Should I Buy A Hen Or A Tom Turkey?

[LeftofObama]

There is a supermarket here that has turkeys on sale for .89/lb. if you buy a minimum of $15 worth of groceries. Tomorrow is my shopping day so I might as well pick one up. I thought I would ask the C&B experts which they prefer, a hen or a tom?

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. I've had both - good versions and bad versions of each; my view is that the biggest

variable is the cooking technique. Others will help more than I; I cook many things well, but my turkeys tend to be pretty average.

[LeftofObama]

2. To be honest I've never given it much thought,

but the ad said a hen or a tom so I thought I'd ask the experts.

[littlewolf]

3. toms tend to be bigger.

we just buy a breast since it is just 2 of us.

[LeftofObama]

4. So you don't think there would be a difference in taste, tenderness, etc.?

[littlewolf]

7. not really sure, my mom always said

toms are bigger, hens are more tender.
but that was 30 years ago, everything about
turkey farming is different.

[Auggie]

5. I'd ask the butcher

[Major Nikon]

6. It really doesn't matter

Toms tend to be > 14 lbs while hens tend to be smaller. With young turkeys I doubt you'd be able to tell the difference in taste.

I prefer hens because I like making smaller turkeys. The bigger ones won't fit in my smoker.

Keep in mind that if you buy one of the discounted turkeys from the market, they typically haven't been injected (which can be a good thing). I actually prefer them this way because I like to either brine and/or inject them myself. The name brand turkeys like Butterball have been injected with butter and broth.

[rdharma]

8. I've heard....... that age not gender is the key to tenderness and flavor....

I always go for the smallest turkey I can get.

[Major Nikon]

11. Those two things work opposite of each other

Younger turkeys tend to be more tender, but older turkeys tend to have more flavor. However, most commercial turkeys are harvested within a few days of each other in age so I'm not sure you're going to notice much difference.

[Warpy]

9. How many people are you going to feed?

Hens are smaller than Toms. There's no difference, otherwise, that you'd see, the reproductive organs being turned into pet food along with most of the other innards.

About the only time I've gotten a big Tom is when I've been butchering it down to use in place of pork and veal, something turkey does very well.

We used to chip in for one when we had huge covered dish Thanksgiving dinner back home, though.

[pinto]

10. Hen would be my call, fwiw. Have a great T-day either way.

Or a ham.

[azurnoir]

12. my call would be hen as toms are larger and as I understand it

when you get a larger turkey say >15 or pounds what your really getting is a heavier skeleton or the bone to meat ratio changes to 'favor' bone but 89¢ a pound seems high, wonder if this years that'll be the usual because in my area MN they go for around 59¢ a pound at their cheapest in the couple of weeks prior to Thanksgiving

[Jenoch]

13. I too am in Minnesota and since

we are the leading producer of turkeys (about 50 million annually) the price per pound is likely less here.

I remember a few years ago there was a turkey war between Rainbow and Cub stores in the Twin Cities and the price got down to .38 cents a pound without a minimum purchase of other food. I think we bought six turkeys for the freezer that year.

[azurnoir]

14. I've still got one from last year

I keep meaning to pull out to BBQ, guess I better do it soon

[Jenoch]

15. We have turkey several times a year.

I usually take out the back bone and wishbone and then cook it flat on the grill. It cuts the cooking time in half.

[Aerows]

17. How is it completely cooked on the grill?

That sounds rather delicious if you slice them up into filets beforehand.

[Jenoch]

18. I've always cooked the turkey

whole minus the backbone. If the filets you are referring to is the breast meat, I think it wouls be easier to dry out that way.

I just lay the flat turkey on a sheet pan and cook it on the gas grill. If I were using charcoal, I'd probably leave the turkey whole and using an indirect fire.

[Aerows]

19. That sounds fantastic

I'm going to try it with some thigh meat on the grill. How do you doctor it up? My fear is that it would come out too dry, and you are right on target that I wouldn't use breasts. I thought about maybe a lemon olive oil brushing or rub might be enough for thighs.

[Jenoch]

20. I've done thighs on the grill, as well as drumsticks.

The key when cooking parts is to not have the fire directly under the meat. If it's a gas grill the meat should be on a burner that is not turned on.

[likesmountains 52]

16. Time for this...

[pengillian101]

21. That was a great video!

Thanks for posting it.