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Keeping fresh turkey 'safe'

10 years ago

Every year I order a fresh turkey from my butcher. This year, I'm having a small dinner and in order to get a smaller turkey I will have to pick it up on Dec. 19. Is there any way to keep it 'fresh' for that many days? I have my fridge, an unheated garage, and a cooler for storage. I would prefer not to have to freeze it.

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Comments (6)

grainlady_ks
10 years ago
You need to store it in a refrigerator with the temperature between 35-40°F. You wouldn't want to trust the fluctuating temperature of an unheated garage or a cooler because both can get warmer than 40°F (the danger zone for food is 40°F to 140°F. The suggested storage time for a raw turkey is 4-days. After 4-days you need to freeze or cook the turkey.

You might call the Butterball Hot Line and check with them for more information.

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lindac92
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Well, if your butcher wants you to pick it up on the 19th for Christmas, you can bet your bottom dollar it's not "fresh" as in soft....but one of those turkeys that has been stored at about 28 degrees and is frozen but not deep frozen. Likely it will have a sell by date on it of days later than the 25th, but will need to be kept in the refrigerator.
I don't like those "fresh" turkeys as compared to frozen. And think it's a big mistake to call them fresh when they are very different from "fresh killed"...which means a bird that was alive the day before yesterday.
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Olychick
10 years ago
I freeze ice in plastic bottles and use them in my cooler to keep things cold. Assuming you don't live in someplace that is warm this time of year, I would put it in the cooler in your garage, and fill it with bottles of ice (or bags of ice) and keep changing them as the ice melts. You can put a thermometer inside to make sure it stays cool enough. Just be sure some ice is on top of the turkey, as that will be the warmest part of the cooler, and turn the turkey once or twice a day.
northerner_on
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks so much for your replies. Linda, I started thinking about how the butcher keeps his turkeys 'fresh' until Christmas myself, and wondering if I should buy a frozen one instead. Costs much less, and if I brine it, it may be fine. I do live in the North, and our temps. will not be above freezing anytime soon, so using my cooler and the ice-bath in the garage may be fine. Perhaps I could pick it up a day later so that I am within the 4-day limit. I just will think this over for the next few days. The worst thing is to have your family sick over the holidays. Happy holidays to you all!!
lindac92
10 years ago
Your "fresh" turkey that is frozen but not frozen solidly and not held at zero will not be as good as a frozen turkey. At least all that I have had weren't as good. The first one I bought because I thought it would be better....and after 4 days in the refrigerator it was still icy inside. The next 2 I bought was because that's all that was available in the size I wanted.
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
10 years ago
That is a bit early for my comfort zone. I would ask a few questions. If it is air-lock sealed they have a few days more, kept cold. When we get fresh kill, meaning walk in, see the bird live and watch the cone drop, then the plucker, then bring it home warm...chill a day, them brine overnight and cook day three.

6 days is a bit long but some are processed and kept very cold and have a use-by date. Like mentioned by linda, i often prefer fresh frozen, like most seafood, over something called fresh/never frozen that may not be so fresh.

All my fresh/never frozen turkeys have been much better than solid frozen. By a mile. I do trust my market for that. Though never 6 days in advance. My auxiliary fridge is kept very cold and rarely opened and never stuffed full.

Have not planned the xmas holiday yet but might be ducks like last year. Delivered on my doorstep within 24hours of being prepped in dry ice cube mats...and i ordered extra paws and necks for stock very cheap.

And then again, if a good butcher, why would they sell you something un-safe? I bet it is air-locked with the tight packaging that does have a longer best-by date...me thinks.

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