When Should You Buy Your Thanksgiving Turkey? An ultimate Turkey guide

Before diving into the Bird of Time, timing is everything!

While many prefer the savory sides, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without the star centerpiece synonymous with the day: the turkey.

In November, you are suddenly overcome with an urgent need to rush to the store to grab the bird off the shelf and secure the coveted turkey ahead of the crowd. However, there are important safety guidelines to keep in mind before you buy – and, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)“Turkey is the food category most frequently asked about by consumers.”

To help answer your burning questions, PEOPLE spoke to the former National Turkey Federation president and CEO, Joel Brandenberger — who retired in June 2024 — about some of the most common questions and topics people bring up, from thawing techniques and cooking temperatures to storing leftovers.

For extra insider tips, PEOPLE also checked in with Butterball Turkey Talk-Line Director Nicole Johnson — who has worked for the company for more than 20 years and says Thanksgiving “is our Super Bowl” — to weigh in .

For a hassle-free holiday, read on for pre-Thanksgiving turkey timing tips!

Should I buy a fresh or frozen turkey for Thanksgiving?

Some people have a preference for fresh or frozen turkeys, while others have no choice as it simply comes down to what’s left on the shelves in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Fortunately, Butterball’s Johnson says “there’s no difference” between the two when it comes to taste and food safety.

“The only difference between the fresh and the frozen is whether you want to thaw it or not. The fresh is just really convenience because it’s already thawed for you,” explains the mother of four, who says she personally ” fresh all the way” because she’s “all about multitasking and making it easier.”

Whether you buy fresh or frozen, Johnson assures consumers that both turkey options are “tender and juicy and delicious!” (That is, if you take the proper steps to prepare your bird before cooking time!)

When should I buy a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving?

It’s definitely worth strategizing when to buy a fresh turkey, especially given the mad dash to the store to secure one in November. Brandenberger, formerly of the National Turkey Federation, tells PEOPLE it varies depending on whether turkeys are purchased from a store or a farm.

“If you’re buying directly from a specialty farm that sells direct to consumers, contact the farm directly for ordering recommendations,” he says. “If you are looking for a specific type or brand of fresh turkey at the supermarket, we recommend that you ask the store manager about the reservation process as early as possible.”

“If the turkey is really fresh and never frozen, then you probably won’t be able to pick up your turkey until Thanksgiving week,” adds Brandenberger. However, Johnson says Butterball fresh turkeys typically hit the shelves in early November.

She eased concerns about buying a fresh turkey “too early” in the month, explaining that Butterball specifically has an “extended shelf life because of the chilling process that they went through at the facility before they left.”

Therefore, if you want to claim your turkey in early November, you can do so — although Johnson advises consumers to consider the “sell by” or “use by” date found on the hang tag before buying a fresh one turkey.

“We tell cooks they can leave that wrapper in the fridge and use it safely for Thanksgiving,” she says. “Usually that date will be Thanksgiving Day, but a lot of them will even be the day after because a lot of people want to have a Friendsgiving celebration.”

In fact, Johnson admits she celebrates the day after Thanksgiving because she answers Turkey Talk-Line calls on the holiday! “It’s really our core value here at Butterball is to bring people together.”

What questions should I ask before buying a farm-fresh turkey?

Brandenberger tells PEOPLE that “it’s reasonable to ask under what circumstances the turkeys were treated” before buying a farm-fresh turkey, such as “whether a state or federal inspector was present.”

However, Brandenberger says that query is to that extent “personal preference.” But he also suggests checking directly with the supplier or retailer if a consumer has any “specific requests or needs.”

To avoid any potential foodborne illness after buying your turkey and before cooking it, Brandenberger says it’s “imperative” to follow the National Turkey Federation’s “Four Key Guidelines for Food Safety.”

They include: “Clean, separate, cook and cool.” When it’s finally turkey time, Brandenberger stresses that you “always cook your turkey to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Then he emphasizes that chefs check at least three parts of the whole turkey to see if it’s cooked. He recommends “the thickest part of the breast, the inner part of the thigh, and the inner part of the wing.”

How to store a fresh turkey?

You’ve secured your turkey…so what? Storing your bird in the days leading up to Thanksgiving is just as important as deciding when to buy it.

Johnson suggests keeping fresh turkeys “unopened” and “refrigerated” until the sell-by date listed on the hang tag or until chefs are ready to cook! As for the refrigerator temperature, she says it “ideally should be between 35 and 40 degrees,” noting that the “lower temperature is preferred.”

Whether the turkey is fresh or frozen, Johnson advises cooks to put a tray underneath it “just in case there are little little holes in the packaging.” She explains, “Some of the raw poultry juices can leak into the fridge. Having a tray under it will help catch some of those juices.”

When taking the turkey out of the refrigerator on Thanksgiving Day, Johnson says many people assume they have to wash their turkey as part of the preparation process before cooking it — but she argues “that’s not the case.”

One of the benefits of Butterball turkeys specifically is that they’ve “already been gutted for you,” Johnson says. “It’s already been pre-based for you.” While she claims that “additional basting or brining” can be done, she explains “it doesn’t have to be” because Butterball “has already done that work for you.”

For those who bought a fresh turkey and their Thanksgiving was postponed, fear not! Johnson says “they can go ahead and cook” their turkey ahead of time if they want, then “cut the turkey off the bone and refrigerate or freeze for longer storage.”

When Should I Buy a Frozen Turkey for Thanksgiving?

If you choose to go the frozen turkey route, Johnson recommends buying one “as soon as you see them” on the shelves in November. “That way, you’ll have a better chance of getting the size turkey you want,” she says.

Meanwhile, you can buy your turkey months in advance because of their extended shelf life; however, there is a suggested time frame for purchasing turkeys in the week leading up to the holidays due to the time it takes to thaw.

“You ideally want to buy it now,” Johnson tells PEOPLE of those who have yet to get their hands on their frozen bird exactly one week out from Thanksgiving. “Or if you don’t want to go through the thawing process, you can also choose a fresh turkey.”

“Those turkeys are still tender, juicy, delicious, but they don’t require thawing,” she continues. “They go straight from the grocery store fridge to your own fridge at home, so it’s really a convenience.”

When to start thawing a frozen turkey?

If the turkey is frozen at any point, Brandenberger says “it’s important to make sure you have enough time to let your turkey thaw completely” and should always be done “in a refrigerator or cold water.”

“Allow 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of turkey,” he notes. “For example, if you have a 15-pound turkey, allow 3 days of thawing in the refrigerator.”

About the number one question Johnson and her team at the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line get asked, she tells PEOPLE: “How do I thaw my turkey?” One common question — which Johnson admits “never comes up year after year” — involves an easy-to-remember answer.

“We actually declare the Thursday before Thanksgiving ‘National Thaw Your Turkey Day,'” she says. “People get a laugh out of it, but it’s a really clever way to remind people.”

How to store a frozen turkey?

When it comes to storing a frozen turkey, it’s not much different than storing a fresh one. Again, Johnson suggests “leaving the wrap on throughout the thawing process.”

From a food safety standpoint, Johnson says that a frozen turkey can actually “be safe to cook for quite a few years” — that is, only if “it’s kept in the original packaging and you haven’t had any major power outages.”

Although you can store a frozen turkey for years, Johnson says “it may not be as tender and juicy as if you had just bought it.” But she assures that “you can definitely still do it safely.”