Best Places To Buy A Turkey In Baltimore

Thanksgiving is a big holiday to prepare for, but Baltimore's local farms, neighborhood markets and caterers help customers navigate the meal with ease. Whether your turkey is hormone-free, organic, farm-raised, heritage or store-bought, the best places in Baltimore to buy a turkey promise the perfect meal every time.

Albright Farms
15630 Old York Road
Monkton, Md. 21111
(410) 329-3269
www.albrightfarms.net

Price: $3.29 per pound

Albright Farms' turkeys roam in open pastures and sleep on recycled shavings, feeding on a diet of soybeans, oats and corn. The turkeys are never given hormones, and all-natural vitamins and mineral supplements keep them healthy. A $20 deposit is required for each turkey when ordering. The farm offers two pick-up locations. On Sunday, Nov. 18, customers may pick up their fresh turkeys at the JFX farmers' market in Baltimore City, under I-83. Albright's farmstand at 3505 Sweet Air Road in Jacksonville will have the turkeys on Monday, Nov. 19 and Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Related: Many Use Farmers' Markets To Prepare For Thanksgiving

Springfield Farm
16701 Yeoho Road
Sparks, Md. 21152
(410) 472-0738
www.ourspringfieldfarm.com/

Price: $3 per pound whole, all-natural, broad-breasted white/$4 per pound whole, pastured, broad-breasted white/$7 per pound whole, pastured heritage

Turkeys roam free range at Springfield Farm and are given no hormones, antibiotics or chemicals. Customers may also purchase geese for the Thanksgiving holiday as well as pheasants ($10 per pound). Springfield Farm offers a variety of turkeys. Whole, pastured, broad-breasted white turkeys and whole, pastured heritage turkeys are available in limited quantities during the holidays, so early ordering is essential. All Thanksgiving turkey orders must be placed by Sunday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. Pick-up is required on the Saturday or Sunday before Thanksgiving between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Weber's Cider Mill Farm
2526 Proctor Lane
Pikesville, Md. 21234
(410) 668-4488
www.weberscidermillfarm.com

Price: $3.29 per pound

If you've really waited until the last minute to buy the Thanksgiving turkey, head to Weber's Cider Mill Farm. Weber's is open on Thanksgiving Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the holiday procrastinators. No worries about getting the leftovers; Weber's turkeys are processed just five days before the holiday. No hormones are used with Weber's Farm's turkeys, and they are never frozen. A $20 deposit is required when placing an order online or via phone. Don't forget to grab a gallon jug of Weber's famous apple cider ($7) to round out the Thanksgiving meal.

Related: Marylanders Encouraged To Buy Local

Graul's Market
12200 Tullamore Road
Lutherville, Md. 21093
(410) 308-2100
7713 Bellona Ave.
Towson, Md. 21204
(410) 823-6077
www.graulsmarket.com

Price: $30 for a 10- to 12-pound turkey/$100 for dinner for eight to 10 people/$200 for dinner for 16 to 20 people

If the idea of cooking Thanksgiving dinner is too time-consuming — or simply overwhelming — talk to the friendly staff at one of Graul's Markets in the greater Baltimore area to order your entire Thanksgiving meal. For $30, customers may pick up a 10- to 12-pound cooked turkey. The fully prepared dinner will serve eight to 10 people ($100) and includes the turkey, 2.5 pounds of stuffing, 2.5 pounds of gravy, 2.5 pounds of green beans with walnuts, 2.5 pounds of mashed potatoes, 18 dinner rolls, two eight-inch pies (pumpkin and pecan), and a half-pound of Colombian Supremo coffee. If you're serving 16 to 20 people, the prepared dinner ($200) includes a 18 to 20 pounds of turkey, doubled sides and two nine-inch pies. Graul's encourages customers to place orders by the beginning of November.

Jay's Catering
1309 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, Md. 21201
(410) 685-3861
www.jaysdeli.com/

Price: $12.95 per person (turkey breast)/$15.95 per person unconditional traditional dinner

When there's no time to leave the house to pick up a turkey, customers may rely on Jay's Catering to deliver a meal. If you only need the turkey, the hand-carved turkey breast is $12.95 per person. Holiday menus include down on the Bayou and a Hawaiian treat, and are based on 20 people or more. For fewer than 20 people, add $2.50 per person; for fewer than 15 people, add $3.50 per person. The unconditional traditional dinner is $15.95 per person and includes salad, oven-roasted turkey breast, beef brisket, mashed potatoes, gravy, sage stuffing, cranberry sauce, mixed vegetables, rolls, beverages, apple cobbler and a pumpkin roll, and disposable dinnerware. Jay's adds 6 percent sales tax and a 10 percent delivery fee to each order.