What kind of turkey to buy for thanksgiving

And while brining , basting, and roasting are vitally important, the whole process starts with making sure you pick a quality turkey to begin with. If you have access to a butcher or a farmer who can sell you a fresh turkey meaning never frozen or a heritage breed turkey historic breeds, raised naturally the taste will be superior, but the price tag will reflect that.

DO : Assume two pounds for each adult and one pound for each kid to guarantee leftovers. In addition to thawing faster and cooking more consistently, smaller birds are also less likely to be pumped with chemicals. DO: Go to a trusted butcher or your favorite farmers' market to find local poultry farmers. DO: Consider ordering online.

You're not alone. Every year, the search for the ultimate Thanksgiving bird continues. I've tried fresh, organic turkeys; one year, I reserved a free-range bird directly from a local farm, and, of course, I've enjoyed plenty of frozen turkeys. But in , the shopping options seem endless and the choices are sometimes tricky to navigate. Some swear by heritage birds, while others are big fans of much larger, conventionally raised turkeys.

Then, there's always the pressure to show up last year's dinner by having an even bigger, or somehow better, bird. It can make just thinking about holiday prep pretty exhausting. All sides aside yuk, yuk , planning the centerpiece dish for one of the biggest food events of the year is a big feat and sometimes we need a little help from our friends. The first thing to consider before buying a turkey of any size is how many people you need to feed with the bird.

Some types of turkeys simply aren't large enough to serve a massive crowd. Others might leave you with more leftovers than you can handle. The average sized turkey purchased on Thanksgiving, according to Breeding, is 15 to 16 pounds. The actual growing process for kosher turkeys is no different than other types; here, it's about the processing.

There's really no difference in taste. Watch out for any turkey labeled "cage-free," as that's not a legitimate claim in the turkey world like it is for eggs and chicken. The real differentiator here is a free-range label. Regulated by the USDA , it requires that birds labeled as such must have continuous, free access outdoors for more than 51 percent of their lives. Peterson says birds grown this way tend to be better-tasting, because they've been moving around more in a lower-density, lower-stress environment, allowing them to exhibit more natural behaviors.

Related: How to Cook a Turkey. If you don't want to think too much about the barnyard life of your turkey, focus on the taste: Emmons says some free-range birds may have a bit of a gamey flavor, and can often be a bit tougher since they're more muscular than other birds.

These can be tougher to find than your average supermarket turkey — often you'll need to go to a local farm or butcher shop that specializes in heritage turkeys and yes, expect to pay a premium for these, too. Over the years, turkeys have been bred for consumption and have taken on different characteristics because of it, says Emmons.

Heritage turkeys, now coming back into favor, have been bred to stay the same as they were many years ago — "much like an heirloom tomato looking and tasting like a tomato before science got a hold of it," Emmons adds. Know that the flavor and texture of a heritage turkey will be much different i. Since it's such a key part of a Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving feast, we're hoping to take some pressure off the decision. So we talked to six chefs about how they pick out and cook the perfect Thanksgiving turkey.

Armed with their expert knowledge, you can saunter into your local grocery store and have the confidence to ask for the exact kind of turkey that's right for your Thanksgiving feast.