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Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Brining a turkey is a wonderful method for enhancing its juiciness and flavor, but home cooks are often intimidated by the time and space required. Our prebrined Willie Bird turkey offers a convenient alternative. The free-range birds are raised on natural grains, free of antibiotics and hormones, at a family farm in California's Sonoma County that has been raising turkeys since 1948. The turkeys are brined with a flavorful blend of rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic and salt, and shipped in a vacuum-sealed bag directly from the farm. For Thanksgiving delivery, order no later than 12pm (PST), Nov. 16. For Christmas delivery, order no later than 12pm (PST), Dec. 17. Available in five sizes: approx. 12-14 lb. (serves 9-11), approx. 14 lb.-16 lb. (serves approx. 11 - 13), approx. 16-18 lb. (serves approx. 13-14), approx. 20 lb.-22 lb. (serves approx. 16 - 18) and approx. 24-26 lb. (serves 19-21). Quantities are limited. Shipped partially frozen to arrive chilled. Made in USA. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.
Average Customer Rating:
(50 Reviews) 50
37 of 50(74%)reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
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Customer Reviews for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Review 1 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
hopefullyhelpful
,Portland
,OR
November 29, 2012
Ability level:Professional
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? No
0points
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Sad to say
November 29, 2012
We have brined a few turkeys of our own over the years. I was excited to see this turkey offered, as I have always enjoyed ALL other products offered by WS and assumed it would live up to those high standards. This was the worst turkey we have ever had, including other hosts. The brine had an overwhelming mysterious "herb" flavor. The sodium while leaving all the meat moist, was also too overwhelming, thank goodness no high blood pressure problems here. All the meat had a uniform "processed" flavor, like bad lunch meat. It was barely eaten and the rest, I am sad to say.....went to the trash.
Pros: Easy to Prepare
Cons: Disappointing, Amount, Flavor
Review 2 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Madman
,Providence
,RI
November 29, 2012
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? No
0points
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Brine it yourself!
November 29, 2012
I have been brining my Thanksgiving turkey for about ten years now, but with my wife battling cancer I thought I would shell out the money for the convenience,The bird was overly aromatic and "off" tasting, and I bought a 22-pounder! Be wary of the gushing reviews. I for one have learned my lesson and will get my Thanksgiving birds somewhere else and brine it myself.
Pros: Time-saver
Cons: Disappointing, smell, Flavor, wasteful
Review 3 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
CinciCooking
,Cincinnati
,OH
November 25, 2012
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? No
+1point
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Disappointing
November 25, 2012
For the past couple of years I have purchased the unbrined Willie Bird and brined it myself. This year I thought I would save time and buy the pre-brined version. It was disappointing. The flavor of the meat was overwhelmed by the garlic flavoring WS used in their brine. I say garlic flavoring because it didn't taste like real garlic - more like garlic powder or artificial garlic flavor. The result was a juicy bird, but no more juicy than when I brined it myself.
Cons: Disappointing, Flavor
Review 4 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Ghillie2
,Albany
,NY
November 23, 2012
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? No
0points
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THE WORST TURKEY EVER!!!!!!
November 23, 2012
I usually brine my own turkeys but ordered this well in advance of Thanksgiving thinking it would be a wonderful time saver. It did not arrive on the promised date.When it arrived it had a large orange label on the box that said it must be delivered by 10 am. It arrived at 3:30 pm. We had no other option but to use it or carve a bird out of spam. I spent the entire day in the kitchen preparing the feast. The bird looked beautiful. It was moist, the texture of the meat was good but the taste! The meat had a taste of very strong herbs, garlic and who knows what that it was actually inedible. The entire bird was thrown in the trash. My son said just the smell coming from the meat on his plate was
sort of sickening & I felt the same way. I spent a whole day preparing a dinner that turned into a disaster. Just imagine serving your guests food that is totally inedible and on a day so important in our American culture.
sort of sickening & I felt the same way. I spent a whole day preparing a dinner that turned into a disaster. Just imagine serving your guests food that is totally inedible and on a day so important in our American culture.
Cons: Disappointing, smell, Flavor
Review 5 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
MitchellR
,Miami
,Fl
November 23, 2012
Ability level:Intermediate
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? Yes
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The best turkey I have ever hand
November 23, 2012
The turkey was absolutely perfect. The instructions were simple and accurate.
We bought the 14-16 lbs turkey. Be sure that you start taking temp at 2 hrs and remove at 160 degrees within the breast.
You will not be disappointed .
We bought the 14-16 lbs turkey. Be sure that you start taking temp at 2 hrs and remove at 160 degrees within the breast.
You will not be disappointed .
Pros: Texture, Easy to Prepare, Authentic, Quality, Good for Entertaining, Time-saver, Flavor, Healthy
Review 6 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
RockyMtnMomma
,Parker
,CO
November 6, 2012
Ability level:Novice
Purchased:More than once
Would You Recommend? Yes
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FANTASTIC (even for beginners)
November 6, 2012
Must say the turkey was fantastic! We hosted last year, prepared - served this delicious bird, and we are now going to host-serve again this year! Extremely easy to prepare, juicy and delicious. For this novice - (serving to Advanced guests) the results were top-shelf!
Pros: Easy to Prepare, Good for Entertaining, Flavor
Review 7 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
KSueW
,chino
,ca
October 31, 2012
Ability level:Novice
Purchased:Regularly
Would You Recommend? Yes
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Best Turkey Ever
October 31, 2012
I got married three years ago and married into a family with 4 adult kids. Never prepared a turkey before so I was under pressure to impress. This was so easy to prepare and the flavor was fabulous!!!! Everyone said it was the best turkey they had, which is great considering we were the second thanksgiving for all of them. Thank you!!!!
