Whole Turkey Products

According to the USDA, the average American eats 16 pounds of turkey each year. There's nothing better than a few slices of turkey, mashed potatoes, and vegetables when it comes to comfort food. The crispy skin and tender meat might remind you of family dinners growing up, and luckily this is a dish you can replicate at home once you purchase a whole turkey.

Whole turkeys are sold much like whole chickens are, with the head, feet, and feathers removed. They're available in various sizes, and some come as organic, kosher, or heirloom. Others already include a marinade, ensuring the turkey meat remains moist after cooking.

Seasoning your whole turkey is important, but you don't want to just rub or sprinkle it with seasonings as this only changes the flavor of the skin and not the meat. To add flavor to the meat itself, you need to soak it in a brine or inject it directly into the turkey.  

One of the easiest ways to prepare a whole turkey is to roast it. If your oven is at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, know that you will need to cook the turkey for 15 minutes for each pound. A turkey between 14 to 20 pounds should take between four and five hours to cook the turkey fully.

The breast should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit, while the thigh should get to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The key to the temperature is to remember that reaching 165 degrees is about food safety, while 180 degrees is so the dark meat doesn't get too chewy. The meat near the bones of the turkey might look a little pink even if your meat thermometer says the turkey is fully cooked. That's because younger turkeys have porous bones that cause a red pigment to seep into the nearby meat. 

When the whole turkey is done cooking, it's important to let it rest before carving it. Failing to do so can cause the juices to escape and gush all over the cutting board. Let the turkey rest for between 15 to 30 minutes after you take it out of the oven.

You might only think about preparing a whole turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but don't wait until these holidays approach to enjoy this delicious bird. Let Instacart help you with shopping for a whole turkey. Open your Instacart app, add the whole turkey to your cart, and an Instacart shopper will get working on your order. Expect the turkey to arrive at your home in as little as 2 hours!