How To Choose A Thanksgiving Turkey

Please pass the turkey! We’re thinking this could possibly be one of the most utilized phrases on Thanksgiving and after all, would it really be Thanksgiving without turkey? The main dish of the holiday can definitely feel like one of the trickiest parts, but we’re here to help. See below to find out what you need to consider when shopping for a turkey:

How Much Do I Need?

There’s a simple rule of thumb to keep in mind: you typically need about 1 pound of bone-in turkey per person (a little more if you want leftovers). If you’re having lots of guests, we do recommend purchasing two smaller turkeys rather than one enormous turkey so you’ll have enough space to cook them evenly.

White or Dark Meat?

If everyone prefers dark meat, there’s no sense in purchasing the whole bird. You can simply roast a bunch of turkey legs, which are primarily dark meat. If everyone likes white meat, we suggest ordering a bone-in turkey breast instead.

Fresh or Frozen?

Fresh turkeys are never chilled below 26 degrees, but they can be held for a while before they even make it to the local store. Be sure to check the “sell-by” or “use-by” date and it’s always best to buy fresh turkeys within a day or two of the holiday.

Frozen turkeys will take a while to defrost so we recommend leaving in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey.

Chip’s Family Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to customers in Fairfield, Orange, Southbury, Trumbull, Wethersfield, and our newest location, Southington, Connecticut. All our meals are homemade, breakfast is served all day and we use local fresh produce. To visit one of our locations or view our menu items, please click on the tabs above.