Can a frozen turkey be "fresh"? [duplicate]

Can a frozen turkey be "fresh"? [duplicate] - People Riding on Horse on Snow Covered Ground

In the US, turkeys labelled "fresh" can't be held (by the retailer) below 26F. The idea, as I've understood it, is that fresh turkeys aren't supposed to be frozen.

Well, one that I bought last year was definitely frozen in the middle. And yesterday, I was shopping for a thanksgiving turkey and all of the ones labelled "fresh" were suspiciously firm to the touch.

My question is, Will a turkey held at 26F freeze? Or at least become what a person might think of as frozen?



Best Answer

Good Eats actually had something on this many years ago, as effectively turkeys aren't just water, so it doesn't freeze at the same point at water.

Copying/reformatting from the Good Eats Fan Page transcript of Romancing the Bird:

Chuck: Just look at this. The USDA recognizes three distinctive market varieties of turkeys. The first is frozen.

Alton: Meaning below 32 degrees?

Chuck: Only turkeys cooled to zero degrees or lower can be labeled frozen.

Alton: Well, uh, set me straight here, Chuck, but I thought 32 was the freezing point.

Chuck: For water, sure. But the moisture in meat isn't just water. It's full of all manner of dissolved solids that effectively reduce its freezing point.

Alton: You don't say. Okay. Thanks.

Chuck: Oh, next at 1 to 26 degrees—although most manufacturers shoot for 24 to 26—are refrigerated birds.

Alton: But frozen are so great, why bother?

Chuck: Because refrigerated birds aren't as rock hard as frozen so they don't require as much thawing time. And grocers don't need as much freezer space.

Alton: Is that it?

Chuck: Oh, no, no, no. Fresh turkeys are a whole other thing. Fresh turkeys can never go below 26 degrees.

Alton: But that's still below freezing.

Chuck: Not in turkey.




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Is a frozen turkey fresher than a fresh turkey?

Fresh turkeys will hold their moisture better than frozen turkeys, bringing out a meaty texture with deeper natural flavors. It is best to preorder a fresh turkey with your local butcher and arrange to pick it up a few days before the holiday.

Can you thaw a turkey and then refreeze it?

Thawing in the Refrigerator: A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen.

Can you refreeze a whole turkey?

Cooked or uncooked turkey can safely be refrozen, as long as you refreeze it within three days of thawing. You should only refreeze turkey if it's been handled properly at every step along the way.

What is the difference between a fresh turkey and a frozen?

The fresh turkey's breast meat was noticeably smoother in texture and both white and dark meat were moist. The frozen turkey had a rougher texture and tended to shred apart when cut. It was drier. The breast meat looked stringy and was chewier than the fresh turkey's breast meat.



When To Buy a Frozen Or Fresh Thanksgiving Turkey + 4 More Prep Questions Answered




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