Plus, does turkey really make you tired? And what you should not do when preparing it.
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Gertrude Stein wrote that “a rose is a rose is a rose.” Inspired by her musing (and alarmed at the high cost of the traditional Thanksgiving main course these days), we wanted to find out if the same could be said for turkeys.
For years, fans of the beloved Thanksgiving bird may have heard people refer to their pricey heritage turkeys as “life-altering.” But heritage birds are an investment: They can cost upward of $11 per pound compared with less than $2 per pound for a bargain bird. And if it’s brined and smothered in gravy anyway, how could anyone tell it apart from a regular grocery store bird? (Plus, you’ll be serving it alongside pumpkin, yams, and Brussels sprouts, right?)
To find out whether heritage birds are worth the money and how much difference there is between several popular grocery store brand turkeys, several colleagues headed to the Consumer Reports labs to roast five birds and do a blind taste test.
Even the least tasty turkey can be tarted up into something palatable if you massage enough butter, herbs, and other seasonings into its flesh before cooking, and then drown it in savory gravy after. But our goal was to evaluate the taste of the meat to help home cooks start with the best-tasting bird at the best price. So we took a minimal approach in our preparation: no added fat, herbs, or seasoning, other than 2.5 teaspoons of kosher salt distributed over the skin and inside the cavity—the most basic recipe we found that was approved by Paul Hope, a classically trained chef who writes about appliances at CR.
All of the turkeys we tested are listed below, with their cost as of November 2022, and our feelings about each cooked turkey’s texture, flavor, and moisture.
The 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Turkey was the second-most expensive turkey we tested—it flew to the top spot of the lists of most evaluators. And its virtues weren’t limited to its organic seal or its flavor: Social media editor Alexis Priester thought it was the prettiest turkey, too, which is important for that perfect Instagram moment. “White meat is generally the most appealing meat to look at (but least appealing in terms of flavor) . . . and this white meat was that turkey,” she said. Some tasters thought it was a little bland, but those who liked it really enjoyed it. Production Coordinator Aileen McCluskey thought both the “white and dark meat were moist . . . and had a really good, mild taste.”
Another evaluator thought this turkey was the most moist. At $2.99 a pound, it was the second-most expensive turkey.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the star of the holiday meal – the turkey! When it comes to turkey brands, two of the biggest names on the market are Butterball and Honeysuckle. But when it comes to taste, quality availability and price, which turkey brand reigns supreme?
In this comprehensive Butterball vs Honeysuckle comparison we’ll look at the key factors that set these two turkey giants apart and help you determine which brand will make for the best centerpiece at your Thanksgiving table.
Butterball and Honeysuckle White are two of the most recognizable and popular turkey brands for American Thanksgiving and holiday meals. Both brands have been around for decades and built strong reputations for quality, though they have some notable differences.
Butterball, founded in the 1950s, is now the largest producer of turkeys in the United States. Their turkeys are sold widely across grocery stores and are known for being pre-basted, giving them an enhanced flavor and moisture right out of the packaging.
Honeysuckle White, founded in the 1940s, is now owned by Cargill. Their turkeys are minimally processed and not pre-basted, appealing to customers who prefer a more natural, traditional turkey flavor and want to control the seasoning themselves.
Now let’s take a deeper look at how Butterball and Honeysuckle turkeys compare across some key purchasing factors.
Flavor
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Butterball turkeys are injected with a salt solution to keep them moist and flavorful. This pre-basting gives them a boost of seasoning.
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Honeysuckle turkeys do not receive pre-basting or injection. They have a milder, more natural turkey flavor that some prefer.
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With Butterball you’ll get builtin flavor, while Honeysuckle allows you to control the flavor profile yourself.
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For deeply seasoned flavor without brining, Butterball has an edge. But for traditional, purist turkey flavor, Honeysuckle is the choice.
Quality
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Both Butterball and Honeysuckle have strong reputations for delivering high quality, reliable turkeys.
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Butterball controls breeding, hatching, feeding and processing closely to enforce quality.
