Thanksgiving Preparation
Everything You Need to Know
Your guide to a delicious, sustainable, and memorable Thanksgiving meal.
Our Top 10 Tips for a Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey!
1. Stock up on extra turkey
Avoid running short on everyone’s favorite meat! Love white meat? Add some extra turkey breast to your cart. Dark meat fans? Grab a few drumsticks. Or, if you’ve got a mix, size up your bird for plenty to go around—and leftovers!
2. Give yourself thawing time
Nothing throws off Thanksgiving like a still-frozen turkey. Use our thawing guide and mark your calendar so your bird thaws safely in the fridge and in time to get brining and cooking. You might need to leave a note on your calendar.
3. Brine for juicy perfection
Brining locks in all of the natural juiciness of your pasture-raised turkey. Whether wet or dry brine, plan ahead and give your bird the time it deserves! You won’t get lost if you use our Brining Guide!
4. Adjust your oven rack
To roast your turkey to perfection, place it in the center of the oven. For larger birds, lower your rack a notch so your turkey sits right in the middle. A turkey in the middle is a turkey that cooks evenly.
5. Skip the basting
Old habits (or family traditions) die hard. The latest from turkey cooking experts is that basting your turkey can actually dry it out. Every time you open up that oven door, you’re altering the internal temperature of your oven. That will mean a longer cooking time which means a potentially drier bird!
6. Roast on a veggie bed
Elevate your turkey—and the flavor! Chop up some onions, carrots and celery, place them in your roasting pan and set the turkey right on top. The veggies help the turkey cook evenly, and they’ll infuse flavor into your drippings for amazing gravy.
7. Cook stuffing separately
The battle rages on about whether or not to cook stuffing inside or outside the bird. We like to err on the side of caution and cook it outside the bird. Stuffing a turkey can make it cook longer which will increase the likelihood of the turkey being overcooked and the stuffing being undercooked.
8. Trust a meat thermometer
Don’t stand there awkwardly with oven mitts on second-guessing whether now is the exact right moment to pull your turkey out of the oven. A meat thermometer will tell you exactly when it’s time to pull your turkey out. Cook until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 175°F and the breast reads 165°F. Perfect every time!
9. Sharpen your knives
You’ve worked hard for a showstopper turkey, so give it the respect it deserves with sharp knives. Get yourself a knife sharpener or take your blades to a professional. Carve like an artist and savor every slice.
10. Freeze the leftovers
Embrace whole-animal eating! You can dice up pieces of leftovers and pop them in the freezer for use in salads and quick casseroles later. Make sure you save that carcass, too! It can become nourishing and delicious bone broth.
Arkansas Born and Raised
Our turkeys are raised on pasture, free to roam and forage, leading to a healthier, tastier bird.
Read more about our commitment to regenerative farming and why it makes a difference in every bite.
Why Grass Roots Meat is Better
100% USA Born and Pasture Raised
100% pasture-raised, like animals should live. Know where your meat was born and raised with the farm of origin printed on every package!
Small-Scale Farming and Processing
Our meat is all hand-processed by humans, with fair wages to our farmers and processors. Hands on every step.
Taste the Difference in Every Bite
You can taste the pasture-raised, turkey flavor. Packed with fatty acids, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in every bite.
Naturally Healthy and Happy Animals
Keeping animals healthy without the use of antibiotics or hormones. Our farms all follow our livestock standards.