Thanksgiving Turkey......

[jnifred]

A friend's brother is Celiac and I was told they have to get a special turkey every year so he can eat it. I am going on my first year gluten-free and didn't even THINK that I couldn't have a butterball turkey.........so does anyone have a quick answer before I spend hours trying to figure this one out......Can I just buy a frozen turkey from the grocery, or do I have to get a special one from somewhere else?????

THanks!!!!

[bmzob]

I would think that as long as the turkey you buy isn't preseasoned you should be fine, but i'm not sure...sorry!

[Corkdarrr]

I agree with Britni - could they have been referring to the stuffing?

[CarlaB]

I'm pretty sure Butterball is gluten-free, but not necessarily the packets that come with it (are they for stuffing or gravy mix? -- I don't know). The meat would have to be clearly labelled as to what the additives are.

I usually get a free-range turkey from the health food store. They're fresh instead of frozen.

You cannot eat a turkey that was stuffed with bread stuffing, unless it's gluten-free bread stuffing.

[jnifred]

My friend said something about it being injected. They get the free range type because of that.

We are traveling to Florida for Thanksgiving, and my in-laws don't quite get the whole gluten-free thing. I went to dinner with them this past weekend and they kept trying to get me to "take just ONE bite, it's so good" of their soup, or the breaded shrimp, or etc....... IF I have to tell them they have to get a special turkey they might blow a gasket.

I'm going to do a lot of the cooking at the condo we are renting and take it to their house, but the turkeythey are in charge of.... I've been thinking about how I am going to do the stuffing. I usually make my own from a fresh loaf of bread anyway, that I cube and toast, so I just need to get a good loaf of gluten-free bread and I think it will be fine, but I am not familiar with the stores in Orlando, so I could run into some problems.......I might have to pack a loaf in my suitcase.

Thanks for the quick answers. I could not find a thing on the Butterball website. I think I will just let them be with the turkey, and handle the rest of it.

BTW...corkdarr.....I was reading your signature and I live in Wisconsin currently and could NOT imagine having to give up dairy, gluten I can handle but giving up cheese would send me over hte edge to!!! The cheesestick thing, made me laugh, b/c I have had some not so succesful tries at making them gluten-free, rather gooey so far.

ANd CarlaB, I notice you have braces, me too, my middle aged crisis, I tell people I want things to be where they are supposed to be before I hit 40 in a couple years. Great weight loss program, teeth hurt so much I don't want to eat most of the time.

[Tim-n-VA]

The problem you have to watch for (in addition to the stuffing/gravy packets mentioned above), is pre-basted turkey. In that case you need to figure out what the solution that they are injecting as the basting contains. If you get a plain turkey it will be gluten-free, whether it is fresh, frozen or organic.

[jnifred]

I think I could ask for a plain turkey, that shouldn't send them over the edge. I think that is what they get anyway.....we will be arriving the Friday before so maybe I can just ask my MIL if I can go and do the shopping with her, that way I can check all the labels. I really do not want to fly home 2 days later with a gluten hangover, especially with 4 kids, that is stressful enough.

[jerseyangel]

Last year, I bought a fresh Butterball--it's not processed or flavored or anything. The best part was that I called about 2 weeks ahead of time and ordered it , picked it up the day before and did not have to worry about thawing or storing it until Thanksgiving Day.

It was absolutely delicious, and that's the way I'm doing it from now on!

Generally speaking, you need to ask about any injected broths, flavorings, and gravy packets. Since Butterball is a Con Agra Company, they will list any wheat on the label. I spoke to a gentleman there last year, and he told me that their basting solution was basically salt and water. This could always change, of course.

[Tim-n-VA]

The Honeysuckle White are gluten free according to their website.

[Michi8]

The best turkeys are fresh. I order from the meat counter at Safeway, and pick it up the day before or morning of. If you do the quick cook method (high heat for about 2 hours) it makes an incredibly juicy bird that is browned all over. Stuffing is made separately.

Check out this link about Safeway's 2 hour turkey recipe: Open Original Shared Link

I can't find the recipe online, but you can pick it up at the store. We tried it for our Thanksgiving a couple of weeks ago and it was fabulous! Just make sure your oven is cleaned before cooking.

Michelle

[lonewolf]

If you're really worried, or if they're going to stuff it with gluten-filled stuffing, you could always bake a cornish game hen to take with you.

[CarlaB]

ANd CarlaB, I notice you have braces, me too, my middle aged crisis, I tell people I want things to be where they are supposed to be before I hit 40 in a couple years. Great weight loss program, teeth hurt so much I don't want to eat most of the time.

LOL, I got them two weeks ago as my last stage in my TMJ treatment. I have trouble keeping the weight ON, so these are making it even more difficult!! I tend to swallow food without chewing it well, which is bad news when your intestines don't do what they're supposed to do!! I'm 43 ... so I didn't get it all working right before 40, I'm shooting for 45 now!!

I think I could ask for a plain turkey, that shouldn't send them over the edge. I think that is what they get anyway.....we will be arriving the Friday before so maybe I can just ask my MIL if I can go and do the shopping with her, that way I can check all the labels. I really do not want to fly home 2 days later with a gluten hangover, especially with 4 kids, that is stressful enough.

Offer to stuff it for her and to make the gravy, then you'll be okay with it. Make the taters, too! You'll be the big helper of the day and able to eat safely! She needs time with the grandkids after all.

[debmidge]

Just a note, if you are using a fresh turkey (never frozen, from butcher or turkey farm) you don't cook it as long as a commercial turkey. I am sure some of our members who are reading this can provide instructions on this. I recall that you cook it -- I think -- 15 minutes per pound instead of the standard 20.

[jnifred]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We are going to get to their house early in the day, so I am just going to offer to make the entire dinner. I was going to do a big chunk of it anyway, but if I offer to make it all, then she won't get all stressed out in the kitchen and she and grandpa and dad can take care of the hooligans while I spend my afternoon in the kitchen, which I LOVE to do.

We will jsut do most of the shopping when we see them a few days prior and then I can grab the rest of the stuff and bring it along. Thanks again!!! I may end up with a cornish hen for me, I can't plan that far in advance from this much of a distance, so if I can't find a suitable turkey for me, I will eat cornish hen......yum!! This is going to work out just fine!!!!