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Honeysuckle has rigorous standards for approved family farms their turkeys are raised on.
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Regarding quality, it’s hard to declare one brand as superior. Both companies have robust quality assurance in place.
Cost
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Prices may vary seasonally and by retailer, but Butterball and Honeysuckle are competitively priced.
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Both brands frequently run promotions and sales around the holidays.
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Neither seems to have a distinct price advantage, as prices are similar on average. The best value depends on timing of sales.
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For budget-minded shoppers, the best approach is comparing prices for the specific size needed.
Availability
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Availability favors Butterball. With their scale as the #1 turkey brand, they have widespread distribution.
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Honeysuckle availability is more limited. You may need to visit multiple stores to find them.
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For convenience and one-stop shopping, Butterball has the upper hand. Honeysuckle may involve an extra errand.
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However, some prefer seeking out Honeysuckle specifically for the more natural, old-fashioned flavor.
Cooking Performance
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Butterball provides thorough cooking instructions and a turkey hotline for guidance. This helps novice cooks.
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Honeysuckle has detailed roasting directions on packaging as well, though less supplemental support.
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Seasoned home cooks will be comfortable cooking either brand expertly. Butterball offers a bit more cooking insurance.
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For fail-proof cooking, Butterball’s cooking resources give it an edge. But both will cook well with proper technique.
Appearance & Presentation
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Whole turkeys from both brands will have similar visual appeal after cooking.
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Appearance will depend much more on your seasoning and cooking method.
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For appearance, there is no significant difference between the two brands. Both can deliver beautiful, golden roast turkeys.
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Focus on proper roasting technique, and either Butterball or Honeysuckle will shine on your holiday table.
Taste Test Results
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In blind taste comparisons, there is no consensus that one brand tastes distinctly better.
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Some prefer the enhanced Butterball flavor, while others like Honeysuckle’s purist turkey taste.
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Much depends on your flavor preferences and seasonings used. Both have strengths to appeal to certain palates.
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For the best match for your household’s tastes, sample each. Neither brand has a clear consensus taste advantage.
Additional Factors to Consider
Here are a few other factors to weigh when choosing your holiday turkey brand:
- Customer service – Both brands offer customer support channels, with Butterball having more robust options
- Online ordering – Butterball and Honeysuckle both allow online turkey purchases for convenience
- Turkey sizes – Butterball offers a wider range of turkey sizes to suit gatherings of all sizes
- Freezer options – Honeysuckle promotes their turkeys as “freezer-friendly” for longer storage
- Heritage breeds – Honeysuckle uses heritage turkey breeds for a more old-fashioned flavor
The Verdict: Butterball or Honeysuckle?
So when it comes down to making your final turkey brand choice, which comes out on top – Butterball or Honeysuckle White?
Overall, Butterball has a slight edge for its moist, seasoned flavor, cooking assurance, and wider availability. However, Honeysuckle is a strong choice for its natural flavor and appeal for turkey purists.
If you prioritize convenience, first-time turkey roasting, and built-in juiciness, Butterball may be your best bet. But if you want to control seasoning yourself and prefer a nostalgic, traditional turkey taste, Honeysuckle is likely the winner.
No matter which brand you choose for your holiday table this Thanksgiving, follow proper roasting techniques, use aromatics and seasonings, and you’ll enjoy delectable, beautiful turkey feasts for many years to come. Here’s wishing you a very happy, blessed turkey day with your loved ones!
A Polarizing Plateful: Butterball Premium
Price per pound, at the time of publish: $2.39
Graphic: Alisa OConnor/Consumer Reports Graphic: Alisa OConnor/Consumer Reports
Our tasters were divided over the Butterball Premium turkey. It earned high marks from several evaluators but was dinged by just about as many. Digital design manager Melissa Plonchak described the white meat as “most flavorful, tasty, tender.” Evaluator and deputy editor Deb Silber said that it was “the most flavorful and had the most characteristic ‘turkey’ taste,” as well as the best texture. Priester loved the dark meat, which she said “wins for flavor. There’s something savory and salty going on there.” Chang-Cook, on the other hand, hated the Butterball, describing the taste as “chemical and unacceptable,” and content operations associate and evaluator Dawn Yancy found it “devoid of any flavor.”
