Where to Purchase Smoked Turkey

Smoked turkey can be a delicious alternative to traditional roasted turkey, with its tender meat infused with smoky flavor. If you’re looking to purchase a smoked turkey, either to serve for a special occasion or to enjoy on a weeknight, you have several excellent options to choose from. In this article, I’ll go over the best places to buy smoked turkey, what to look for when selecting one, and how to prepare it for your meal.

Online Mail Order Companies

One of the most convenient ways to buy smoked turkey is through online mail order companies that ship the fully cooked product right to your door Two of the most popular and highest quality choices are Burgers’ Smokehouse and Maple Leaf Farms

Burgers’ Smokehouse, located in California, MO, offers premium smoked turkeys in a variety of sizes, smoked with natural hardwoods like hickory, cherry, and pecan Their hickory smoked whole turkey ranges from 10 to 16 pounds and costs $95 to $100 You can also choose a smoked turkey breast at 5 pounds for $79. Burgers’ Smokehouse turkeys are minimally processed with no artificial ingredients.

Maple Leaf Farms, located in Leesburg, IN, produces smoked turkeys and other poultry products. Their premium smoked whole turkey is available in 10 to 16 pound sizes, fully cooked and flash frozen to seal in flavor. Prices range from $60 to $90. Maple Leaf Farms turkeys are smoked over hardwood fires and delicately seasoned.

The benefit of mail order smoked turkeys is you get a high quality product from an established smokehouse shipped frozen right to your home This takes the guesswork out of finding an authentic smoked turkey at your local grocery store,

Specialty Meat Markets

Your local specialty butcher shop or meat market may carry smoked turkeys seasonally around the holidays. These are a good option if you want to shop local and pick out your turkey in person. However, selection can be limited compared to mail order companies.

Call your local shops ahead to see if they carry smoked turkeys and if you’ll need to preorder for holiday meals. Expect to pay comparable prices to mail order companies, likely $80 to $100 for a 10 to 16 pound smoked turkey. Quality can vary greatly, so read reviews and ask for recommendations if it’s your first time purchasing from that shop.

Grocery Store Deli Counter

Many grocery store deli counters, especially large supermarkets, now carry fully cooked smoked turkey breasts and turkey legs you can purchase by the pound.

The smoked turkey breast or turkey legs are handy for picking up smaller quantities of ready-to-eat smoked turkey meat. You don’t have to wait for shipping. However, the quality is not likely to match that of specialized smokehouses.

Expect to pay around $7 to $12 per pound for pre-sliced smoked turkey breast. Smoked turkey legs typically cost $5 to $9 per pound. Verify the turkey does not contain any artificial preservatives or flavorings if you want authentic smoked flavor.

What to Look For When Buying Smoked Turkey

When purchasing a smoked turkey, either whole or just part of the bird, here are some tips on what to look for:

  • Minimally processed – The fewer ingredients, the better. Look for smoked turkey without artificial preservatives, flavors, colors or other additives.

  • Hardwood smoked – Opt for turkey smoked over hardwoods like hickory, apple, cherry or pecan rather than “smoke flavoring”. This imparts more authentic, robust smoky flavor.

  • Good marbling – Some fat marbling within the meat keeps it tender and moist during smoking. Lean turkey can dry out.

  • Reputable source – Purchase smoked turkey from a trusted smokehouse, local butcher, or deli counter with good reviews rather than a generic brand.

  • Frozen at peak freshness – For mail order or deli turkey, choose one frozen at its freshest point to lock in moisture and flavor.

  • Proper packaging – Turkey that is vacuum sealed or flash frozen indicates care was taken to maintain quality.

  • Easy to prepare – Fully cooked, ready to eat smoked turkey reheats easily and saves time.

How to Prepare Smoked Turkey

One of the biggest benefits of choosing a fully cooked smoked turkey is it requires very little preparation before serving. Here are some tips:

  • If frozen, thaw turkey in the refrigerator 1-2 days before needed. Do not thaw at room temperature.

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place turkey in a roasting pan.

  • Bake for 1-2 hours until heated through to an internal temperature of 140°F.

  • If reheating a turkey breast or legs, bake at 350°F for 30-60 minutes.

  • Slice turkey and serve! Smoked turkey also makes excellent sandwiches and salads.

  • Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3-4 days. Reheat thoroughly before serving again.

Smoked turkey is delicious served on its own, but also pairs well with cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing, and fall vegetable sides.

where to purchase smoked turkey

FAQ

Does butterball make a smoked turkey?

Butterball Smoked Whole Turkeys are fully cooked and ready to eat. They can be used in recipes calling for cooked turkey without prior heating.

Can I buy a ready cooked turkey?

You can buy a whole, fully cooked smoked turkey frozen from butterball. Just heat it up, or thaw and carve if you want to eat it cold.

Is Costco whole smoked turkey good?

The turkey is moist with good smoke flavor. It’s a great alternative if you don’t want a to make a whole turkey from scratch. And no the Turkey is not dry!

Where can I buy a smoked turkey?

Here are some top online sources: Burgers’ Smokehouse: This 100-year-old smokehouse offers hickory smoked whole turkeys from 10-24 lbs. Their smoked turkeys are uncured with no preservatives or injections. Harry & David: Famed for gift baskets, Harry & David sells fully cooked smoked turkey breasts in a variety of wood smoked flavors.

Where can I buy a smoked turkey breast?

Butterball Fully Cooked Smoked Turkey: This trusted brand offers pre-smoked whole turkeys from 10-24 lbs along with smoked boneless turkey breasts. The no thaw needed turkeys are smoked over hardwood and hickory. Eckrich Smoked Turkey: Look for Eckrich whole smoked turkeys and turkey breasts at Kroger, Publix, Safeway, and more.

Where can I buy a smoked turkey in Texas?

Southside Market – With origins back to 1882, this Texas smokehouse has award-winning smoked turkeys for mail order. Pueblo Lindo – Based in California, they offer smoked turkeys in mesquite and other premium hardwood flavors. Virgil’s – Try turkeys smoked over Texas post oak at this gourmet online butcher shop.

What is a natural smoked whole turkey?

This Naturally Smoked Whole Turkey is perfect for anybody who wants the rich, decadent flavor of a smoked turkey in just the time it takes to build a modest fire. These birds are uncured and slow cooked over natural hickory wood, so all you’ve got to do is warm the bird in the oven (and find a distraction to keep you occupied until it’s ready).

Where can I buy smoked turkey deli meat?

Boar’s Head Smoked Turkey: This premium deli brand sells high-quality smoked turkey deli meat along with bone-in smoked turkey legs and breasts at major grocery chains. Products are minimally processed without artificial ingredients.

Can you buy frozen smoked turkey?

You’re unlikely to find fresh, never-frozen smoked turkey at supermarkets or online. The smoking process used by major brands involves freezing. However frozen smoked turkey retains the same great flavor and texture after thawing. To find truly fresh smoked turkey, you’d need to visit a local smokehouse or specialty meat shop.

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