When should you buy a turkey for Thanksgiving? The Complete Guide to Turkey

Before you dive into the bird of the hour, timing is everything!

While many people prefer savory dishes, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without the star that is synonymous with the day: turkey.

November rolls around and you suddenly feel the urge to rush to the store to snag a bird off the shelf and secure that coveted turkey in front of a crowd. However, there are important safety guidelines to consider before purchasing, and according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “Turkey is the most frequently asked food category by consumers.”

To help answer your burning questions, PEOPLE spoke with former National Turkey Federation President and CEO Joel Brandenberger, who retired in June 2024, about some of the most common questions and topics people mention, from thawing methods and cooking temperatures to storage of leftovers.

For more insider tips, PEOPLE also reached out to Butterball Turkey Talk-Line Director Nicole Johnson, who has worked for the company for more than 20 years and says Thanksgiving is “our Super Bowl,” to weigh in on the matter.

For a stress-free holiday, read on for tips on timing your turkey before Thanksgiving!

Should you buy a fresh or frozen turkey for Thanksgiving?

Some people prefer fresh or frozen turkey, while others have no choice as it all comes down to what’s left on the shelves in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Luckily, Butterball’s Johnson says there’s no difference between the two when it comes to taste and food safety.

“The only difference between fresh and frozen is whether you want to defrost them or not. Fresh is really convenient because it’s already defrosted for you,” explains the mom of four, who says she personally is “totally fresh.” because she’s “all about multitasking and making it easy.”

Whether you purchase a fresh or frozen turkey, Johnson guarantees consumers that both turkey options are “tender, juicy and delicious!” (That is, if you take the right steps to prepare the bird before cooking!)

When should I buy a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving?

It’s definitely worth strategizing when to buy fresh turkey, especially with the rush to the store in November. Brandenberger, a former member of the National Turkey Federation, tells PEOPLE that the situation varies depending on whether the turkeys are purchased at the store or from a farm.

“If you are purchasing produce directly from a specialty farm, selling directly to consumers, contact the farm directly for ordering recommendations,” he says. “If you are looking for a specific type or brand of fresh turkey at the supermarket, we recommend asking the store manager about the reservation process as early as possible.”

“If the turkey is truly fresh and has never been frozen, then you likely won’t be able to pick it up until Thanksgiving week,” Brandenberger adds. Johnson, however, says fresh Butterball turkeys typically hit shelves in early November.

She allayed concerns about buying fresh turkey “too early” this month, explaining that Butterball has a “long shelf life due to the refrigeration process they went through in the factory before shipping.”

So if you want to claim your turkey in early November, you can do so, although Johnson advises consumers to consider the “sell by” or “use by” date on the tag before purchasing a fresh turkey.

“We tell cooks they can leave this wrap in the refrigerator and safely use it for Thanksgiving,” she says. “Usually that date will be Thanksgiving, but a lot of them will even be the next day because a lot of people want to celebrate Thanksgiving.”

In fact, Johnson admits that she celebrates the day after Thanksgiving because she answers Turkey’s phone line on the day of the holiday! “Really our core value here at Butterball is bringing people together.”

What questions should you ask before purchasing farm fresh turkey?

Brandenberger tells PEOPLE that “it’s wise to inquire about the circumstances under which the turkeys were processed” before purchasing a turkey fresh from the farm, such as “whether a state or federal inspector was present.”

However, Brandenberger says asking to that extent is a “personal preference.” But he also suggests checking directly with the supplier or retailer to see if the consumer has any “special requests or needs.”

To avoid any potential foodborne illnesses after purchasing a turkey and before cooking it, Brandenberger says it’s “crucial” to follow the National Turkey Federation’s “four basic food safety guidelines.”

These include: “Peel, Separate, Cook and Chill.” When it’s finally turkey time, Brandenberger stresses that you should “always cook the turkey to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.”

He then emphasizes that cooks check at least three parts of the entire turkey to make sure it’s done. He recommends “the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing.”

How to store fresh turkey?

You’ve secured your turkey… now what? Storing poultry in the days leading up to Thanksgiving is just as important as deciding when to buy it.

Johnson suggests storing fresh turkey “unopened” and “refrigerated” until the expiration date on the tag or until cooks are ready to start cooking! As for refrigerator temperature, she says that “ideally it should be between 35 and 40 degrees,” noting that “lower temperatures are preferable.”

Regardless of whether the turkey is fresh or frozen, Johnson advises cooks to place a tray under it “in case there are tiny holes in the packaging.” She explains: “Some of the raw chicken juices may leak into the refrigerator. If you have a tray underneath it, it will help catch some of that juice.”

When taking the turkey out of the refrigerator on Thanksgiving, Johnson says many people assume they need to wash the turkey during the cooking process before cooking it, but she says “that’s not true.”

One benefit of Butterball turkeys in particular is that they’re “already cleaned for you,” Johnson says. “This has already been pre-basted for you.” While she claims that “additional basting or salting” can be done, she explains that “it’s not necessary” because Butterball has “already done the work for you.”

For those who bought a fresh turkey and Thanksgiving was postponed, fear not! Johnson says “they can cook” the turkey ahead of time if they want, and then “cut the turkey meat off the bones and put it in the refrigerator or freeze it for longer storage.”

When should I buy a frozen Thanksgiving turkey?

If you decide to opt for a frozen turkey, Johnson advises purchasing it “as soon as you see it” and it will hit shelves in November. “This will give you a better chance of getting the right size turkey,” she says.

Meanwhile, you can buy turkey months in advance due to its long shelf life; however, the recommended time frame for purchasing a turkey is the week leading up to the holiday due to the time it takes to defrost the turkey during the week leading up to the holiday.

“Ideally, you want to buy it now,” Johnson tells PEOPLE of those who haven’t yet caught their frozen bird exactly one week before Thanksgiving. “Or if you don’t want to go through the thawing process, you can also choose a fresh turkey.”

“These turkeys are still tender, juicy and delicious, but they don’t require defrosting,” she continues. “They go straight from the grocer’s refrigerator to your home refrigerator, so it’s really convenient.”

When should I start thawing a frozen turkey?

If the turkey is frozen at any point, Brandenberger says, “it’s very important to make sure you have enough time to let the turkey thaw completely,” and this should always be done “in the refrigerator or in cold water.”

“Rest for 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey,” he notes. “For example, if you have a 15-pound turkey, you will need to let it thaw in the refrigerator for 3 days.”

From the number one question Johnson and her team ask on the Butterball Turkey Talkline, she asks PEOPLE: “How do I defrost a turkey?” A common question—Johnson admits he “never strays from it year after year”—suggests an answer that’s easy to remember.

“In fact, we designate the Thursday before Thanksgiving as ‘National Turkey Defrost Day,’” she says. “People laugh at it, but it’s a really clever way to remind people.”

How to store frozen turkey?

When it comes to storing a frozen turkey, it’s not much different than storing a fresh one. Again, Johnson suggests “leaving the wrapper on throughout the thawing process.”

From a food safety standpoint, Johnson says, frozen turkey can actually “be cooked safely for many years”—that is, only if “it’s kept in its original packaging and you haven’t had any major power outages.” ”

While frozen turkey can be stored for years, Johnson says, “it may not be as tender and juicy as if you just bought it.” However, she assures that “it can certainly be cooked safely.”