Gobble ‘Til You Wobble!
Don’t just “wing” it this year with your turkey! Even with Thanksgiving just around the corner, you still have time to make a plan as to what you’re going to do with your CT Grown Turkey. We’re here to help give you some options to ensure your holiday is stuffed with joy!
Where can I get a turkey?
You can obviously grab a turkey at your local grocery store. However, we REALLY encourage you to support your local farms this holiday season instead. Where a lot of food products sold at the grocery stores do come from local farms, typically turkeys are shipped in from larger industrial farms.
Here are some local farms in Connecticut that you can support by picking up a fresh turkey. Don’t wait though, turkeys are limited!!
Bunnell Farm - Litchfield - 860-567-9576
Cedar Hill Farm - Orange - 203-889-7282
Copper Hill Farm - Somers - 860-306-9604
Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm - Moosup - 860-564-0248
Greyledge Farm - Roxbury - 860-350-3203
Hastings Farm - Suffield - 860-668-7524
Karabin Farms - Southington - 860-620-0194
Miller Farms - Contact Stores Directly: Big Y, Marandino's, Lino's, Pat's IGA, The Pantry, Tulmeadow Farms
Millstone Farm - Wilton - 203-834-2605
Ramble Creek Farm - Columbia - 518-769-0897
Shaggy Coos Farm & Creamery - Easton - 484-788-1769
Sub Edge Farm - Farmington
White Gate Farm - East Lyme - 860-739-9585
Why Not Farm - Bethlehem - 203-509-6325
Tips for Turkeys!
What size turkey do I get?
I remember hosting my first Friendsgiving thinking “oh I’ll just grab a turkey last minute” not thinking about the size in the least bit. Come to find out I had a cute little 11 pound turkey that didn’t come remotely close to feeding the group of 15 people I had. Between side dishes, festive drinks, and an impromptu take out delivery, we survived - but it was not one of my fondest moments - lesson learned.
It’s recommended that you try to have 1 ½ pounds of turkey per guest. That means I really needed a 20 pound turkey for 15 people. Another option when hosting a lot of people is to get two smaller turkeys!
Frozen turkey?
Many people get their turkeys well ahead of time and freeze them. This is a great option for taking advantage of early sales, ensuring turkeys don’t run out, and just feeling prepared and ahead of schedule. However, it is very important to remember that thawing a turkey isn’t as simple as thawing a few chicken breasts. Typically, it takes about 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of a turkey to thaw. That means if you’ve got a 16 pound turkey, it’ll take about 3-4 days to thaw.
The USDA recommends thawing turkeys in the refrigerator - so try your best to not think about thawing your turkey on the counters or in warm water at the last minute (I’ve admittedly tried and it doesn’t work out too well…)
Do I need to brine my turkey?
No! You absolutely do not have to brine your turkey. However, it helps keep the moisture in and improves the overall flavor. If you’re going to brine your turkey, it’s recommended that you brine the day before you cook (8 plus hours in the refrigerator).
For more information on the ins and outs of how to brine your turkey click here!
How long do I cook my turkey?
This really all depends on how you’re cooking your turkey. If you’re going the classic way of roasting your turkey in the oven, you’ll first need to decide what temperature you’re cooking it at. Some people recommend cooking your turkey at 325 degrees for around 20 minutes per pound. While others say to cook turkeys at a much higher temperature of 425 degrees. My biggest advice is to find a recipe that sounds right for you and follow the cook time that it recommends!
Click here to learn more about prepping & roasting your turkey!
Whether you’re hosting a large group of family and friends for thanksgiving, or just having an intimate dinner, we hope you take the extra step to support your local farms. And remember - Gobble T’ill You Wobble!