Where to buy ready-to-cook whole turkey in Columbus OH area?

[ViolentScarlet]

I'm driving to Columbus from DC for Thanksgiving and my DH and I are on meal-cooking duty for the holiday. I don't think we're going to have time to wash, season, and otherwise prepare the turkey but don't want to buy it pre-cooked either. Is there anywhere besides Whole Foods that sells a good, pre-seasoned but still raw turkey that we can just stick in the oven?

[kura kura]

Ray Ray's Hog Pit is smoking turkeys to be picked up on Thursday. I think you need to pre-order.

[thimes]

If you are still looking. I'm at the Costco at Polaris (north side of town) and the have seasoned turkey breasts in a foil roasting pan with carrots celery onion under the breast ready to take and bake. Another option.

[Diane in Bexley]

You're willing to get a raw turkey but need it seasoned? Not sure i follow your drift. There are some really good small butchers/meat markets in Columbus. I have used all of the ones listed below for various things and would vouch for them. I would suggest you call the folllowing and explain what you are seeking:

Carfagna's Italian Market - I-161 just east of I-71 [phone]
Rife's Market - Grandview on 5th Ave. 614) 488-7151
Weiland's Idndianola Ave., just north of OSU [phone]\
North Market Poultry Spruce St. [phone]

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North Market
59 Spruce St, Columbus, OH 43215

Carfagna's
1405 E Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43229

Grandview Cafe
1455 W 3rd Ave, Columbus, OH 43212

[dreamers50]

Weiland's allows you to order your turkey in advance and let's you order other Thanksgiving trimmings, ie. stuffing, gravy, potatoes, etc. so, even if they don't pre-season the bird for you, they may be able to put everything together with it so that you can get it all in one stop.

[thimes]

When you say seasoned do you mean brined or are you looking for something else? There are a few small markets around that have turkeys also - though you may have to order ahead for some of them. What part of Columbus are you staying in?

[Diane in Bexley]

One more thing I wanted to mention - don't discount the difference of a kosher turkey, which is essentially brined in salt water. You can buy those at Giant Eagle, Trader Joe's or Kroger markets, at least on the East side of Columbus.

[thimes]

I've never seen Kosher birds at my Giant Eagle - but agreed, I often buy Kosher for just that reason.

[Diane in Bexley]

The giant Eagle in Gahanna and the one on E Broad in Reynoldsburg definitely carry them. Not sure where you live. They are very accommodating, might order for you.

[thimes]

Thanks for the tip! I have to fight with my Giant Eagle to keep Bell Evans chicken in stock let alone kosher! I will have to ask if they can order them for me, I usually have Whole Foods order them for me but will definitely try GE!

[ViolentScarlet]

When I say seasoned I mean ones that are basically ready to stick in the oven without having to do anything, or at most a few minutes worth of extra prep. So yes, should already be brined, and the aromatics or veggies to stick under, if there are any, should already be prepped. And if there are herbs to go on the turkey, should already be on there or in a little packet so we can easily just rub it on the turkey before putting in the oven. We just don't have time to do all the prep work since we're coming in from out of town is all, but we don't want to buy a cooked turkey either.

[thimes]

I have to say i was going to suggest all the same places that Diane recommended below. That said, I have no idea how "prepped" the turkeys are at these places. I've never heard of getting a turkey that "ready to go into the oven" so you'd have to call and ask. All of them are small purveyors so may or may not do that level of pre-prep.

I would assume most of them have brined birds (but not sure or again look for Kosher). The rest you could do with a quick trip to a grocery store - using the salad bar to get veggies that are washed and ready to go - and a jar of herbs to provence for seasoning rub.

Good Luck! If I see anything like that being offered during my shopping trips I will post back.