The Pros and Cons of Buying Frozen Turkey vs Fresh Turkey

Whether it’s your first time cooking a whole turkey or not, choosing whether to buy a fresh or frozen bird can be stressful. There are pros and cons to both fresh and frozen turkeys and which one you decide on will depend on certain factors. This includes how soon you plan to cook the meal, how many people you need to feed, and where you plan to buy the turkey from.

Fresh Turkeys

Fresh turkeys are more likely to be raised in a free-range setting similar to their natural habitat. They’re fed a healthier diet and are often preservative and antibiotic-free. They’re deep chilled soon after they’re slaughtered and sold quickly afterward to retain their quality. You should cook a fresh turkey within a day or two of purchasing it.

Because of the extra care that goes into rearing fresh turkeys, they are usually more expensive. They can also be difficult to source outside of the holiday season because the demand for whole turkeys is lower the rest of the year.

Frozen Turkeys

Frozen turkeys cost less than fresh ones and are easier to source throughout the year. Since they don’t need to be cooked right away, you can keep a frozen turkey on hand until you’re ready to defrost it and cook it.

The downside to this convenience is thawing. The safest way to thaw a turkey is to place it in the refrigerator and allow it to defrost for 24 hours per 2kg. The bigger your bird is, the longer this will take.

If you’re worried about the quality of a frozen turkey, there’s very little difference between fresh and frozen.  Frozen turkeys are frozen immediately after they’re processed to preserve their freshness and nutritional content.

Other Cuts of Turkey

You don’t have to buy a large bird when you want to cook a turkey. Fresh turkey crowns and frozen turkey crowns are turkeys with the legs removed, leaving you with mostly white meat. Turkey breasts and rolls are other smaller cuts of turkey that can easily feed an entire family.

Halal Turkey from Arkenz ltd

If you’ve decided to make the turkey for dinner, then shop at Arkenz ltd. In addition to our halal whole turkey (frozen), we also have fresh halal turkeys, turkey breasts, and turkey breast rolls for smaller feasts. To have delicious halal turkey delivered to your doorstep, start shopping today.