Article: Manufacturers choose packaging that keeps bacteria out, maintaining the meat’s freshness. As soon as you remove the original packaging, you expose the meat to bacteria, increasing the potential for spoilage. The packaging must be leak-proof. Check the turkey over before buying it. Avoid any turkeys with punctured or leaky packaging. At this temperature, the bird remains completely frozen. Freezing a turkey is the best way to retain its quality and freshness until you’re ready to use it. If you don’t plan on using the turkey right away, keep it on ice. Fresh turkeys are safe to store in the freezer, including hunted ones. If the turkey isn’t already packaged, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Put it in an airtight bag and store it for up to a year. Vacuum sealed bags are the best way to keep turkeys fresh. If this isn’t an option, put the wrapped turkey into a large bag, such as a garbage bag, and push the air out before tying it up tightly. Whole turkeys last an entire year, but turkey parts tend to not last as long. Parts like wings and drumsticks stay fresh for about 9 months in their proper packaging. Ground turkey is best when used within 3 to 4 months. Technically, turkey can be stored indefinitely in the freezer. After about a year, turkey begins losing quality. Some turkeys last longer, while others take on freezer burn or odors from the freezer. These turkeys do not require thawing. When you’re ready to use them, heat them up in the oven according to the instructions on the packaging. Make sure whole pre-stuffed turkeys have been inspected and certified by your national government as safe for consumption. Proof of certification will be on the packaging.

What is a summary?
Keep the turkey in its packaging from the store. Store uncooked turkeys in a freezer below 0 °F (−18 °C). Wrap fresh turkeys up before storing them in the freezer. Store the turkey for up to 1 year for maximum freshness. Preserve frozen pre-stuffed turkeys in the freezer before cooking.