Thanksgiving_NN1 Turkey_NP1 101_MC By_II Beth_NP1 Allen_NP1 from_II Reader_NN1 's_GE Digest_NN1 --_JJ September_NPM1 2009_MC Before_II making_VVG a_AT1 purchase_NN1 ,_, bulk_VV0 up_RP on_II your_APPGE turkey_NN1 knowledge_NN1 so_CS you_PPY can_VM select_VVI the_AT right_JJ bird_NN1 for_IF your_APPGE Thanksgiving_NN1 feast_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 quick_JJ trip_NN1 to_II your_APPGE local_JJ market_NN1 will_VM reveal_VVI a_AT1 nearly_RR bewildering_JJ array_NN1 of_IO options_NN2 when_CS it_PPH1 comes_VVZ to_II buying_VVG a_AT1 turkey_NN1 :_: fresh_JJ ,_, frozen_VVN ,_, whole_NN1 ,_, in_II pieces_NN2 ,_, stuffed_VVD ,_, unstuffed_JJ ,_, cooked_VVD ,_, or_CC uncooked_JJ ,_, just_RR to_TO name_VVI a_AT1 few_DA2 ._. 
The_AT confusion_NN1 stops_VVZ here_RL !_! 
We_PPIS2 'll_VM give_VVI you_PPY the_AT information_NN1 you_PPY need_VV0 to_TO buy_VVI a_AT1 great_JJ Thanksgiving_NN1 turkey_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Weigh-In_NN1 Roasted_JJ turkey_NN1 is_VBZ meant_VVN to_TO make_VVI a_AT1 spectacular_JJ entrance_NN1 ,_, so_RR do_VD0 n't_XX skimp_VVI on_II size_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 always_RR recommend_VV0 buying_VVG a_AT1 bird_NN1 that_CST weighs_VVZ a_RR21 little_RR22 more_DAR than_CSN you_PPY think_VV0 you_PPY 'll_VM need_VVI ._. 
Calculated_VVN well_RR ,_, there_EX should_VM be_VBI plenty_PN of_IO turkey_NN1 for_IF dinnertime_NNT1 and_CC enough_DD leftovers_NN2 for_IF all_DB the_AT turkey_NN1 sandwiches_NN2 your_APPGE family_NN1 could_VM want_VVI ._. 
To_TO save_VVI room_NN1 for_IF pumpkin_NN1 pie_NN1 ,_, serve_VV0 lighter_JJR portions_NN2 --_NN1 about_RG 3_MC to_II 4_MC ounces_NNU2 ,_, cooked_JJ --_NN1 per_II person_NN1 ._. 
Too_RG many_DA2 leftovers_NN2 ?_? 
No_AT problem_NN1 :_: just_RR toss_VV0 them_PPHO2 into_II a_AT1 pot_NN1 of_IO turkey_NN1 soup_NN1 ._. 
Here_RL are_VBR some_DD guidelines_NN2 for_IF buying_VVG turkey_NN1 in_II various_JJ forms_NN2 :_: Ready-to-stuff_JJ turkey_NN1 ,_, fresh_JJ or_CC frozen_JJ :_: 1_MC1 1/2_MF pounds_NN2 per_II person_NN1 ._. 
Stuffed_JJ turkey_NN1 ,_, frozen/uncooked_JJ :_: 1_MC1 3/4_MF to_II 2_MC pounds_NN2 per_II person_NN1 ._. 
Breast_NN1 of_IO turkey_NN1 with_IW bone_NN1 in_RP ,_, fresh_JJ or_CC frozen/uncooked_JJ :_: 3/4_MF pound_NN1 per_II person_NN1 ._. 
Boneless_JJ turkey_NN1 ,_, breast_NN1 or_CC thigh_NN1 and_CC leg_NN1 ,_, fresh_JJ or_CC frozen/uncooked_JJ :_: 1/2_MF pound_NN1 per_II person_NN1 ._. 
Fresh_JJ or_CC Frozen_JJ ?_? 
Fresh_JJ or_CC frozen_JJ ,_, turkeys_NN2 are_VBR tasty_JJ and_CC terrific_JJ ._. 
Fresh_JJ turkeys_NN2 are_VBR all-natural_JJ and_CC require_VV0 only_RR roasting_JJ ,_, no_AT thawing_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 suggest_VV0 buying_VVG a_AT1 fresh_JJ bird_NN1 the_AT day_NNT1 before_CS it_PPH1 's_VBZ served_VVN and_CC storing_VVG it_PPH1 in_II your_APPGE refrigerator_NN1 's_GE coldest_JJT spot_NN1 ._. 
If_CS you_PPY buy_VV0 a_AT1 frozen_JJ turkey_NN1 ,_, try_VV0 to_TO avoid_VVI self-basters_NN2 --_NN1 they_PPHS2 're_VBR injected_VVN with_IW fat_NN1 (_( for_IF added_JJ juiciness_NN1 )_) ,_, which_DDQ can_VM produce_VVI a_AT1 strange_JJ aftertaste_NN1 ._. 
Frozen_JJ birds_NN2 must_VM be_VBI completely_RR defrosted_VVN before_II roasting_VVG ._. 
