National Turkey Fed - Prep F rom turkey cutlets and deli meats to turkey sausage and whole birds, consumers can be confident they are getting their money's worth. To assure maximum enjoyment of your turkey products, follow these recommended practices for buying, storing and preparing turkey. T here is no quality difference between a fresh or frozen turkey. Frozen turkeys are flash frozen immediately after packaging to 0 degrees F. or below and held at that temperature until purchased. Once defrosted, the meat is practically as fresh as the day it was processed.
Fresh turkeys are deep-chilled after packaging and have shorter shelf lives.
Because they are perishable and require special handling and merchandising, fresh turkeys are slightly more expensive than frozen turkeys. Choose the product that best meets your needs without sacrificing quality. By purchasing a frozen turkey, you can get the turkey in advance and take advantage of special sales and coupons. Fresh turkeys provide convenience because they do not require thawing. Purchase at least one pound of uncooked turkey per person when purchasing a whole turkey.