Turkey

Giant Eagle^® turkey is so moist and succulent that the meat falls off the bone and melts in your mouth. Our turkey crowns your Thanksgiving table, or rounds out your favorite recipe. Stop by the Giant Eagle^® meat department and pick up a turkey today.

Turkey preparation tips

Buying a turkey

Choose the right size and type of turkey for your meal. The following guide will help you select a bird based on the number of people you're having to dinner:

• Whole bird: 1/2 pound per person
• Boneless turkey breast: 1/2 pound per person
• Turkey breast: 3/4 pound per person

Thawing a turkey

Allow approximately 24 hours of thaw time for every five pounds of bird. Keep the frozen turkey in the refrigerator, wrapped in its original packaging, and set it on a tray to catch any juice.

After thawing, keep refrigerated turkey for only 1 to 2 days before discarding.

If you forget to thaw the turkey or don't have any room in the refrigerator, don't worry. Simply submerge the turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes. You'll need about 30 minutes of defrosting time for each pound of turkey.

Be sure to sanitize the preparation area and your hands after handling raw turkey or juices.

Stuffing a turkey

If you choose to stuff your turkey, stuff loosely. Use about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound of turkey. For safety, the stuffing should be moist, not dry (heat destroys bacteria faster in a moist environment).

Cooking a turkey

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey. All turkey meat, including any pink meat, is safe to eat as soon as it reaches 160°F. Be sure to check the temperature in several areas of the turkey, including the wing joint.

Refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Approximate cooking times:

Weight	Unstuffed	Stuffed
10-12 lbs.	3 1/2 hours	4 hours
12-15 lbs.	4 hours	4 1/2 hours
15-18 lbs.	4 1/4 hours	4 3/4 hours
18-21 lbs.	4 3/4 hours	5 1/4 hours
22-25 lbs.	5 1/4 hours	5 3/4 hours