Free Range Organic Turkey

[sieve]

so i've ordered a free range organic turkey for the big hoilday. amusing in that there are only two of us, and the smallest available is 14lbs. whatever.

my question is this: are there any appreciable difference in the bird that would need to be accounted for in prep/cooking? is it less fatty? gamier? bigger thighs, smaller breasts? maybe just a little more attitude? any feedback would be appreciated. thanks!

[jwagnerdsm]

Some of it depends on the regulations in your state regarding the sale of poultry. Here, (Iowa) all livestock needs to be processed at a state-inspected and regulated butcher shop or locker plant if it is to be sold. That means the bird is cleaned and ready to go, probably better than the birds you buy frozen at the grocery. Second, the bird may or may not be delivered frozen. That will account for some changes in prep time. You'll find a free-range bird to be much meatier, particularly the breasts. But you can treat it just like any other turkey. Oh, and there won't be one of those little pop up thermometers to tell you when the turkey is cooked.

[Alex]

so i've ordered a free range organic turkey for the big hoilday. amusing in that there are only two of us, and the smallest available is 14lbs. whatever.

Ditto here. It's worth it, though. We've both slow-cooked and standard-cooked them. This year we'll probably deep-fry.

The timing appears to be about the same as a standard turkey, but use your thermometer, of course. Brining is good.

[FoodMan]

so i've ordered a free range organic turkey for the big hoilday. amusing in that there are only two of us, and the smallest available is 14lbs. whatever.

my question is this: are there any appreciable difference in the bird that would need to be accounted for in prep/cooking? is it less fatty? gamier? bigger thighs, smaller breasts? maybe just a little more attitude? any feedback would be appreciated. thanks!

where did u get it from if I may ask?

Elie

[arjay]

"Free range" poultry is a joke. They don't run free and eat natural foods to be gathered up later in a turkey roundup. They are kept in the same digs as all the other birds with a small opening so that they can go outside in a small fenced area if they choose. They almost never choose to. Their price is a ripoff and the differences are negligible.

[marie-louise]

Here's a link to the Diestel Turkey website. Somewhere in there is their recommendations on the best ways to cook their birds. They sell these year-round at my corner store, including half-breasts, not frozen. They taste terrific. I'm not sure if they do mail-order.

Edited November 14, 2003 by marie-louise (log)