Does Costco Sell Butterball Turkeys? (Must Know Things) (2024)

Butterball is a brand of turkey sold by Butterball LLC, a company that sells turkeys, roasts, soups, and raw meats.

Butterball has been in the poultry business since 2006, and you can find Butterball turkeys in various consumer retail stores like Walmart and membership-only outlets like Costco.

Costco is a multinational corporation operating big-box warehouses that largely deal with premium beef, white meat, and wines.

Costco has different types of turkey that will satisfy most of your budgetary needs. You can purchase their cheap 4-pack ground turkey or their more expensive premium all-natural butterball turkey. Costco sells butterball turkeys all year round, and whether it is thanksgiving or Christmas, their warehouses always have stock of butterball turkeys.

How Much Does Costco Sell Butterball Turkeys?

Costco sells butterball turkeys for as low as $0.99 per pound and as high as $2.69 per pound.

The prices of Costco butterball turkeys vary based on how they reared the turkey.

Even though $0.99 per pound might not be much, most post-covid households might not be able to afford turkeys that cost that much.

Some stores and retailers offer much lower prices for ground or all-natural turkey.

Here are the average prices of other retail turkeys compared to Costco butterball turkeys.

Costco turkeys (price) LB	Aldi turkeys (price) LB	Walmart turkeys (Price) LB
$0.99 (Butterball fresh all, natural turkey).	$0.59(Shady Brook frozen young turkey)	$0.68(Shady Brook frozen young turkey)
$2.63(Fresh ground turkey)	$0.87(Butterball frozen premium all-natural turkey)	$0.98(Butterball frozen premium all-natural young turkey)
$2.99(Butterball fresh organic premium young turkey)	$2.99(Simply nature organic free range turkey)	$2.60(Jeannie-O ground turkey)

You can get butterball turkeys at lower prices from stores like Aldi and Walmart; frozen turkeys are generally cheaper than fresh turkeys.

Premium-grade all-natural turkeys are generally more expensive than their inorganic and hormone-grown turkeys. It would be best to find a turkey that fits your budget limits.

Are Costco Butterball Turkeys Frozen?

Costco sells fresh and frozen butterball turkeys. Fresh or unfrozen butterball turkeys are more expensive than their frozen counterparts.

Although small, there are some differences between fresh turkeys and frozen turkeys.

There are differences in texture, water retention, and even the taste of the meat.

Here are some of the properties of the turkey that differ if the turkey is fresh or frozen.

#1. Juiciness

Freezing reduces the juiciness of turkey meat because of ice crystal formation in the cells.

Ice-damaged turkey cells cannot retain moisture and oils compared to fresh cells, and this causes the meat to have a dry and tough feel during consumption.

You can minimize ice damage by flash-freezing the turkey, reducing the amount of ice crystal pockets in the meat cells.

#2. Texture

The texture of fresh turkey meat is better than that of frozen turkeys.

Frozen turkeys are dry and tough to the touch because of the lost moisture content and damaged cells caused by freezing.

Frozen turkey spoils faster than fresh turkey when allowed to thaw, so you have a shorter time frame to prepare your turkey after defrosting.

Dryness and toughness are major characteristics of frozen turkey and can ruin the taste of your Thanksgiving turkey.

#3. Cost

Fresh turkey has been more expensive than its frozen counterpart for a long time.

Fresh turkey retains flavor after cooking and experiences higher demands during thanksgiving and other holidays.

Fresh turkeys are harder to transport and have a shorter storage window than frozen turkeys which drives up their cost and makes them more expensive.

#4. Preparation Time

Anyone who has ever prepared a turkey before will tell you how frozen turkeys are harder to prepare than fresh turkeys.

Frozen turkeys need defrosting before preparation, leading to significantly longer preparation times than fresh turkeys.

Ensure you allow the turkey to thaw in a refrigerator set to defrost overnight before you attempt cooking it.

Do not use hot water to defrost the turkey, as there could be disastrous consequences if you try that.

Does Costco Sell Thanksgiving Turkeys?

Costco sells Thanksgiving turkeys. You can get their thanksgiving turkeys at any Costco warehouse closest to you.

Costco does not only offer thanksgiving turkeys, but they also sell a vast assortment of goods that are vital for a successful Thanksgiving dinner.

Costco offers goods and side dishes that will make your thanksgiving dinner memorable.

Here are some of the things you can buy at Costco during your thanksgiving shopping:

#1. Turkey Breast

Costco sells thanksgiving fresh full thanksgiving turkeys, but they also have a smaller alternative for those not having a lot of visitors on thanksgiving.

Their pre-cooked turkey breasts usually retail at about $3.99 per pound and can be warmed and prepared easily.

#2. Premade Vegetables Tray

We all know there’s no thanksgiving turkey without vegetables, lots of vegetables.

But it is well-known that preparing vegetables can be more stressful than preparing a whole turkey.

That is where Taylor Farm’s vegetable tray comes in. It is a sealed tray that contains an assortment of vegetable helpings.

No extra preparations are needed, tear the wrapper, and the veggies are ready for consumption.

#3. Pumpkin Pies

Pumpkin pies are a staple food in most American households, and Costco’s 4-pound pumpkin pie is a must-have during thanksgiving.

The pie retails at $5.99 and is best enjoyed with family and friends.

#4. Premade Side Dishes

Side dishes are no joke, especially when it comes to thanksgiving celebrations.

If you have many friends coming over, it is best if there are different choices of side dishes.

Sadly preparing side dishes can be very time-consuming and hectic, so Costco’s selection of pre-made side dishes is a lifesaver.

Costco sells different types of side dishes that you can microwave and are ready for consumption.

How Big are Costco Turkeys?

Costcos turkeys typically weigh about 20 to 24 pounds for their large turkeys, while smaller turkeys are about 14-15 pounds.

You can buy the larger birds if you have a bigger budget, but a smaller bird will do just fine.

Conclusion

Costco is a good place to shop for turkeys for any occasion. You can get fresh butterball turkeys all year round and other side dishes for the turkey.

The prices of their butterball turkeys vary based on the way the turkeys are grown and how they are stored. You have to find the turkey that suits your needs and budget.