Finding Fully Cooked Whole Turkeys: The Best Places to Buy Convenient Holiday Birds

Serving a juicy, flavorful whole turkey as the centerpiece of your holiday table is a tradition for many. But not everyone has time to thaw, prep, roast, and carve a raw bird That’s where fully cooked whole turkeys come to the rescue! Here’s your guide to the best sources for procuring ready-to-heat turkeys

Check Warehouse Club Stores

Warehouse retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale offer high-quality precooked whole turkeys at budget-friendly club pricing. Benefits include:

• Huge frozen turkeys ideal for feeding a crowd
• Kirkland, Butterball, and other brands available
• Limited seasoning for custom flavoring
• Sold pre-thawed or ready to thaw and reheat
• Membership clubs keep prices low

Grab an impressive cooked turkey early, as warehouse stocks dwindle closer to holidays Check for frequent sales too

Visit Your Local Grocery Store Deli

Grocery store deli counters are convenient places to special order a fully cooked turkey for pickup. Choose this option for:

• Better quality than warehouse turkeys
• Ability to specify size to suit guest count
• Custom seasoning preferences
• Supporting your neighborhood market
• No membership required

Call ahead for holiday orders and allow time for thawing and reheating.

Shop with Your Local Butcher

For the freshest fully cooked turkey, have your local butcher prepare one specially. Local butchers offer:

• Turkeys roasted in-house for superior freshness
• Customization of size, seasonings, etc.
• High-end breed turkeys for premium quality
• Supporting small businesses in your community
• Ability to order exact quantity needed

Plan ahead and get your order in early, as specialty butchers fill up.

Order Online for Maximum Convenience

To save the most time and effort, order a fully cooked turkey shipped directly to your door. Online options include:

• Cracker Barrel’s complete holiday Heat n’ Serve meals
• Overnight delivery from top restaurants at Goldbelly
• Organic & free-range turkeys from D’Artagnan
• Meal kits providing quick turkey dinner options
• Amazon ships popular precooked turkey brands

Check delivery timelines and costs before ordering online.

Mail Order from Specialty Brands

These popular national specialty brands ship fully cooked whole turkeys nationwide:

• Omaha Steaks’ smoked turkey breasts are a top choice
• HoneyBaked Ham sells convenient boneless turkey breasts
• Butterball’s frozen smoked turkeys just require reheating
• Williams-Sonoma delivers Willie Bird Ranch turkeys

Look into order deadlines and specific delivery dates from each brand when planning.

Quick Defrost a Store-Bought Frozen Cooked Turkey

If fresh precooked isn’t available, a frozen cooked turkey can work in a pinch. Just be diligent about proper thawing and reheating:

• Thaw turkey for 2-3 days in the fridge before cooking.
• Speed thawing by submerging turkey in cold water, changing water every 30 mins.
• Reheat fully until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

With some extra care, a frozen precooked turkey can still shine as your holiday centerpiece.

Take the guesswork and stress out of holiday turkey preparation by picking up a convenient fully cooked bird instead. Follow this guide and options like grocery delis, club stores, specialty brands, and online ordering will have you covered with a delicious oven-ready turkey.