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

[creekbend]

Our local Food Lion has had a promotion for the last two months. If you buy $40.00 or more, you receive a coupon and after collecting six coupons, you receive a $20.00 coupon to use. I intend to go shopping Monday and use the $20.00 coupon. Every little bit helps. I am unaware of the sweet potato prices. BTW, I sincerely hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving with their Families.

 

[Fossil Farm]

Don't know about Krogers, but that isn't the way meat is retailed in chains around here now. Most of it is received pre-cut, pre-wrapped, some packages have had oxygen removed and then filled with nitrogen. It doesn't even smell good when you open the package, always a whiff of decay.

We have plenty of packing houses around here, at least for chickens. Park Farms and several "Amish" house brands. It is usually pretty good quality. Was able to tour a few of the packing houses, and man is that a totally different world than us raising and butchering a few chickens and other livestock each year. We buy turkey throughout the year but right now it is around 79 cents a pound (bone in of course) at most stores.

 

[sodamo]

Picked up 2 birds this week.

Local Foodland chain had frozen, JennieO brand, up to 14 pounds.
Free if you had the store loyalty coupon
$2.97 with additional $30 purchase, limit 2 per day
$4.97, straight purchase, limit 2 per day

So I got 13.54lb, guess that's about 37 cents/lb for the freezer. I've bought them years prior and always good.

Later I bought a fresh, not frozen, bird at Costco for 1.19/lb. I'll be cooking that one in the ceramic cooker with some Ohia wood for TDay.
Someone bringing another, but I don't know the pedigree, but with 35 people it isn't destined to last long.

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[Eyeshade]

Costco California Foster Farms fresh are $.99 / lb.

 

[Eyeshade]

Costco California Foster Farms fresh are $.99 / lb.

Forgot to mention, Whole Foods fresh turkey was $150.00 each. That is not a typo.

 

[CBW1999]

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? Everyone has their own preference- I keep trying different ones, personally don't have a favorite though.

Is there a time limit or a weight limit to smoke a turkey? As long as it fits in your smoker...... The key is Low and Slow. Generally 200 to 250 degrees max. I have a wireless thermometer set up that I place the probe in the bird and wait for it to come up to temperature. It takes a long time but is definatly worth it.

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? Generally the "smoking" part is within the first 2 hours and the remainder is cooking time. As the bird cooks, the flavors are infused to the rest of the meat. The smoke ring indicates a "good smoke" and may have a touch more flavor than the rest of the meat

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. Commercially "smoked" stuff typically is injected with flavoring and "color".

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.

I raised turkey this year and calculated 1.97 per pound to produce. Commercial raised turkeys, being raised by the thousands don't compare. Mind you, I still get the store bought from time to time to use when I "practice" smoke. But, their pale skin and flesh doesn't compare to what we raise. Each has a purpose-

 

[whistlepig]

I always brine my turkeys overnight and then inject them with a butter/herb injection before they go in the smoker. A lot of moisture in the meat and a lot of flavor. Got one to go in the smoker for this Thanksgiving.

 

[Pete Judd]

.99 a pound here in the PNW for "off brand", and 1.29 a pound for Butterball. I think that Twinkies in the future will come from China, as everything else does these days.

 

[Eyeshade]

Not China, possibly Mexico. Grupo Bimbo, a Mexican company and largest bakery in the world, is trying to but Twinkies for $135 million.

 

[creekbend]

Our local Food Lion has had a promotion for the last two months. If you buy $40.00 or more, you receive a coupon and after collecting six coupons, you receive a $20.00 coupon to use. I intend to go shopping Monday and use the $20.00 coupon. Every little bit helps. I am unaware of the sweet potato prices. BTW, I sincerely hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving with their Families.

I went shopping today instead of Monday. Store brand turkeys were 47 cents a pound, sweet potatoes were 27 cents a pound, but large baking Idaho potatoes were 97 cents a pound.