8 Best Turkeys To Buy At The Grocery Store And 4 You Should Avoid

It's turkey season, so it's time to snag a bird from your local grocery store before they're all sold out. The choices can feel overwhelming (not only do you have to choose the right size turkey for your gathering, but then you need to decide between fresh or frozen and plan the best way to cook your turkey). Amidst all the decisions, though, there is some good news — turkey prices dropped in 2024. Major retailers, such as Walmart and Target, slashed turkey prices by 20% compared to 2023, likely due to supply chains finally recovering from the pandemic.

Before you purchase a turkey, you'll need to decide if you want it fresh or frozen. Fresh turkeys, which are sold within a short time of being butchered, tend to be more expensive and have more flavor than their frozen counterparts (although that flavor can be gamey). Frozen turkeys, on the other hand, are often injected with liquid to help them retain moisture, and have a sweeter flavor. The USDA recommends getting a frozen turkey if you plan to purchase it more than a week out from serving. 

Here are the top choices for whole turkeys from popular grocers around the country — and a few you should avoid. These turkeys were chosen by comparing price, availability, and customer reviews.

Trader Joe's is a haven for products with value and quality ingredients, and that goes for its turkey, which arrives at stores in November. Trader Joe's claims its turkeys are raised in large, open-air houses, are minimally processed, and never receive antibiotics or hormones. The All Natural Brined Young Turkey is fresh and available in two sizes, 12-16 pounds and 17-22 pound (when deciding how much to buy, plan on 1 pound of turkey per person — that's for fresh or frozen).

Customers love the turkeys and look forward to their release every year. One Redditor said, "My family has been using TJ's turkeys for the last few years and love them! We've had them roasted and fried and never had any complaints." Trader Joe's has not released prices for 2024 turkeys, but they hit shelves on November 14. The chain will also be selling an organic turkey and a kosher option this year, so turkey shoppers will have plenty of choices. 

You've probably heard of Honeysuckle White turkeys. This popular brand is available at a variety of retailers around the country, and its fresh turkey gets rave reviews for its flavor and bountiful white meat. Honeysuckle White turkeys are raised by independent farmers across the United States. One reviewer on the company's website said, "These turkeys are moist and tender. It's worth hunting this brand down. Year after year I cook the honeysuckle whites. Love them. So delicious."

Another reviewer shared her love for Honeysuckle White when she said, "We have been loyal customers of Honeysuckle White Turkey for many years. It is always fresh, tender, moist and absolutely the best one can buy." The Honeysuckle White fresh turkey is among the more expensive options, partially because it's fresh (which costs more than frozen). At Tom Thumb, the price is $2.69 per pound. Based on reviews, it seems to be worth it.

Aldi is known for great deals, whether you're looking for inexpensive meat, fresh produce, or snacks for the family — and it keeps that promise with its frozen turkey selection. If you're looking for a bargain, Aldi's Never Any! turkey is such a good buy that it was rated "Best Value Bird" by Consumer Reports in 2023. There were some mixed reviews on the taste of Aldi's turkey, however, with some tasters claiming it was on the gamey side, while others raved about its flavor. A gamey bird can be an advantage or a disadvantage based on your palate, so keep that in mind if you're opting for Aldi.

All of Aldi's Never Any! Products are certified by the USDA to be antibiotic-free, with no added hormones or steroids, and vegetarian-fed. The brand was launched in 2016 and has also earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.

One of the more costly options at about $2.98 per pound, Member's Mark Hickory Smoked Whole Turkey might be a little more expensive up front, but it comes fully cooked and just needs to be reheated before eating. Customers rave about the flavor of this turkey and the ease of preparation, making it worth the extra cost to add this turkey to your Thanksgiving table. The Maker's Mark Smoked Whole Turkey is one of the highest-rated turkeys based on reviews (it has 970 reviews and maintains a 4.5-star rating), which is quite impressive.

The Maker's Mark hickory smoked turkey is available exclusively at Sam's Club. "Very happy with the buy. Hickory smoked has a flavor all its own. The best Members Mark item I ever bought at Sam's," said one pleased Sam's Club customer. Another said, "We've bought these smoked turkeys for a few years. They are excellent!"

Tom Thumb provides a turkey that has an overall rating of almost 4.5 stars and comes in at a bargain price of .99 per pound (these are some 2020 prices, y'all!). At that cost, a 10-pound bird from Tom Thumb will set you back less than $10, and customers are pleased with the quality and value of Tom Thumb's turkey offering, noting it is moist and tender and calling it a "quality product," and a "delicious bang for your buck."

Tom Thumb's turkey comes frozen and is available in an 8-12 pound size. At such a steal of a price, you might want to grab two. If you don't eat it all, put those Thanksgiving leftovers to good use, or use the second turkey to meal prep for future meals. Turkey has just 117 calories and 24 grams of protein per serving, making it a healthy meal for any day of the year.

Whole Foods has built its business on fresh and organic food, and its highly-rated turkey option is no exception. The 365 Whole Foods Organic Young Turkey can even be ordered on Amazon. The Whole Foods turkey is on the high end for price at $2.99 per pound, but it's also loved by customers as an organic option in a sea of non-organic turkeys. One Amazon reviewer claimed, "I think organic makes a difference. This turkey tastes better than conventional turkey."

