Got a Thanksgiving Turkey for 68 cents a pound...How does that compare ?

[Mickey_Fx]

Looks like some of you are seeing reasonable prices compared to here. Just saw a Safeway ad this AM for birds. House brand with no purchase $1.49. With a $50 purchase = $.69, $100 purchase = $.49 & $150 purchase = free. Sim prices at Fred Meyers, known locally as Freddy Kroger since Kroger's bought FM a decade ago.

Ended up paying $.99 @ Costco with no purchase necessary.

Being older than dirt, I recall when holiday turkeys were in the .19-.29 price range and don't recall back then any purchase necessary to get those prices.

 

[Bob77064]

Last night we went to Walmart, they had sweet potatoes for .25 per pound.

 

[nybirdman]

I think the big chain stores sell turkeys at a loss;gets you in the store.We the price of feed today(I raise 1500 pheasants per year)I don't see how anyone can make a profit of turkeys.
We used to raised turkeys for our own use;one year we butchered a 35lb.dressed tom;mother wasn't happy it wouldn't fit in her oven!

 

[dave1949]

I think the big chain stores sell turkeys at a loss;gets you in the store.We the price of feed today(I raise 1500 pheasants per year)I don't see how anyone can make a profit of turkeys.
We used to raised turkeys for our own use;one year we butchered a 35lb.dressed tom;mother wasn't happy it wouldn't fit in her oven!

We have a turkey farm nearby, $3.99/lb and sold out for now. You pick them up dressed and never frozen. But, yikes, that's $48 for 16 lb turkey. I think they only raise enough to sell to a regular core of customers. And, they use the CSA approach too. The Turkey Farm, Order Turkey Online Maine

I tried one a couple years back, it was good, but I've never gone back. I bought a 23 lb turkey and some smoked breast, it about bankrupted me. :laughing:

I don't know what makes them so expensive. Maybe because we are far from the gain belt and there is no chance to raise corn and add value to it by feeding turkeys?

 

[Bird]

We have a turkey farm nearby, $3.99/lb and sold out for now. You pick them up dressed and never frozen. But, yikes, that's $48 for 16 lb turkey.

Errrr . . uuhhh, I think there's a small error in the math there.

one year we butchered a 35lb.dressed tom;mother wasn't happy it wouldn't fit in her oven!

I can sympathize with her. I used to buy, and cook, the turkey for a family dinner, but one year a nephew said he'd get the turkey, but that he didn't know how to cook one, so he'd bring it to me to cook. Well, he brought a turkey that was too big to fit into any cookware I had, so I had to go buy a new roaster pan, and cut the handle off the top of the lid to get it to fit into our oven. And that cost me more than if I'd just bought a turkey.:laughing:

 

[J_J]

I am having Sonny's Barbecue smoke a 12 lb for me and my family

I purchased an additional frozen turkey to try smoking one myself, having never done it. We shall see the comparison.

Which kind of wood chips make a good smoked flavor?

Is there a time limit or a weight limit to smoke a turkey?

Also, is the turkey partially or fully smoked, and does it get to the middle of the meat?

I have noticed a color change to some smoked meat in to about 1/4 to 1/2 in. Should it be more?

 

[dave1949]

Errrr . . uuhhh, I think there's a small error in the math there.

Thank you Bird. Yes, I was even more bankrupt than I thought :laughing:: 4 X 16 = 64, not 48

 

[whistlepig]

The largest I have smoked is 10 pounds. Takes about 5-6 hours at 240 degrees. I prefer cherry wood but apple or hickory are good. The color change is called a smoke ring. 1/4 to 1/2" is good.

 

[Bird]

J J, I used hickory, mesquite, or pecan, or a combination of those. I've no doubt apple would be good, but I never had any apple wood.

The smoked turkeys I've bought had the color change and smoky flavor all the way through. The ones I've smoked at home had the quarter to half inch smoke ring.

I'm not really sure, but I think those commercially smoked ones were smoked a matter of days instead of hours. But either one tasted good.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

I am having Sonny's Barbecue smoke a 12 lb for me and my family





I purchased an additional frozen turkey to try smoking one myself, haveing never done it. We shall see the comparison.

Which kind of wood chips make a good smoked flavor?

Is there a time limit or a weight limit to smoke a turkey?

Also, is the turkey partially or fully smoked, and does it get to the middle of the meat?

I have noticed a color change to some smoked meat in to about 1/4 to 1/2 in. Should it be more?

Everyone has their own favorite way to smoke meat. I'll be putting some smoke to our bird next week. I have a cold smoker I'll be using. Will have the bird in the smoker for maybe 4 hrs on Wed. After that will wrap it back up again and let it rest in the frig till Thurs morning. The resting will permit the infused smoke to permeate all the meat making the smoke flavor even out over night. Thurs, the wife will cook the bird as normal, stuffed cavity and be able to capture the juices for the gravy and added juice/smoke flavor to the stuffing in the bird. :licking:

In past yrs when there has been a large gathering we typ cook a traditional turkey and I smoke a ham. I'll buy a low cost ham with a fair amount of water already injected. When in the smoker for 4-6 hrs, the added water helps keep the meat from drying out. Sure is a great way to turn a cheap meat into something special. The typ response is :licking: The ham stands a good chance of being the more popular meat on the table.

The internet is your friend and you will find quite a bit of information on smoking meat, including turkeys. Here is one link for info on smoking woods. Types of Barbecue Woods to use for Smoking Meat

Don't over indulge, that is unless you want to. :laughing:

In addition to the smoke bird there will be a platter with smoked cheese, maybe even some jerky that started out in the smoker.