey and the ease of preparation, making it worth the extra cost to add this turkey to your Thanksgiving table. The Makers Mark Smoked Whole Turkey is one of the highest-rated turkeys based on reviews (it has 970 reviews and maintains a 4.5-star rating), which is quite impressive. Advertisement
The Makers Mark hickory smoked turkey is available exclusively at Sams Club. “Very happy with the buy. Hickory smoked has a flavor all its own. The best Members Mark item I ever bought at Sams,” said one pleased Sams Club customer. Another said, “Weve bought these smoked turkeys for a few years. They are excellent!”
Top 5 Best Turkey Brands of 2017
FAQ
Is honeysuckle a good turkey?
Juicy moist bird
I love Honeysuckle White turkeys. I have used other brands but I prefer Honeysuckle White, the turkey always comes out perfectly roasted, juicy and tender. Never any dry “spots”. In my family I have a reputation of making the best, moist, roast turkey.
What grade is honeysuckle turkey?
Inspected for wholesomeness by U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA Grade A.
Is honeysuckle turkey already brined?
Please be aware that many of our turkey products come brined or ‘basted’.
Is honeysuckle turkey natural?
Delight in the all-natural, frozen goodness that will impress your guests and leave them craving for more.
Is honeysuckle white a good Turkey brand?
Honeysuckle White is a very good turkey brand, especially for naturally-raised birds with verified origins. But other reputable brands like Butterball, Norbest, and Jennie-O also have competitive advantages. We recommend buying Honeysuckle White when you see it on sale or want to take advantage of the traceable, free-range attributes.
Are honeysuckle white turkeys better than Butterball turkeys?
If you like Butterball turkeys, you will likely like Honeysuckle White turkeys as well, but they do differ in some aspects. So, if you prefer a more gentle flavor, Honeysuckle While would be better for you, and if you are more into soft and juicy turkey meat, Butterball would be a better choice for your taste.
Are honeysuckle white turkeys tender?
Honeysuckle White birds also deliver on tenderness. Their meat tends to be milder in flavor but still savory and delicious. Their turkeys are minimally processed to retain a more natural turkey taste. While flavor is slightly different, both brands offer tender, juicy meat perfect for holiday meals.
Are honeysuckle white turkeys bad?
Negative Reviews: Dryness: Some reviewers have experienced dryness in their Honeysuckle White turkeys, particularly when cooked for extended periods. This could be due to factors like cooking method or individual preferences. Flavor: While many enjoy the flavor, some find it lacking compared to other brands.
Are Honeysuckle White & Jennie-O turkeys the same?
This is probably where both turkey brands are the most similar, and they both excel in this area. Honeysuckle White and Jennie-O are organic turkey brands known for the quality of the meat they produce. Jennie-O has its own turkey farms and turkey feed mills to ensure the best possible results regarding the meat quality.
Are honeysuckle white turkeys good for Christmas?
They do have their differences, but both are extremely tasty. Honeysuckle White turkeys are known for their rich and powerful flavor. Of all the turkeys I’ve tried, and there have been many, I find this one to be most suitable for Christmas. It is rich, very flavorful, and goes heavenly with traditional Christmas sides.