Turkey Buying, Prepping, and Cooking Tips

Every year, our customers ask Stew's chefs the same questions about the best way to choose, prepare, and cook their holiday turkey. This year, Stew Leonard Jr. shares his top turkey tips that he’s picked up over the course of his lifetime in the grocery business:

What size turkey should I buy and how far in advance can I buy it?

Stew Leonard’s offers a range of sizes to meet everyone’s needs! Our turkeys weigh in anywhere between 12lbs to 28lbs! Now that’s a big bird! But I think that having leftovers is just as important as the big meal itself, so I always make sure that we have a bird that allows for 2lbs. of turkey meat per person. If you’re not a fan of leftovers though, I think that 1.5 lbs. per person is just fine. Our fresh turkeys can be purchased 10 days in advance, giving you more time to prepare for the big day!

What kind of turkey should I buy?

For the best balance of flavor and nutrition, we recommend our Naked Turkey from the Lehigh Valley. It’s all-natural, free-range, and fed a 100% vegetarian diet. These birds are never given antibiotics or added hormones and have 50% more white meat and 55% less fat than regular turkeys — making them a healthier choice without sacrificing taste. If you’re looking for something specific, we also offer kosher and organic turkeys to meet your family’s preferences.

How should I store my turkey prior to cooking?

Once you have your turkey home, it should be stored in the coldest part of your refrigerator, which is the bottom back corner. Keep it wrapped in the plastic until just ready to begin preparing. Our chefs also recommend putting the raw turkey on a plate or in a pan just to make sure no juices accidently drip inside the refrigerator.

How do I prep my oven and turkey before cooking?

First, I always make sure the oven is fully preheated. I generally turn the oven on when I take the bird out of the refrigerator to begin preparing it. That way, a bit of the chill is gone from the turkey, giving it the opportunity to cook at a more even pace.

You will want to cook the turkey for 15-20 minutes per pound at 350°F. For a plump and juicy bird, layer our Stew Leonard’s aromatics in the bottom of your roasting pan and place the bird on top. Once the skin is brown, tent the turkey with a piece of parchment paper and then a piece of foil on top. The parchment will prevent the foil from sticking to the skin.

You’ll want to cook the bird until a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh joint reaches 165°F. Pop up timers will go off once the breast reaches 165°F, but our chefs tell me to test the thickest part of the thigh to make sure the turkey is cooked through!

Take the bird out of the oven to rest, still tented under the foil, for about 15-20 minutes before carving.

For step-by-step instructions, check out our Roast Turkey Recipe.

Is it safe to stuff the turkey before roasting?

We like to use our chef’s turkey aromatics inside of our bird. It gives the meat a wonderful flavor and the aroma is incredible! If your family really prefers to stuff your turkey, just be sure to place fully cooked stuffing in the turkey right before roasting, never the night before (this could grow bacteria), and make sure the stuffing is at least 165°F before removing from the oven. Keep in mind that when you stuff the bird the cook time increases slightly, up to 5 extra minutes per pound of turkey.

What wine, spirits, and beer should I serve?

Keep it simple. Our team recently tasted 15 wines under $15 with wine expert Kevin Zraly, and many got his thumbs up! Ask your local Stew Leonard’s Wine & Spirits team for easy pairings that complement turkey and all your holiday sides.

Ready to start cooking? Explore more recipes like our Perfect Turkey Recipe and Roast Turkey with Gravy Recipe.