BUYING THE TURKEY

How many pounds of turkey do I need to feed my family?
We recommend 1½ pounds per person, 2 pounds if you want leftovers. So a 20 pound bird will feed 10 people with some leftovers.

What's the difference between your Kosher turkey, your Stew's Turkey and your Stew's Naked Turkey?

• Kosher turkeys are soaked and salted and blessed by the rabbi.
• Our Stew's Turkeys are from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and have no artificial ingredients.
• Our all Natural free-range Naked Turkeys are never given antibiotics or added hormones and are 100% vegetarian feed. They have 20% more breast meat and 55% less fat than normal turkeys.

When should I buy my Thanksgiving Turkey?
Buy your turkey the Sunday or Monday before the holiday. Place your fresh turkey in a roasting pan and store in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf, in the back. Your turkey can remain refrigerated until the use/freeze by date printed on the label.

Why does my fresh turkey feel frozen?
We quickly deep-chill our turkeys to 26°F. This preserves the turkey's freshness and ensures the most tender meat and juicy flavor. A deep-chilled turkey needs a few hours in the refrigerator to lose its ice shell and be ready for roasting.

My family prefers the white meat - should I buy a second turkey?
Stew's Naked Turkey has 20% more breast meat so that may be a good option for you. You can also buy a separate turkey breast. And our buffets always have sliced turkey available.

COOKING YOUR TURKEY

How long should I cook my turkey?
All of our Turkeys have cooking directions on them and come with a pop up timer. We recommend approx. 12 – 15 minutes per pound or when an internal temperature of 165-180° is reached (place a thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey, usually were the thigh meets the breast.). Estimated cooking times are:

Pounds	Cooking Hours at 3250
8-12 lbs.	2¾ -3 hours
12-14 lbs.	3-3¾ hours
14-18 lbs.	3¾ -4¼ hours
18-20 lbs.	4¼ -4½ hours
20-24 lbs.	4½ -5 hours

Should I stuff my turkey?
We do not recommend that you stuff the turkey for both safety and quality reasons. The stuffing takes heat away from cooking the turkey, making it less likely that the turkey will be cooked to a safe temperature. In addition, by the time the inside is cooked to the proper temperature, the outside meat will be dry. Our recommendation is to cook your stuffing separately. However, we do recommend using aromatics as an alternative to stuffing when cooking your turkey.

What are "Aromatics?"
Aromatics are what we use at Stew's to help perfume the meat and increase the flavor. Our Aromatics mixture, which consists of: Oranges, Apples, Celery, Red Onion, Garlic, Marsala Wine, Bay Leaves, Salt and Pepper, can be put right inside the turkey cavity.

SIDE DISHES & GRAVY

How much gravy do I need for my turkey?
For a medium turkey we recommend one quart; for a large turkey, get two quarts. And don't forget extra for leftovers.

How many side dishes should I serve?
We recommend 3-5 side dishes depending on how many people and what kinds of appetites they have. Children and seniors have smaller appetites; football players have big appetites.

What is the difference between a yam and a sweet potato?
Technically, yams and sweet potatoes are unrelated plants. But in the United States the names are used interchangeable for the same thing. In the South they are called sweet potatoes. In the North they are called yams. We carry the Beauregard variety grown in Louisiana.

Which potato is good for baking and which is good for mashing?
Burbank Russet (Idaho) is a drier potato and is good for baking. Yukon gold is good for mashing - it's light, moist, and fluffy.

What is the difference between a green been and a French Bean (Haricot Verts)?
A French Bean is a special variety that is younger and more tender than a traditional green bean.

PLATTERS, BASKETS & PIES

What should I serve on an appetizer cheese board?
Provide a spread of 5-6 cheeses that range from soft to hard and from creamy to sharp. An example of a good spread: brie; boursin spread; cheddar; gouda; blue cheese. Remember to serve cheese at room temperature to capture its full flavor.

How many days do the Stew's vegetable and fruit platters last?
A fruit platter from Stew's will last approximately 3 days. Vegetables platters will last approximately 4 days.

Can you mix vegetable and fruit platters for same price 2 for $30?
Yes you can!

How many people does a vegetable or food platter serve?
Our platters serve 8 to 10 people.

Do you sell fruit & gift baskets for the holidays?
Yes, we have a large variety of fresh fruit and delicious gourmet baskets that we ship nationwide. These gifts are available year-round but are especially popular for the holidays. Go to www.StewsGifts.com or call 1-800-SAY-STEW (1-800-729-7839). Great gifts start at just $15.99.

What is the best apple for making pie?
Traditionally, Cortland Apples are considered the best for pies. However, sometimes they are not available at Thanksgiving. Granny Smith mixed with Golden Delicious or Gala makes a great pie as well.

WINE PAIRING

What wine do I serve at Thanksgiving?
Pairing wine with turkey is easy to do. Finding wines that complement the vast array of side dishes is the hard part. They key is serving food-friendly wines – those that complement many foods. Stew Leonard's chefs recommend the following guidelines:

• If offering wines by the course, serve Champagne or sparkling wine to complement hors d'oeuvres
• Pinot Noir and Zinfandel are best bets for reds
• Riesling is a great food-friendly white