you know joanne, my one experience with a fresh turkey is best described as underwhelming. talked into buying a fresh bird by a chef friend of mine, i hosted a non-family thanksgiving gathering of some 25 friends and neighbors. perhaps i had set the bar of my expectations too high. the turkey was expertly roasted, basted and meticulously tended throughout.
the turkey was a golden beauty to behold, but...okay, here we go: i had been told to expect a turkey juicier than a frozen one, and one that would have superior flavor. well, in my opinion our fresh organic turkey was just as good, but only as good, as most of the butterballs that had come before. it was a tasty and juicy bird, but no tastier or juicier than any good frozen turkey from previous years.
personally, i would never again opt for a fresh turkey over frozen, even if price was not an issue. again, maybe my inflated expectations have negatively affected my perceptions of my one fresh turkey experience. the lingering impression i am left with about that turkey is, it was a good bird, but nothing special....