The 11 Best Turkeys to Order Online for Thanksgiving, According to Reviewers

Try tobuy a fresh bird over afrozenonewhen you can. You won’t have to wait days for it to defrost in the fridge, and it’ll roast slightly faster than its frosty counterpart. (Since they don’t last as long as frozen turkeys, you’ll want topreorder one aheadand pick it up a day or two beforeThanksgiving.) On the other hand,frozen turkeys can still turn out delicious—they’reusually cheaperthan fresh ones, plus they offer more flexibility in case your plans change (meaning they won’t rot overnight in your fridge).

If you’re willing to spend a little more, look for a free-rangeturkey.Free-range birds are required to have continuous outdoor access for more than51 percentof their lives. Because their lives are less stressful, free-range birds tend to taste better. On the flip side, they can be a bit more muscular than other birds due to all that extra movement, so they can taste a bit gamy compared to what you’re used to. But you can always soften that flavor with milk and/or a brine.

The ultimate splurge is a heritage turkey.Heritage turkeys have been bred to stay just as they were many years ago, a far cry from the jacked-up birds of today that have been bred for consumption. Its flavor will be significantly gamy and intense compared to supermarket birds.

If it’s your first time cooking aThanksgivingfeast (or you’re worried about pulling off a brine on your own),opt for a pre-basted or pre-roasted turkey. Many are packaged in a butter and salt solution that makes cooking a moist, tender bird a breeze.

Best Overall

Every single customer review is five stars and it’s no surprise why. These high-quality Nicholas breed birds from sustainableFossil Farmsare raised in a free-roaming, cage-free environment in Pennsylvania by third- and fourth-generation farmers. They’re fed a vegetarian diet and are all-natural, meaning they’re free of antibiotics, steroids and hormones. What really seals the deal is the price, which comes out to about $5 a pound. It’s more expensive than your average Butterball, but only by a few bucks…and the quality beats it out by a mile. Order for delivery the week of November 14 to get it in time for the holiday (or order the week of and opt for next-day air shipping).

Rave review:“As if the ease of ordering, exceptional customer service and the flawless, worry-free pickup wasn’t enough, the turkey was tender and delicious. Can’t wait to try some of their other vast array of products.”

Best Fresh Turkey

For about $7.50 a pound, you can savor an all-natural bird that’s minimally processed and free of additives, preservatives and artificial ingredients. The turkeys are raised sans-hormones and steroids on a vegetable- and protein-rich diet that’s free of animal byproducts. They live in a roomy, ventilated barn with free access to feed and water.Meat N’ Bone’sturkeys are de-feathered, cleaned and come with giblets. They’re shipped with a hard chill instead of frozen, so you can decide whether to pop them in the fridge or freezer upon arrival.

Rave review:“This is definitely a quality bird. You can taste the difference from the typical supermarket turkey. Make sure to take out the neck and giblets from the cavity before cooking and use them to make stock for stuffing and gravy.”

Best Free-Range Turkey

This brand is arguably most famous for its pricy heritage turkeys, but you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to try aD’Artagnanbird. Their turkeys are humanely raised with full access to the outdoors. They’re non-GMO and fed an all-vegetarian diet, supplemented with pure spring water. This particular pick is a white broad-breasted hybrid, so it’ll be loaded with meat for you and your guests to devour. Most reviewers are beyond satisfied with their turkeys, but a few felt that they were smaller than expected. They'll be available for pre-order in early October.

Rave review:“We have made many organic, free-range turkeys for holidays, but this is simply one of the best ever. It was lean but juicy. Cooked great! Had a ton of meat, all of it tasting wonderful. My family thinks it was me, but I think it was the turkey!”

Best Heritage Turkey

Heritage turkeys are becoming more and more popular every year. If you’ve never tried one, it’s important to know that they’re significantly different than factory-farmed supermarket turkeys that you may have tried in the past. Heritage turkeys have longer, thinner bodies than broad-breasted ones, creating a more balanced ratio of light and dark meat. Its flavor is rich, velvety and, at times, gamy.Elmwood Stock’sheritage birds are free-range and free of additives, stimulants and synthetic inputs. They’re currently available for preorder in five different sizes and arrive frozen. Pre-order now for Thanksgiving.

Rave review:“This turkey was ‘super tender and juicy,’ with white meat ‘so rich in flavor that it tastes like dark meat…The dark meat was even more tender and flavorful, prompting one taster to ask, ‘Is this dark turkey or pulled pork? So fall-apart tender that it’s almost shredding itself.’” (fromCook’s Illustrated)

Best Turkey Roast

We first fell in love withRastelli’s, a butcher shop that specializes in sustainable beef, pork, poultry and seafood, after trying their iconicround hot dogs(which aredelish, BTW). Now, we have a second reason to stan them. Case in point: this gorgeous turkey breast roast that’s ready to cook the moment it defrosts. Turkey breast roasts (and bone-in turkey breasts) are best for families that love white meat. Injected with a solution of water, salt and sugar for moisture, this turkey roast is rubbed with a flavorful Tuscan-style seasoning, so all you have to do is pop the bag in the oven for a few hours until it cooks through.