Best Value Bird: Aldi Never Any! Young Turkey
Price per pound, at the time of publish: $1.89
Graphic: Alisa OConnor/Consumer Reports Graphic: Alisa OConnor/Consumer Reports
It wasn’t the least expensive bird we tried (see Member’s Mark, below), but the Aldi Never Any! turkey is still a bargain at under $2 per pound, and many of our evaluators found it to be a palate pleaser. It also received two votes for the best-tasting bird. Several evaluators described the Aldi bird as gamey (one guessed it was a heritage bird), so this is a good choice for those who like their turkey on the gamey side and a bad choice for those who don’t. Althea Chang-Cook, an associate director of content, said it was “definitely more flavorful . . . and more tender, too.” It was her favorite. Priester also thought it tasted gamey but observed that it would stand up well to a “nice wet brine.”
HoneySuckle Turkey Butterball Turkey Compare ( Happy Thanksgiving ) choose which no added hormone
FAQ
Is honeysuckle turkey a good brand for turkey?
Juicy moist bird
I have used other brands but I prefer Honeysuckle White, the turkey always comes out perfectly roasted, juicy and tender. Never any dry “spots”. In my family I have a reputation of making the best, moist, roast turkey.
Are butterball turkeys better than others?
Its a good brand and I prefer it over the store-brand birds as they’re just reliably better quality. I dry-brine and deep braise/roast for maximum gravy and well stewed dark meat with good white and crispy breast skin. Butterball has never let me down.
Which is the best turkey brand?
Williams Sonoma Willie Bird Fresh Free-Range Turkey
We often turn to Willie Birds for our Thanksgiving needs because the turkey tastes like turkey. It’s not too gamey and has that true turkey flavor you want as the base for your gravy. You can get the fresh bird brined or unbrined.
What grade is honeysuckle turkey?
USDA Grade A. Per serving: 150 Calories.
Are Butterball & honeysuckle white turkeys the same?
Butterball and Honeysuckle White are two of the largest producers of turkey products in the US Butterball is the nation’s leading brand, processing over 1 billion pounds of turkey per year. They offer a wide variety of turkey products including whole turkeys, breasts, deli meats, sausages, and ground turkey.
Which is better Butterball or honeysuckle white?
Both brands are very consumer-oriented and are ready to meet the preferences of their customers. Both Butterball and Honeysuckle White brands are known for the quality of the turkey meat they offer. Butterball is praised for the tenderness and juiciness of their turkeys and turkey meat.
Should you buy Butterball or honeysuckle Turkey?
The lack of pre-brining means that extra care must be taken during the cooking process to ensure that the meat remains juicy and tender. In the end, the choice between Butterball and Honeysuckle turkeys comes down to personal preference. Both brands offer high-quality options that are sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Are honeysuckle turkeys drier than Butterballs?
On the flip side, some people argue that Honeysuckle turkeys can be drier than their Butterball counterparts. The lack of pre-brining means that extra care must be taken during the cooking process to ensure that the meat remains juicy and tender. In the end, the choice between Butterball and Honeysuckle turkeys comes down to personal preference.
Is honeysuckle a good Turkey?
Honeysuckle offers a variety of turkey products as well, including fresh, frozen, organic, whole breast, and marinated options. When it comes to taste and texture, both Butterball and Honeysuckle turkeys offer excellent options for your holiday feast. Both brands pride themselves on providing juicy and tender meat that is highly flavorful.
Are Butterball turkeys good?
Butterball turkeys are of the highest quality product and will be sure to impress your guests. Here’s why Butterball is the right choice, especially for the holiday season: Butterball turkeys are always tender and juicy because we take the extra step of individually pre-brining them based on size.