Do_VD0 this_DD1 in_II the_AT refrigerator_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ may_VM take_VVI up_RG21 to_RG22 2_MC or_CC 3_MC days_NNT2 depending_II21 on_II22 the_AT weight_NN1 of_IO the_AT bird_NN1 (_( a_AT1 good_JJ rule_NN1 of_IO thumb_NN1 :_: 24_MC hours_NNT2 of_IO defrost_NN1 time_NNT1 for_IF every_AT1 5_MC pounds_NN2 of_IO turkey_NN1 )_) ._. 
You_PPY should_VM never_RR thaw_VVI the_AT bird_NN1 on_II a_AT1 countertop_NN1 --_NN1 no_RGQV31 matter_RGQV32 how_RGQV33 clean_JJ your_APPGE kitchen_NN1 is_VBZ ,_, there_EX 's_VBZ always_RR a_AT1 risk_NN1 of_IO bacteria_NN2 contamination_NN1 ._. 
The_AT bird_NN1 is_VBZ ready_JJ to_TO roast_VVI when_RRQ a_AT1 thermometer_NN1 inserted_VVN into_II a_AT1 thick_JJ portion_NN1 of_IO meat_NN1 reads_VVZ 40&deg;F_FO ._. 
If_CS you_PPY need_VV0 to_TO thaw_VVI a_AT1 turkey_NN1 in_II a_AT1 pinch_NN1 ,_, leave_VV0 it_PPH1 sealed_VVD in_II its_APPGE original_JJ bag_NN1 and_CC place_VV0 it_PPH1 in_II a_AT1 sink_NN1 filled_VVN with_IW cold_JJ water_NN1 ;_; this_DD1 will_VM reduce_VVI the_AT thawing_JJ time_NNT1 to_II 2_MC to_II 7_MC hours_NNT2 ._. 
Make_VV0 sure_JJ to_TO change_VVI the_AT water_NN1 frequently_RR and_CC always_RR cook_VV0 the_AT bird_NN1 immediately_RR after_II defrosting_VVG ._. 
Never_RR refreeze_VV0 thawed_JJ meat_NN1 before_II cooking_NN1 ._. 
The_AT most_RGT hassle-free_JJ and_CC expensive_JJ turkeys_NN2 come_VV0 roasted_JJ and_CC ready_JJ for_IF the_AT table_NN1 ._. 
Many_DA2 specialty_NN1 markets_NN2 ,_, some_DD restaurants_NN2 ,_, and_CC food_NN1 mail-order_NN1 catalogs_NN2 allow_VV0 customers_NN2 to_TO place_VVI an_AT1 order_NN1 for_IF roasted_JJ turkeys_NN2 with_IW all_DB the_AT fixings_NN2 "_" to_TO go_VVI ._. "_" 
These_DD2 slice-and-eat_VV0 turkeys_NN2 are_VBR lifesavers_NN2 if_CS you_PPY 're_VBR traveling_VVG one_MC1 day_NNT1 and_CC hosting_VVG a_AT1 Thanksgiving_NN1 dinner_NN1 the_AT next_MD ._. 
They_PPHS2 also_RR come_VV0 in_RP handy_JJ if_CS your_APPGE oven_NN1 is_VBZ on_II the_AT fritz_NN1 or_CC you_PPY 're_VBR too_RG short_JJ on_II time_NNT1 to_TO shop_VVI and_CC cook_NN1 ._. 
Turkey_NP1 Outreach_NP1 Even_CS21 if_CS22 Mom_NN1 's_VBZ not_XX around_RP ,_, you_PPY do_VD0 n't_XX have_VHI to_TO be_VBI on_II your_APPGE own_DA in_II the_AT kitchen_NN1 ._. 
There_EX 's_VBZ professional_JJ advice_NN1 --_NN1 actually_RR 48_MC professionally_RR trained_VVN home_RL economists_NN2 --_NN1 at_II your_APPGE fingertips_NN2 through_II the_AT Butterball_NP1 Turkey_NP1 Talk-Line_NP1 (_( 1-800-323-4848_MCMC in_II the_AT U.S._NP1 and_CC Canada_NP1 )_) and_CC Web_NN1 site_NN1 ,_, www.butterball.com_NNU ._. 
If_CS you_PPY have_VH0 a_AT1 question_NN1 ,_, leave_VV0 a_AT1 phone_NN1 or_CC email_NN1 message_NN1 ._. 
Responses_NN2 are_VBR answered_VVN within_II 48_MC hours_NNT2 ._. 
The_AT line_NN1 operates_VVZ from_II 8_MC a.m._RA to_II 8_MC p.m_RA ._. 
Monday_NPD1 through_II Friday_NPD1 (_( CST_NP1 )_) from_II November_NPM1 1_MC1 to_II December_NPM1 23_MC ;_; the_AT weekend_NNT1 prior_II21 to_II22 Thanksgiving_NN1 Day_NNT1 (_( U.S._NP1 )_) ,_, they_PPHS2 are_VBR open_RR 8_MC a.m._RA to_II 6_MC p.m_RA ._. 
(_( CST_NP1 )_) ,_, and_CC on_II Thanksgiving_NN1 Day_NNT1 from_II 6_MC a.m._RA to_II 6_MC p.m_RA ._. 
(_( CST_NP1 )_) ._. 
Beth_NP1 Allen_NP1 is_VBZ the_AT president_NN1 of_IO Beth_NP1 Allen_NP1 Associates_NN2 ,_, Inc._JJ ,_, a_AT1 food-marketing_JJ communications_NN2 firm_NN1 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 ._. 
