The Ultimate Guide to Knowing When to Buy Your Thanksgiving Turkey

As the holidays approach it’s time to start thinking about the star of Thanksgiving dinner – the turkey! Our family really looks forward to our yearly tradition of roasting a turkey together and savoring the delicious aromas filling up our home. But with so many options available for fresh frozen, heritage and mail-order turkeys, it can get confusing to figure out the right time to buy your bird.

That’s why I’ve put together this handy guide to take the guesswork out of your turkey shopping. Here you’ll learn when you can buy different types of turkeys, how to store them properly until Thanksgiving and even when you can score the best deals

When to Order a Mail-Order Turkey

Ordering a mail-order turkey from an online retailer or direct from a farm is a great option to secure your ideal bird weeks ahead of the holiday rush.

Popular mail-order turkey purveyors like Jennie-O, Harry & David, Pepperidge Farm and Rastelli’s allow you to order fresh and frozen birds as early as October. I’d recommend placing your order at least 2-3 weeks before Thanksgiving. This ensures timely delivery so you can store the turkey properly until it’s time to roast.

With mail-order turkeys, you can select specific sizes, breeds and qualities knowing exactly what’s coming well in advance. It takes the guesswork and stress out of fighting the crowds at the grocery store.

When to Buy a Frozen Turkey

For frozen turkeys from your local supermarket, you actually have quite a big window of time. Turkeys can be kept frozen indefinitely without losing quality.

You can shop for frozen turkeys as early as September or October if you want to spread out holiday spending. Just clear enough space in your freezer to fit the typically large bird.

I like to aim for 2-3 weeks before Thanksgiving to buy my frozen turkey. This gives me enough time to safely thaw it in the fridge before the big meal.

According to Butterball, you should allot 24 hours of fridge thawing time per 4-5 pounds of frozen turkey. It’s not recommended to thaw on the counter since bacteria can grow rapidly above 40°F.

So a 15 lb turkey would take 3-4 days to thaw in the refrigerator. Purchase your frozen turkey with this timeline in mind.

When to Buy a Fresh Turkey

For the freshest, never frozen taste, you’ll want to buy a fresh turkey within 1-2 days of cooking it.

Check your local grocery store’s fresh turkey availability beginning 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Special order ahead if you can to make sure you’ll get the size you need.

The sell-by date on fresh turkey packaging indicates the deadline to cook or freeze it. Follow the safe 4 day rule – cook fresh turkeys within 4 days of the sell-by date.

Buying your fresh turkey a couple days before Thanksgiving ensures it’s at peak freshness when you pop it in the oven, while still allowing enough time to brine or marinate.

When to Buy a Heritage Breed Turkey

Pasture-raised heritage breed turkeys like Narragansett, Bourbon Red and Standard Bronze offer premium flavor at a higher price tag. They must be pre-ordered well in advance due to limited quantities.

Online heritage turkey farms like Joyce Farms, Heritage Foods USA and Mary’s Free Range publish order dates beginning in October for November delivery. Check their websites annually for exact order windows.

You’ll want to order your heritage turkey about 4 weeks pre-Thanksgiving if buying direct from a farm. For retail heritage turkeys, shop at specialty grocers like Whole Foods at least 1-2 weeks early.

The incredible taste and textural difference of a heritage breed turkey makes planning ahead worthwhile!

Storing Your Turkey Safely Until Thanksgiving

To keep your turkey fresh and bacteria-free until it’s time to roast, proper storage is a must. Here are some tips:

• Frozen turkey – Leave wrapped and place in a deep pan to catch leaks during fridge thawing.

• Fresh turkey – Place wrapped turkey on a rimmed baking sheet on the bottom shelf of the fridge. This prevents raw juices from contaminating other foods.

• Mail-order fresh turkey – Open shipping container immediately and store following fresh turkey guidelines.

• Heritage turkey – Store just like a fresh turkey, in the coldest part of the fridge. Cook within 4 days of the sell-by date.

Following these simple storage steps will ensure your turkey arrives at the Thanksgiving table in the safest, freshest condition.

When to Buy a Turkey If You Want the Best Deal

Around the holidays, prices on turkeys can fluctuate greatly. Here are some insider tips on timing your purchase to get the most bang for your buck:

• Buy frozen as early as September/October. Stock up before Thanksgiving demand sends costs soaring.

• Check sales circulars for turkey deals the week before Thanksgiving. This is a prime time for loss leader sales.

• Fresh turkeys often go on clearance or see price drops right after Thanksgiving. Buy now and freeze for next year.

• Watch for post-holiday sales for drastically reduced prices on frozen turkeys – stock up for multiple holidays, events and meals!

With some strategic timing based on sales cycles, you can pick up your show-stopping Thanksgiving turkey at the lowest price.

Putting It All Together

As you can see, there are optimal times to purchase every type of turkey to ensure both convenience, quality and budget-friendliness.

Here’s a quick recap of the timing highlights:

• Mail-order turkeys – Order 2-4 weeks pre-Thanksgiving

• Frozen turkeys – Buy 2-3 weeks before, allowing enough thawing time

• Fresh turkeys – Purchase 1-2 days before cooking

• Heritage turkeys – Pre-order 4 weeks before from specialty farms

• Best deals – Shop sales circulars week before, or buy discounted frozen turkeys post-holiday

Equipped with this guide, you can take the guesswork out of procuring the perfect Thanksgiving turkey your family and guests will rave about. Now you can focus on nailing the rest of the delicious side dishes! Here’s to a stress-free, budget-conscious and most importantly flavorful holiday meal.