Hints for purchasing and preparing your holiday turkey
Buying tad Thawing
Holiday Turkeys
Turkeys come in all sixes to fit
everyone's holiday meal plans.
They can be purchased whole as
in the traditional manner, or in
parts, suitable (or small families
i or those who have a preference
for white or dark meat only.
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north Carolina
AGRICULXURAI
EXTENSION
SERVICE
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They come fresh or frozen,
self-basting and prestuffed.
Because so many different
types of turkeys are available in
the market today, you can be
sure you are getting exactly what
you want by carefully reading
the label.
There are two important
pieces of information to look for
before you make your selection.
An inspection mark on the label
lets you know the turkey has
been inspected and that it is safe,
wholesome, and accurately
labeled.
Some 95 percent of all turkeys
? and other meat and poultry
products ? are inspected by the
U. S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
Another symbol you will find
on many packages is a USDA
grade mark ? usually grade A.
Turkeys that are grade A are
meaty, have a well developed
layer of fat in the skin, and are
practially free from pinfeathers,
brusises, cuts, tears on the
breast and legs, and broken
bones.
How can you be sure of buying
a tender turkey? The age
category on the label is the key.
The younger the turkey, the
more tender and mild flavored it
will be.
All turkeys in the market are
young and will be labeled young
turkey (usually four to six
months of age).
There are also young turkeys
labeled fryer-roaster turkey
(usaually under 16 weeks of age).
The sex designation of hen or torn
is optional on the label, and is an
indication of size rather than the
tMtoMU of a turkey.
Fresh or Froaen Turkeys?
Another choice shoppers make
is whether to buy a fresh or
frozen turkey. There Is no
significant difference in quality
between a fresh turkey and a
frozen one; the choice is based on
personal preference.
Storing Froaen Turkeys
If you are one of those people
who likes to shop well in advance
of when you will be serving your
meal, then a frozen turkey is
your best bet. At the market, look
for one tht is solidly frozen.
Many frozen turkeys are now
available pre-basted, and some
are prestuffed. By reading the
label carefully, you can be sure
of getting exactly what you want.
A whole frozen turkey ?
prestuffed or unstuffed ? can be
stored in your home freezer at 0
degrees farenheit or below for up
to one year without appreciable
loss of quality. Keep a prestuffed
turkey in the freezer until you
are ready to cook it.
Here, too, some labels can be
helpful by including "sell by"
dates. The "sell by" date is the
last day the turkey should be sold
by the retailer. It will maintain
optimal quality and safety for 1
or 2 days after this date.
You should avoid selecting a
fresh turkey that is stacked
above the top of the store's
refrigerator case. Remember,
once you get your fresh turkey
home, refrigerate it right away
at 40 degrees or below, and use it
within one to two days.
Your market may be able to
reserve a fresh turkey for you
and hold it for last-minute
pickup.
Fresh turkey parts can be
frozen and stored in your freeser
at 0 degrees or below for up to six
months. The turkey parts should
be repackaged in any type of
moisture-vapor-resistant wrap
such as freezer paper or heavy
duty aluminum foil to prevent
freezer burn and the
development of an off-flavor.
Date packages before storing,
and always use the oldest first.
Turkey parts have a shorter
freezer-life than do whole
turkeys because more surface
area is exposed, providing a
greater opportunity for
GRAND OPENING and
CHRISTMAS
OPEN HOUSE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17
6:00 to 9:30 P.M.
at
GREENWORLD J
& FLORIST
Hw y. 17 South, just past the
Museum of the Albemarle
microbial contamination during
processing and packaging.
Buying the Right Sis* Turkey
Once you have decided on the
type ol turkey you want to buy.
the next question is how big; it
should be. You can figure on one
pound of turkey per person. If the
turkey is prestuffed, allow one
and one-quarter pounds per
person. This will provide
generous servings with enough
left over for second day dishes .
Whether you have four days or
12 hours, you can safely thnw
your frozen turkey without
risking bacterial growth.
Thawing your turkey in the
refrigerator is the preferred
mehtod for safety reasons, but
you can also thaw it in cold
water.
The thing to remember abput
both methods is that they keep
your turkey cold while thawing
? the key to preventing
excessive bacterial growth.
And, no matter which method
you select, cook the turkey
promptly after thawing.
Thawing in the Refrigerator
The following chart shows how
long it will take to thaw turkeys
of various sizes in the
refrigerator. Simply place the
turkey in tis original wrap on a
tray or in a pan to catch moisture
that accumulates as it thaws.
Thawing time ip the
refrigerator is as follows :
Whole Turkey
Eight to 12 pounds, 1 to 2 days;
12 to 16 pounds, 2 to 3 days; 16 to
20 pounds, 3 to 4 days; and 20 to
24 pounds, 4 to 5 days.
Pieces of Large Turkey
Half, quarter, 'half breast, 1 to 2
days.
Thawing in Cold Water
If it's the day before you plan
to serve your turkey and you just
remembered that it's still sitting
in the freexer, don't despair.
Check the wrapping to make sure
there are no tears, and simply
place the bird in its unopened bag
in the sink or in a large container
and cover it with cold water.
If the wrapping is torn, place
the turkey in another plastic bag,
close securely, and then place in
water. You will need to change
the water frequently to assure
safe but effective thawing. The
National Turkey Fedeation
recommends every 30 minutes as
a rule of thumb.
The following
recommendations are given for
thawing a whole turkey in cold
water.
Eight to 12 pounds, four to six
hours; 12 to 16 pounds, six to nine
hours; 16 to 20 pounds, nine to 11
hours, 20 to 24 pounds, 11 to 12
hours.
To the citizens of the First District:
The office of Senator is bigger than one man.
I'm just a shadow cast by you, the citizens, but
in that shadow lies a strength and a commit
ment to work for a better North Carolina.
When you elected me as your Senator, you
did the next best thing to being there yourself.
When I'm in IRaleigh, you'll be there, too, in my
conscience and with your best interests in my
heart.
If I am your shadow, you give me shape and
form. You mode me Senator and your continued
support and input will make me a better one.
Thank you,
Marc Basnight
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