Freezing butchered turkeys

[mxracer4life]

What is the best way to freeze a butchered turkey? I can't find freezer bags over 1 gallon size, or I would just use that. As far as how long they will be in the freezer, just from this weekend to Thanksgiving. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[kizanne]

Never done it so.....

My two cents for that short period of time you could freeze almost any old way. I'd take my 13 gallon trash bags put it there. probably 3 bag it maybe 4 because they are thin. put it in a grocery bag fold it down put the fold on the bottom so it is held in place so that it doesn't let much air in. That should keep it fresh for 5 weeks. Now if you had to go longer might put alittle more effort into finding large freezer bags.

You could also wrap it in butcher paper. It would be ugly but with lots of paper and tape you can keep the air out which is the whole idea.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I cut my turkeys up. But for the geese, I wrap them in butcher paper. Several layers and tape up any possible places for air to get in, using freezer tape. I even had to use butcher paper for the last batch of Cornish Cross because they were too big to fit into my vacuum bags.

The butcher paper will keep frozen meat fresh for a very long time. Although turkey has a relatively short freezer life. I'd say that even very well wrapped, try to use them within a year.

 

[oldrooster]

Have you thought of quartering the turkey? I would think if you would quarter the thing a gallon or 2 gallon bags might do it...

 

[SmokinChick]

http://www.cornerstone-farm.com/equipment/poultry-packaging/shrink-bag

Scroll down to the turkey size. I use this style for my cornish x. @ $1.10 each for turkey its well worth the invest you already put into the birds.
Hope this helps.