Like Us
Follow Us
Turkeys: fresh or frozen?
I have no idea how many turkeys I've cooked over the years and I'm still not certain about what to buy.
The battle, of course, is over fresh vs. frozen turkeys.
For years and years I got a frozen turkey and thawed it out according to the instructions and people just seemed to love the whole Thanksgiving feast.
Then when the high-end Metro Market opened in Downtown, I was at the meat counter one day near the holiday when the guy behind the counter asked if I wanted a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving.
He said they had the very best in fresh turkeys, Bell & Evans. It was more expensive but not by a huge amount, so I said, "Hey yea, let's go fresh this year."
So, ever since then I've gone the fresh turkey route and that's been the rule for Thanksgiving, no matter where it is being held.
I will confess that I can't tell the difference between the two when it comes either to cooking the thing or eating it. They both taste almost like turkey.
The idea of saying "fresh turkey" appeals to the snob in me, but the idea of saving even a little bit of money also has a strong appeal.
Any help on this one would be appreciated, even at this late hour.
Permalink
Print
Talkbacks (3)
Share this: 
Talkbacks
LoDoesDining | Nov. 22, 2011 at 4:36 p.m. (report)
My opinion? Unless you're buying that fresh/never frozen turkey from a local purveyor who raises great tasting birds (because they're heritage breeds, or simply raised in a way that gives the meat additional flavor), you are probably unlikely to see a difference between a "fresh" (which sometimes means previously frozen) and frozen grocery store bird. In part, because there really isn't much of one. Freezer technology is good these days, so proper handling should give you a product that is virtually no different from fresh... except when it comes to the convenience factor (no thawing involved).
| Rate this: |
MilwMOM | Nov. 22, 2011 at 4:25 p.m. (report)
They just aired an episode of Alton Brown's Good Eats on the cooking channel where he describes the differences. In a nutshell it sounded like it has more to do with having time to defrost the frozen turkey then one being better then the other (obviously type of turkey would make more difference; free range, organic, etc.). You can get turkey that is "less frozen" as well. A little time on google and I bet you could find this show and get all the details.
| Rate this: |
 |
3 comments about this article. Post your comment/review now |
Facebook comments
Disclaimer: Please note that Facebook comments are posted through Facebook and cannot be approved, edited or declined by OnMilwaukee.com. The opinions expressed in Facebook comments do not necessarily reflect those of OnMilwaukee.com or its staff.
Recent Articles & Blogs by Dave Begel
Roenicke's future with Brewers may be determined soon
Published May 21, 2013
When a team is as bad as the Milwaukee Brewers have been, you kind of just hold your breath, waiting for somebody with authority to lose patience with the whole thing and start chopping. And, as we all know, the normal first head on the chopping block belongs to the manager.
The weapons of war
Published May 16, 2013
For decades Milwaukee has been a whipping boy for all those state legislators who aren't from Milwaukee. We need to find a way to fight back, something that will scare the crap out of some Republican from Bonduel or Abbotsford or even Mequon. Here are Dave Begel's weapons of war...
What I miss the most
Published May 15, 2013
I have been kind of out of commission for more than 40 days with a health difficulty and it's been a real long haul. I think I'm in the final couple of weeks before I get to go home, but lately I've been thinking a lot about what things I miss the most.
Reaction to Journal Sentinel's new editor shows liberal bias
Published May 14, 2013
The Journal Sentinel just hired someone named David Paulsen to be its new Breaking News Editor. Paulsen comes to the paper after stints as a reporter in Wausau and Poughkeepsie, N. Y. and two years at Fox News. Well, when the announcement was made the cries from staffers in the newsroom in Downtown Milwaukee could be heard throughout the civilized world.
One change to rule them all
Published May 14, 2013
Any sport can be improved upon with simple tweaks to the rules. Here is a list of one change for the major spectator sports that will help each game.
Reaction to Collins news shows how far we've come
Published May 9, 2013
For months, all the pro leagues had been preparing for this announcement from some athlete. They had formed alliances with LGBT groups, laying plans for how to respond and how to handle the inevitable public reaction. But even in Wisconsin, we have moved beyond this kind of homophobic bull crap.
We boo because we care
Published May 7, 2013
Do something great and we adore our heroes with shouts, screams and applause. We care and we show we care. What are we to do when they screw something up? We care about them just as much and ignoring their failure should not be part of this equation. Not caring is worse, much worse, than disapproving. We have to let them know that we who depend on them so much are disappointed.
Etiquette: why stop at forks?
Published May 3, 2013
Enough young people have been convinced they should care about using the proper fork that a number of colleges and universities in Milwaukee have started holding etiquette classes for students headed out for job interview lunches and dinners. I see no reason, however, to limit this to meals. Think of all the opportunities these kids are missing.
Does crime cause poverty or does poverty cause crime?
Published April 25, 2013
Nobody is born a criminal. There is no inevitability to a kid becoming a criminal. There is something else at work here, and that leads us to the big question: Does crime cause poverty or does poverty cause crime?
Paying for fun is nothing new
Published April 23, 2013
Excitement, recreation and fun are good things and they are well worth paying for. Let's remove the science from this debate and just concentrate on the style of life and caliber of a city we all really want.
