If you’re hosting Thanksgiving — or are in charge of the turkey at a potluck — you may already be thinking about where to source your turkey from this year. While you can pick up a bird at a traditional grocery store, you may be better off getting your turkey at a warehouse club such as Costco.

                By                    Gabrielle Olya

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Here’s a look at the pros and cons of buying your Thanksgiving turkey at Costco.

How Costco Turkey Prices Compare to Other Retailers

Although you’ll likely be paying more for your turkey this year than last year no matter where you shop, some retailers will have better deals than others. So how do Costco prices stack up to the alternatives?

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“Costco is about on par or slightly cheaper than some other major retailers when it comes to their fresh turkeys,” said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com. “Last year, they were charging 99 cents per pound for fresh turkeys that weighed between 12 and 20 pounds from the Butterball brand. Even better, these turkeys were raised without antibiotics, so if that’s something you try to avoid, Costco is a good go-to for your Thanksgiving bird.”

David Somerville, owner of ShoppingWithDave.com, said that he spotted turkeys at his local Costco selling for 99 cents per pound this year as well.

“The prices of turkeys at Costco always beat the prices at the other retailers I have mystery shopped,” he said.

Typically, Costco offers better prices than grocery stores.

“When it comes to other stores, traditional grocery stores may charge as much as $1.79 to $3.48 per pound, which can add up quickly when you need to buy a bigger turkey for the holiday,” Ramhold said.

However, big-box stores like Target may offer prices that are in line with Costco’s.

“[Last year at Target], we saw prices ranging from 99 cents per pound to $1.79 per pound from store brands like Good & Gather, which is a solid in-house brand, but also from bigger name brands as well,” Ramhold said.

If you prefer to buy a cooked turkey, don’t expect it to be cheap — even at Costco.

“[Costco] may offer a whole fully cooked turkey that is hickory-smoked, but the prices on it are a bit more — roughly $47 for a 10-pound bird,” Ramhold said. “Still, if you want a smoked turkey and can’t get it any other way, the Kirkland Signature bird may be a good way to go.”

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How Costco Turkey Quality Compares to Other Retailers

Since the turkey is the main event of the Thanksgiving meal, you probably don’t want to sacrifice quality for price. The good news is that if you shop at Costco, you can expect a high-quality turkey.

“In general, Costco’s quality of meats is far better than what you may find elsewhere,” Ramhold said. “Often, the cuts are better and more consistent, and considering the name brand may be something like Butterball, you know what you’re getting. With the smoked turkeys, they’re Kirkland Signature brand, which is one of the best quality store brands out there, mostly because they often involve partnerships with the huge name brands familiar to many.”

Pros and Cons of Buying Your Turkey at Costco

Overall, buying your turkey at Costco can be a good choice, depending on your needs. Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons.

Pro: Better Price for Fresh Turkey

“If you’re buying the fresh turkey for 99 cents per pound, that’s a great deal that’s hard to beat,” Ramhold said.

Pro: High-Quality Turkeys

“A fresh turkey that’s free of antibiotics may end up with a better taste and texture than one that’s been frozen and may be injected with solutions with salt and sugar in them,” Ramhold said. “If these are things that concern you, the fresh turkey could be a better way to go overall.”

Con: You May Have To Buy More Turkey Than You Need

“The downside to shopping at Costco is that you may not be able to find smaller birds,” Ramhold said. “For example, last year their birds fell somewhere between 12 and 20 pounds on average, so if you need something smaller than that, Costco may not be your best option. Of course, you could always really embrace those leftovers — that works too.”

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