FAQs

Storing Your Turkey

Keep your turkey “as cold as possible” and you’ll keep it wholesome and fresh.  The best temperature for your turkey is between 28 and 34 degrees F.

To store your turkey, first remove the giblets from the front cavity and the neck from the large cavity.  Wrap giblet and neck in foil or plastic and put them into the refrigerator in a bowl.  Turn the fridge to its coldest setting, and put the turkey into the coldest part of the fridge.  Leave the turkey in its plastic bag or transfer it to another bag.
An alternative to the fridge is a large (40-quart or so) picnic cooler.  Put the turkey, with neck and giblets removed, into the cooler and pack ice around it.  You can also use chemical gel-ice packs.  Close the cooler tightly.  Check it daily and re-ice if necessary.



Roasting Your Turkey

The end you want to keep in view is a thoroughly cooked, yet moist and tender, turkey.  A farm-fresh turkey properly handled is the best way to achieve that end.  Farm-fresh native turkeys roast faster than agri-business turkeys, so follow these guidelines.

* Before roasting, rinse the turkey and the giblets under cold running water



Tests for Doneness

There are at least three tests of doneness:

  • The most reliable test is a meat thermometer.  The temperature in the deep breast should be 160 to 165 degrees.  In the deep thigh, temperature should be 180 to 185 degrees.  Happily, these two temperatures occur at the same time.
  • A second test of doneness is to stick a fork into breast and thigh.  When the juices run clear, not pink or tan, the turkey is done.
  • The third test is to lift the leg away from the thigh.  If it separates easily, the turkey is done.

When the turkey is done, cool it at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before carving.  This lets the meat solidify a bit more and makes for easier and more attractive carving.

Refrigerate leftovers no more than 2 hours after removing the turkey from the oven.  Wrapped tightly in aluminum foil or freezer-grade plastic, the roasted meat can even be frozen.

Enjoy your farm-fresh turkey!