Is one turkey better than another?

[Passepartout]

I have wanted to stuff our turkey with a game hen.... my Thanksgiving fantasy.

Here's a link to my TG fantasy.... http://www.cajungrocer.com/fresh-fo...ource=google&gclid=CIbW2qqKkJ4CFSZnswodK10pqw

Jim Ricks

 

[Amy]

Does free range, vegetarian fed, non-hormone shot turkeys taste any different from "regular" turkeys (if cooked using the same recipe)?

 

[laurac260]

Does free range, vegetarian fed, non-hormone shot turkeys taste any different from "regular" turkeys (if cooked using the same recipe)?

This is what the chef at our organic grocer told me. Since the type of turkey you described above has not been injected with sodium solution, they do have a tendency to dry out easier. His suggestion was to do a turkey brine before hand. Now I have never done this, nor have I ever purchased an organic turkey before, but since I have decided to go all organic with all our meats, eggs and dairy products (and am slowly working on our other food groups) I decided it was time to give it a try. We will see how it turns out. Someone mentioned in a previous post I believe that basting tends to dry out the bird (I think I read that), well, the info I was reading from a handout I got at Williams-Sonoma suggested that you should baste every hour using a regular turkey baster, and to cover the bird loosely with aluminum foil (make a "tent") for the first 2/3rds of the cooking time, to slow down the browning.

 

[laurac260]

I was watching america's funniest home videos once when a woman invited her whole family over for thanksgiving. She had cooked her first ever turkey. The "funny part" (read, GROSS part) was when she was getting ready to serve it, and mentioned that she got a really great turkey. It was even "pre-stuffed" with the stuffing mix! Well, the "stuffing mix" was the bag of "parts" that are shoved inside the turkey. They even showed her reaching in and pulling out the "stuffing":ignore:

 

[easyrider]

The east Cascade wild turkey, the good for you turkey and all of the other turkeys I ever had the pleasure of eating, all tasted like turkey to me. They all made good sandwiches too. I like my turkey cooked in the reynolds oven bag, stuffed with dressing and bacon criss crossed on the breast while baking.

 

[Amy]

I can't disclose my source, but I live in the heart of the turkey country and many times turkeys are raised by one company, and packaged and sold under a different label.

For instance, there is a well-known, free-range, gourmet Turkey that is sold over the internet for around $100, but right before Thanksgiving, when they run out of birds, they substitute regular old Foster Farms Turkeys, for the more expensive and supposedly "free range" gourmet turkeys - and they don't disclose this to the buyer or charge less.

I've been thinking about this, and it really bothers me. You are describing a fraudulent act against consumers. Has anyone who know of such practices reported this company (or these companies) to some consumer protection agency or to some news agency?

 

[ScoopKona]

I've been thinking about this, and it really bothers me. You are describing a fraudulent act against consumers. Has anyone who know of such practices reported this company (or these companies) to some consumer protection agency or to some news agency?

Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility -- Ambrose Bierce

Suffice to say that we as consumers are not getting what we paid for. Either adjust purchasing habits to account for that, or be continually reamed by the system we have put into place. Suggest that the system is flawed, and be trounced on internet fora for being "political."

I shop at the "ethnic" markets because the "ream factor" is considerably less than in the megamarts. Sure, there are good things to be had at the megamarts, but never in the center of the store. Decent food is only found in what they call "the raceway" around the periphery.

 

[bobcat]

This is what the chef at our organic grocer told me. Since the type of turkey you described above has not been injected with sodium solution, they do have a tendency to dry out easier. His suggestion was to do a turkey brine before hand. Now I have never done this, nor have I ever purchased an organic turkey before, but since I have decided to go all organic with all our meats, eggs and dairy products (and am slowly working on our other food groups) I decided it was time to give it a try. We will see how it turns out. Someone mentioned in a previous post I believe that basting tends to dry out the bird (I think I read that), well, the info I was reading from a handout I got at Williams-Sonoma suggested that you should baste every hour using a regular turkey baster, and to cover the bird loosely with aluminum foil (make a "tent") for the first 2/3rds of the cooking time, to slow down the browning.

We baste with white wine. It even gives the gravy a nice taste. We make two kinds of stuffing. We do not stuff the turkey. We make a chestnut herb stuffing and a Italian saugage stuffing.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

Anyone know if Trader Joe's has them before Christmas or not? I know fresh is better, but I'm thinking maybe I should buy one now at Trader Joes for Christmas.
Liz

 

[pjrose]

Newsweek article about turkey

The 11/23/09 issue of Newsweek has an essay about turkey on page 63.

In part, it says:

"99 percent of turkeys . . . so broad breasted that they're too fat to walk, much less procreate . . . bland mushy meat we have come to equate with tenderness . . . injected with a saline solution or vegetable oil . . . "

The essay continues that "localharvest.org operates an online store supplied by farmers who raise happy birds....meat is finer and denser...thin layer of fat...self basting..."

I always get the free frozen turkey offered by my grocery store, but I dunno, maybe this year I'll look for a happier turkey

 

[Texasbelle]

JennieO for 27 cents from Kroger with addidtional $20 purchase. Have had good luck with these, except for the time the gravy packet had a hole in it and it leaked as the turkey thawed. JennieO sent me some coupons, but no refund when I complained. We like the white meat only and like it fairly dry, not infused with butter. We like the stuffing cooked separately.

 

[Rose Pink]

...this year I'll look for a happier turkey

Is a dead turkey a happy turkey? I mean, how happy can you be if someone chops off your head and stuffs your rear with soggy bread?

 

[ricoba]

Is a dead turkey a happy turkey? I mean, how happy can you be if someone chops off your head and stuffs your rear with soggy bread?

:hysterical: :hysterical:

 

[easyrider]

Wife scored a free turkey when she bought some xmas gifts yesterday. I bet it cooks up just right and makes me happy.

 

[ScoopKona]

The 11/23/09 issue of Newsweek has an essay about turkey on page 63.

In part, it says:

"99 percent of turkeys . . . so broad breasted that they're too fat to walk, much less procreate . . . bland mushy meat we have come to equate with tenderness . . . injected with a saline solution or vegetable oil . . . "

Brining the bird with lots of herbs and spices helps. It will really improve the texture of the meat. The problem with the "brine" used by the megafarms is it's just their way to add a little more weight to the bird. They're adding lightly salted water and little else. If they're adding "3 percent brine", that's almost half a pound of extra weight - that's free money for the farm, the wholesaler and the retailer.

I use a cup of salt for my brine, plus regular (high sodium) chicken broth, and roughly one pound of herbs and spices (lots of rosemary). Seriously, I dump the contents of all the dried herbs and spices that are "past their prime" (within reason -- no mass quantities of cinnamon, naturally).

I still get the "free" turkey every year. My in laws have never tasted the good stuff, and probably wouldn't appreciate it if I spent the money. I still go a little further than the rest of my family would -- I run the potatoes through a ricer, for instance, and deglaze with brandy for the gravy.

DW and I spend Christmas without the big family, and do something extra special -- usually involving a free-range goose, champagne and a bajillion dollars worth of black truffles.

 

[Jestjoan]

Turkey ratings (don't know that date)

http://www.goodguide.com/browse/278146-thanksgiving-turkey/top#page=1&action=top

Couldn't find CR ratings......