Rave review:“Nice seasoning and very good quality turkey; needed about 2 [hours] and 40 [minutes] to cook but check temperature regularly at the end, because it spikes pretty quickly in the bag with all that hot steam (and ideally target about 155 degrees to take it out of the oven and not overcook). Also watch out for the steam and scalding liquid when getting turkey out of the bag, but it turned out very juicy and tasty.”

Best Precooked Turkey

Behold: the brand’s most popular Thanksgiving bird. This ten-pounder arrives ready to heat and serve. It’s pre-seasoned and roasted, so you won’t have to fuss over a brine or dry rub. As if thisHarry & Davidturkey wasn’t easy enough to prepare, your purchase also includes two-day shipping, so you can order close to the holiday and still get your main course just in time. Note that two reviewers felt the bird was too salty, but that’s the risk you take by getting a pre-seasoned bird. Consider if it’s worth it to you for the sake of convenience before purchasing.

Rave review:“This bird was delicious. Took a little longer to cook than directions indicated. But all worked out beautifully and had enough left to make pot pies.”

Best Smoked Turkey

This beauty has racked up 184 reviews, the vast majority of which are five stars.Burgers’ Smokehouse一直在吸烟和熏肉近吗a century, so they know a thing or two about smoking a killer Thanksgiving bird. It will arrive to you fully cooked with heating instructions included, so all you’ll have to do is warm it up and serve. The turkey is smoked with real hickory, but don’t worry about the bird turning out dry: Burgers’ specializes in retaining the poultry’s natural juices throughout the smoking process. But note that a couple of Amazon reviewers found the turkey to be tough, and another few thought it was too salty.

Rave review:“多汁的,潮湿的,可口的火鸡。手下来the BEST smoked turkey I have ever purchased. So hecking delicious! I can really tell the difference between this actual wood-smoked product and all the rest.”

Best Turducken

Ah, the turducken: We’ve all talked about it, but have you ever actually tasted one? For the uninitiated, a turducken is a triple-threat main for the books—think a chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey.Cajun Ed’shas become famous for its frankenfowl classics like turporken and sausage-stuffed turkeys, so if you’re going to try this three-way hybrid, they’re a solid purveyor to buy from. Not only will you savor tender roasted poultry in every bite, but a layer of Cajun cornbread stuffing is added between each bird, along with a special seasoning on the outside for maximum flavor. It arrives frozen and cooked, so simply reheat it for a few hours until it’s warmed through.

Rave review:“We have had the turducken before and LOVED it. Looking forward to having it again this year, plus the ham for Christmas.”

Best Value

The Pitman family has been raising turkeys in California since the 1950s. You can rest assured that allMary’sbirds are free-range, free of preservatives, hormones and antibiotics and fed a vegetarian diet. The brand offers a whole slew of turkey options for the holidays (brined! smoked! pre-roasted! heritage!), but we like the affordability of their standard organic option. Find a shop that sells Mary’s turkeys near you using their handy onlinestore locator.

Rave review:“Best Turkey EVER! So juicy and delicious! Mary’s is the BEST!”

Best Pre-Brined Turkey

Want to cook a supremely moist turkey without worrying about a brine? Don't miss out on thisWilliams Sonomaexclusive, which guarantees an uber juicy final product your guests will rave about. The Willie Birds are raised in California on a diet of natural grains that's free of antibiotics and hormones. The brine stars autumnal fruits and spices, like apple, lemon, garlic and rosemary. Preorder yours ASAP, since quantities are limited for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Rave review:“The breast meat was tender and moist with a delicate sweet flavor. In contrast, the dark meat was rich and flavorful, just as it should be. All of the meat was perfectly seasoned—neither too salty from the brine nor disappointingly bland, but just right.” (fromThe Kitchn)

Best Fried Turkey

We've all heard horror stories about people trying to fry a whole turkey at home. Why not leave the heavy lifting to the pros so your holiday doesn't end in flames?Uncle Ray'sis famous for their fried birds (seriously—the Daily Beast named it one of the top five Thanksgiving turkeys in the country), and they ship them nationwide from Texas via Goldbelly. They hand-pick their birds to ensure they turn out shatteringly crisp on the outside and exquisitely juicy on the inside. Cajun seasonings offer a generous dose of heat and flavor to the otherwise neutral poultry.

Rave review:“Making a turkey for a holiday meal just became easier and hassle-free! Thaw, heat for one hour and serve! My guests said that this was the best turkey they ever had!”