Whole Turkey

The absolute best pasture raised turkey you've ever had.  Here is just some of the feedback from our customers:

"I just wanted to send a brief message to let you know how delicious our turkey was this year. It was the first year we deviated from getting our turkey from a "factory farm" and what a difference! We are grateful for the work you do and the thoughtfulness and care you put into it. It is obvious it is a labor of love and it shows! Wishing you all the blessings of the season." Becky & Jeff - Allentown, PA

"For the record, it was probably the best turkey we've ever had.  Hoping you guys keep doing turkey in future years!!" Laura - Harleysville, PA

"Hands down, this was the absolute cleanest and most flavorful turkey we've ever had.  THANK YOU!" Robert - Perkasie, PA

"I just opened the turkey my husband picked up for me yesterday.  In 42 years of hosting Thanksgiving and cooking the turkey, this is the nicest and cleanest turkey I ever bought! And the neck and giblets vac-packed separately! That was awesome. I am dry-brining it today and roasting it in a parchment bag tomorrow. Can't wait to eat this beautiful bird!" Tammy - Souderton, PA

"We have been purchasing our meet from Tussock Sedge Farm for a while now. Their products are amazing in flavor, with the added bonus of being healthier for my family. WOW!!!! We could not believe how amazing the turkey was. To be honest we are not big turkey lovers, we make it every year out of tradition, but we also make another form of meat with the turkey being everyone’s least favorite. It was the opposite this year. My husband said the meat was so easy to carve. It was moist, tender, and I never knew turkey could be so delicious, I didn’t even use any gravy! Most impressive was that usually we have to force the kids to eat some turkey. This year all 5 of them went back for seconds. Thank you Tussock for all of the work you put into the quality of your food. And an even bigger thank you for adding turkeys this year, it was a huge favorite in our home!" Melannie - Richboro, PA

"Bought my Thanksgiving Turkey from Tussock Sedge this year. The best turkey of my life!" Gerald - North Wales, PA

GIBLETS:

Giblets will be packaged separately and will be available by request.  A package of giblets includes the heart, liver, and neck.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

Brining is not necessary at all, as our freshly harvested pasture raised turkeys will be moist and juicy on their own.  Brining can impart different flavors though and is solely a personal preference.

Maple Orange Brine (if desired - if not, skip ahead to roasting instructions)  
▢ water ▢ 1 cup maple syrup

▢ 1 cup kosher or sea salt ▢ 1 orange, cut in half

▢ 1 onion, quartered ▢ 10 cloves

▢ 20 peppercorns ▢ 1 stick of butter

Brine instructions
Place the maple syrup and salt in 4 cups of hot water. Stir until the salt dissolves.

Place the maple syrup mixture in a large stock pot with a gallon of cold water, the juice of the orange, the orange halves (once juiced, of course), the onion, cloves, peppercorns, and stir to combine.

Place the turkey breast side down in the stockpot with the brine (you want the brine to just cover the turkey).

Cover and refrigerate 18 hours to 2 days.
(Or, you can set it in a cool safe place outdoors as long as it’s below 55 degrees outside).


Roasting instructions

Preheat oven to 350.

Take the turkey out of the brine and rinse inside and out with cold water, discarding brine. Blot the turkey dry with a paper towel.

Rub the entire turkey liberally with butter, on top of skin and underneath - you can’t use too much!

Place the turkey on a roasting rack inside a wide low pan, breast side DOWN.

Add 1/2” to 1” of water to the pan, cover with tin foil, and place in oven.

Approximate cooking times

10-12 minutes per pound - UNSTUFFED OR 12-14 minutes per pound - STUFFED

Do not simply rely on time!  Instead, begin checking the temperature by inserting a meat thermometer into the deepest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone) until you reach a temperature of 160-165 degrees. The turkey will continue to cook after you take it out of the oven.


Let the turkey rest for 20-30 minutes (this is an essential step to allow the juices to redistribute and settle).

Enjoy your Tussock Sedge Farm pasture raised turkey!!

The absolute highest quality and most delicious turkey you'll find! Raised with daily moves to fresh organically managed pasture.

Like everything else, they are GMO Free, Corn Free, Soy Free, Antibiotic Free, Vaccine Free, Hormone Free, Chemical Free, and Humanely Raised.  Hand-butchered on our farm using low stress methods.  The harvesting process is zero waste, as everything inedible is composted and the nutrients are eventually returned to our soils.  It's a full circle of life.

Why are our pasture raised turkeys more delicious and nutritious than conventionally raised turkeys?

The most obvious difference between Pasture Raised and Conventional turkey is living conditions: grass, bugs, sunshine and fresh air compared to an enclosed barn with concrete floors. There are many more differences though!

Conventional: Conventional turkeys are packed tightly in barns and never experience the outdoors.  

Tussock Sedge Farm: Our turkeys spends their infant life in a heated brooder before spending the rest of their life on pasture.

Conventional: Because of the high stocking density, conventional barns are at a high risk of illness and infection.

Tussock Sedge Farm: We utilize low stocking rates and take advantage of fresh air and fresh ground due to daily pasture moves.

Conventional: Conventional turkey will use labels like "Free Range", "Cage Free" or "Natural" to describe their growing practices. These mean NOTHING. The turkeys are all grown the same way.  EVEN "Organic" turkeys are still grown in conventional barns using conventional methods - the feed they receive is simply certified organic.

Tussock Sedge Farm:  No fancy labels or marketing tricks required.  Our birds are raised on organically managed pastured at are lush with grass, clover, and bugs.  

Conventional: Typically fed a steady diet of genetically modified corn and soy.  Conventional turkeys are also fed daily antibiotics to grow faster and ward off disease because of their cramped living conditions.

Tussock Sedge Farm: Our turkeys are fed an organic, non-GMO, chemical free, locally grown ration that is both corn free and soy free. Our birds gain their growth and immunity slowly through exposure to soil, a healthy diet, and space to breathe (no antibiotics ever!).

Conventional: Turkeys are stressed due to overcrowding and forced artificial light stimulation.

Tussock Sedge Farm: Our turkeys experience much less stress in their daily lives, waking with the sunrise and sleeping at sunset. By being able to live outside and express their natural turkey-ness, they are happier and healthier.

Conventional: Conventional meat typically contains residue and traces of antibiotics and glyphosate (among other chemicals).

Tussock Sedge Farm: 100% chemical and drug free.  Plus, many studies have proven that pasture raised meats are higher in many vital nutrients like Omega 3 fatty acids, Iron, Vitamin D, and other antioxidants.