There was, however, some debate on giblets. Giblets are the heart, liver, and gizzards of a bird, and can be used in a variety of ways by creative chefs. One five-star reviewer commented, "This turkey contained all of its giblets. I have not had a turkey in a couple of years that contained all of its parts," while another said that their turkey was missing its giblets. If giblets are your jam, you might want to pass for a turkey that has a giblet guarantee.

Another easily recognized (and easily found) brand is Jennie-O — and Jennie-O's Oven-Ready Whole Turkey is applauded by customers for its flavor and ease of preparation. It's on the more expensive side, costing almost $3 per pound at Walmart, but the time saved prepping makes this freezer-to-oven meal worth the splurge.

Jennie-O's oven-ready turkey is pre-seasoned and cooks in the bag it comes in. There's no thawing necessary, and the whole process (from freezer to table) takes only four hours. With 270 reviews and a rating of 4.6, this turkey is a top choice for consumers. One super satisfied customer said, "I'm a repeat roaster of this turkey. Perfect every time, I found this product by accident four years ago while looking for a traditional bird. A little cautious but decided to go with it. So glad I did. It's easy and delicious." The biggest downside to this turkey is that some customers claim it can be hard to find.

Butterball is a household name, and its turkeys hold up to the hype. The Butterball Premium Whole Frozen turkey gets stellar reviews, and it's readily available at most grocery stores. It's also available in a wide variety of sizes, making Butterball an option no matter what size gathering you're hosting (Albertson's sells it in four sizes, offering a 10-14 pound option, a 14-16 pound option, a 16-20 pound option, and a giant 20-24 pound option). Prices vary among retailers, but it maintains a reasonable, middle-of-the-road price point at most locations, costing a little more than $1 per pound at Walmart, while being closer to $1.50 per pound at Albertsons.

Butterball's frozen turkey has hundreds of five-star reviews. One happy reviewer said their entire table of guests agreed it was the most tender turkey they ever had. 

Target's home-brand turkey is one of the least expensive turkeys to cross our path, and we certainly love a good deal. The Good & Gather Premium Basted Young Turkey from Target didn't make the cut, though, due to a disproportionate amount of low customer reviews.

Target's frozen turkey costs around $.79 per pound and comes with a gravy packet. A low price and free gravy aren't enough to make the turkey worth the time, though. Reviews call it "rubbery," and "almost inedible." One particularly incensed customer said, "This was by far the worst turkey I have ever made for my family. Once defrosted it looked like skin and bones. After cooking the texture was chewy and almost rubbery. Not good at all!" While the price is certainly appealing, it might be best to let Target work out the kinks before purchasing its Good & Gather brand bird.

Kroger's Whole Frozen Turkey has mixed reviews and is priced on the higher end of frozen grocery store turkeys, making this turkey one to skip. Kroger's turkey isn't necessarily unreasonably priced — it sits in the middle of the pack at around $1.89 per pound. But it has an overall rating of just 3.6 stars, which is low when compared to other turkeys at similar price points.  The reviews are inconsistent enough to make us worry, with some reviewers praising it and others insisting it's dry and flavorless. One person even claimed their turkey had black mold on the inside. 

Kroger's turkeys are available in several sizes, which can accommodate many groups: 10-14 pounds, 16-20 pounds, and 20-24 pounds. If Kroger is your go-to store and where you do your Thanksgiving shopping, bypass the store-brand turkeys this year in exchange for a name-brand bird.

The Honeysuckle White fresh turkey was a hit, with great reviews and a passionate fan following. But the brand's frozen version, the Honeysuckle White Frozen Young Turkey, doesn't quite hit the mark. Some reviewers used words like "greasy," "terrible," and "tasteless" to describe Honeysuckle White's frozen turkey option.

With an overall rating of 3.88, you will be taking your chances when you buy this bird. One unhappy customer said, "My turkey was so greasy. I have been cooking turkey for years, this is my first with this brand and I will never buy another. The grease was terrible. Couldn't even make a good gravy [and I] had to take off layers of fat grease first. I will never buy another."

Honeysuckle White's frozen turkey is available at Walmart for around $1.53 per pound, so you'll need to weigh the risk versus reward. But if you want guaranteed top-notch turkey, look elsewhere.

We love Costco and expected its turkey to be a must-buy item on this list. Costco's current turkey choice has a rating of 4.4, and many customers seem to like it — but it's expensive, costing nearly $8 for a 15-17 pound frozen bird (that's about five dollars per pound for a 16-pound turkey).  While this grain-fed turkey has some redeeming features, the cost keeps it from being a top contender. One customer concurred that the cost was an issue, saying, "For the amount I paid, this was disappointing; dry, tasteless, and bland. This bird was prepared exactly as directed, and exactly like I've done with 50 to 75 other turkeys I've cooked over a lifetime."

The Quality Ethnic Foods frozen turkey from Costco is Certified 100% Hand Zabiha Halal. Halal meat is meat that is prepared according to Islamic dietary laws, which require that the animal be killed in a humane way. This turkey remains a viable option for anyone who requires halal meat.

The turkeys on this list were chosen after researching reviews, availability, and cost. I looked for turkeys that had consistently high reviews, were available in many markets, and priced reasonably (for the most part, I favored turkeys that were around $2 per pound or less, unless they had something special about them, such as being organic or ready to go from the freezer to the oven with no prep). The turkeys are listed in no particular order.