While many people buy fresh turkey for holiday meals, there are several advantages to using a frozen turkey, which is flash-frozen in its freshest state. You can buy a frozen turkey farther ahead (keeping it frozen up to a year to maintain original quality), then thaw it in your refrigerator (about one day for every 5 pounds). Frozen turkey is usually less expensive than fresh turkey; moreover, around the holidays frozen turkeys are often on sale. Here are some shopping tips:

• Be sure the turkey is still frozen throughout and has not started to thaw.
• Avoid products where the outer packaging is torn, exposing the meat.
• When choosing the size of turkey, plan for 1 to 1½ pounds per person if you want leftovers, or three-quarters of a pound per person for no leftovers.

Going by the Numbers
The following chart displays calories, fat, percent calories from fat, and sodium content for a variety of frozen turkey products. Serving sizes vary.

Frozen Turkey	CALS	FAT (g)	% CALS FROM FAT	SODIUM (mg)
Jennie-O Oven-Ready Boneless Turkey Breast (17 gm)	25	1	36	360
Butterball Boneless Turkey Breast Roast (4 oz.)	110	3	25	500
Pilgrim’s Pride Fully Cooked Cajun-Style Turkey (3 oz.)	120	7	53	600
Butterball Fully Cooked Oven-Baked Turkey (3 oz.)	130	7	48	580
Diestel Ground Turkey (4 oz.)	140	5	32	90
Butterball Frozen Fully Cooked Smoked Turkey (3 oz.)	140	7	45	660
Jennie-O Premium Basted Young Turkey (140 gm)	155	6	35	590
Shady Brook Farms All-Natural Young Turkey Breast (4 oz.)	160	7	39	340
Honeysuckle White Turkey Breast (4 oz.)	160	7	39	390
Pilgrim’s Pride Deep Basted Whole Turkey (4 oz.)	160	8	45	340
Empire Young Turkey (4 oz.)	160	8	45	220
Jennie-O Oven-Ready WholeTurkey (4 oz.)	160	9	51	370
Shady Brook Farms All-Natural Young Turkey (4 oz.)/td>	170	8	42	230
Honeysuckle White Young Turkey (4 oz.)	170	8	42	360
Butterball Premium Young Turkey (4 oz.)	170	10	53	320
Empire Turkey (4 oz.)	180	9	45	210

ources: Product packaging

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