345233 Wed Nov 22 23:06:12 -0800 2006 10 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2042844 The lady in front of me last night at the supermarket was buying a Bell & Evans turkey. She commented that she bought it because she couldn't find a 26 lb. Butterball. She had never heard of Bell & Evans, and was a little nervous. I told her that she was making a superior choice, but when I thought about it, was she? I like their chickens, but have never had their turkeys. Wed Nov 22 23:06:12 -0800 2006 13003 whs 1 2042854 they're very different, Bell and Evans doesn't inject their turkeys with a brine or fat, so many people expecting the extremely moist breast of Butterball aren't likely to be really thrilled with it.. Wed Nov 22 23:11:46 -0800 2006 2042844 12153 jesse 1 2042923 I have not had their turkey but I found their chicken to be pretty flavorless Wed Nov 22 23:41:48 -0800 2006 2042844 10285 Candy 1 2045730 I brined a 22 pound B&E. I took loving care of it, and did everything my brining research said to. It was a beautifully roasted bird - I've never had one with such gorgeous skin. But...it was dry. I don't know what I did wrong but maybe there is something to be said for the injected Butterballs! Sat Nov 25 01:46:52 -0800 2006 2042844 13358 Susan627 1 2046516 I eat B&E chickens several times a week and love them. A couple of years ago I bought a B&O Oven Stuffer Roaster for Sunday dinner. Cooked up great, but when I served it my family looked at me and asked what happened. It was dry. So never went back that way and continue to use Purdue for the Roasters. Likewise the story goes for Tommy. Thought I'd try a B&E and let me tell ya, did not like at all. Same reaction by the family. Back to Bball. Moral is a lable does not make a good boyd. Sat Nov 25 19:21:21 -0800 2006 2042844 11290 jfood 1 2047704 I have always been pleased with B & E chicken parts, bought at my local UWS butcher for regular dinners, whether it be breasts, thighs, etc. Since moving to the 'burbs, I have been buying Murrays. It seems to be more available in my area. I am very happy with every purchase and dinner I have made. Granted, we have been bbq-ing alot but I have done many inside kitchen preps and dinners as well. Not one bad turnout. So, still being pregnant for T-day and because I prefer organic if possible, I purchased a 14 lb Murrays Organic turkey and I must say...it turned out unbelievable! We stayed very traditional this year (see my post in the debriefing thread on Home Cooking for details) and the bird was juicy and delicious, even reheated for leftovers. Sun Nov 26 15:54:09 -0800 2006 2042844 11633 Michele4466 1 2081943 My friend Bob's Butterballs are best--juicy and tender Fri Dec 08 17:13:34 -0800 2006 2042844 55914 marlie202 1 2083107 I cooked a B&E 16-pounder this year, after dry-brining a la Zuni. It was delicious, not dry at all. Fri Dec 08 21:59:45 -0800 2006 2042844 11995 pikawicca 1 4206242 I cooked a 19 1/2 lb Bell and Evans this year, I used the recipie that they recommended on their website, covering in cheesecloth and basting every 15 minutes or so. This bird was the most beautiful I'd ever seen when done and not at all dry. Everybody was very impressed and quite a few told me it was the best they had ever eaten. Thu Nov 27 22:46:10 -0800 2008 2042844 244033 vtblues 1 4206389 "Better" is subjective. A *lot* of people would find BB better than B&E, including a not inconsiderable number of chowhounds, I speculate. Fri Nov 28 05:45:13 -0800 2008 2042844 13819 Karl S 1 4206471 Last year when ordering a turkey from my butcher, I had a choice of a fresh Amish turkey or a B&E. When I asked him what the difference was, he said $1.00 per pound. They don't sell BB's there, but I'll go for the lesser amount if the taste will be the same. The store also sells B&E chicken breasts and I've stopped buying them as I really couldn't tell the difference. Fri Nov 28 07:04:55 -0800 2008 2042844 138943 grouper 1 4208801 Today I consulted the Nov/Dec 2000 Cooks Illustrated for a different reason, but noticed that it rated 8 turkey brands, some frozen and some fresh. The best was also the least expensive - Marval basted frozen. Then came Empire fresh kosher, Shady Brook Farms fresh, Butterball frozen basted, Butterball fresh, Norbest refrigerated basted, Plainville Farms fresh, and, at the very bottom, Bell&Evans fresh all-natural free-range. Although their preferred method is brining, for the taste teste all were roasted plain, with the same oven heat, to 175 degrees in the thigh. This gave an advantage to the basted and kosher birds. Sat Nov 29 16:37:17 -0800 2008 2042844 159317 greygarious