Pros: Flavor
Review 8 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
27cook
,Palm Desert
,CA
December 28, 2011
Would You Recommend? Yes
0points
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Absolutely a Delicious Turkey
December 28, 2011
This was by far the best Thanksgiving turkey I have ever prepared. I have prepared "free range" turkeys in the past but this turkey was seasoned well and so rich with flavor Worth the purchase
Review 9 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Sparky24
,Leominster
,MA
Leominster, MA
December 15, 2011
Ability level:Intermediate
Would You Recommend? Yes
0points
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Incredible
December 15, 2011
I was a little hesitant at first to spend so much money on a turkey, but after preparing the best (by far) turkey in my life, I have no choice but to make it a staple at Thanksgiving. The family raved about it and my daughter even took a picture of it with her cell phone saying it looked too good to be real.
Pros: Texture, Quality, Good for Entertaining, Flavor, mouth watering
Review 10 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
angelflightpt
,Livermore
,Ca
Livermore CA
December 7, 2011
Ability level:Intermediate
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? Yes
+1point
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Best choice for turkey
December 7, 2011
Best turkey. Will order again next year! Tender, juicy, tasted fresh and as a turkey should!
Pros: Easy to Prepare, Quality, Good for Entertaining, Time-saver, Flavor
Cons: plastic piece holding legs, skin to hold legs ripped too narrow
Review 11 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
easymocha
,san marino
,ca
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? No
-4points
0of 4found this review helpful.
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Came out dry and no taste of the pre-brined herbs
December 6, 2011
I am not sure if I have received the pre-brined turkey that I ordered. Taste of the turkey is blend, with absolutely no taste of rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic and salt as stated on your website. The turkey came out dry. Just nothing like the organic turkey we ordered last year from you. VERY DISAPPOINTED!
Cons: Disappointing, Flavor
Review 12 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Hawk1
,Naples
,FL
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Regularly
Would You Recommend? Yes
-1point
0of 1found this review helpful.
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Fabulous Pre-Brined Turkey
December 6, 2011
I never thought that a Willie Bird fresh turkey could get any better...I was wrong! The pre-brined turkey not only saved time this Thanksgiving but it was fabulous!
Everyone loves my Thanksgiving turkey's every year but this one blew my guests away!!
Everyone loves my Thanksgiving turkey's every year but this one blew my guests away!!
Pros: Texture, Quality, Time-saver, Flavor
Review 13 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Angela
,Los Angeles
,CA
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? Yes
0points
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Best turkey I've ever made!
December 6, 2011
I've been making turkeys for many years and this has been the best!
Pros: Texture, Amount, Easy to Prepare, Authentic, Quality, Good for Entertaining, Flavor, Healthy
Review 14 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Mollyw4
,Chicago
,IL
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? Yes
0points
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Best Turkey we ever had.
December 6, 2011
Really. Delicious, juicy, very flavorful. Everyone agreed that it was the best turkey ever.
It cooked a little faster than a non-brined turkey.
It had tremenous amounts of white meat.
Pros: Easy to Prepare, Quality, Good for Entertaining, Flavor, Healthy
Review 15 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Anonymous
,Naples
,fl
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? Yes
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
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great turkey
December 6, 2011
I hesitated spending so much money for a turkey, but I figured I would try it one time....how good could it be? Fantastic! I will order it again and again. Beautifully packaged, easy to un pack, easy to cook and the reults were sublime. Worth every penny!
Pros: Easy to Prepare, Quality, Good for Entertaining, Time-saver, Decadent, Flavor, Healthy
Review 16 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Tuija
,Cave Creek
,AZ
Phoenix, AZ
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? Yes
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Excellent turkey but product details were incomple
December 6, 2011
This was the best turkey I have ever had, but it was frustrating that nobody could provide me exact weight of the bird. It would have been very useful for planning purposes.
Pros: Texture, Quality, Flavor
Cons: no weight info
Review 17 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
Embee
,chicago
,IL
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Intermediate
Purchased:More than once
Would You Recommend? Yes
0points
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Excellent Taste and Easy Prep
December 6, 2011
This is the second year I have purchased the pre-brined, fresh turkey and it, again, turned out great! It stays moist and, being pre-brined, saves me time and space brining it myself. The turkey browns so nicely, it looks like a staged picture. I would recommend this to anyone. It's also nice that it comes in a variety of weights to accommodate small or large gatherings and everything in between!
Pros: Texture, Amount, Easy to Prepare, Quality, Good for Entertaining, Time-saver, Flavor
Review 18 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
debd
,Carmel
,IN
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? No
0points
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Garlicky Turkey
December 6, 2011
I was quite disappointed in this turkey. I usually obtain an organic turkey from close by and brine it myself, but this time I was too late so I ordered the pre-brined. It had a distinct garlic taste that permeated the entire turkey. I did receive on time and it was packed in a box. I used my roaster and it looked great but the taste was subpar. For the money I was quite disappointed.
Pros: Easy to Prepare, Authentic, Healthy
Cons: Disappointing, smell, Flavor
Review 19 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
JORME
,Long Beach
,CA
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? Yes
0points
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The best turkey ever!!
December 6, 2011
This turkey was the juiciest, moistest turkey we have ever had. I brined my own turkey last year and it was no where as moist as this years pre-brined turykey. I will buy this turkey as long as it's offered. YOu can't go wrong !!!
Pros: Easy to Prepare, Authentic, Quality, Good for Entertaining, Flavor, Healthy
Review 20 for Willie Bird Fresh Pre-Brined Turkey
mharpo
,Louisville
,KY
December 6, 2011
Ability level:Advanced
Purchased:Once
Would You Recommend? No
0points
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Disappointment
December 6, 2011
I, nor were most of my guests, happy with the flavor of this bird and it seemed as though it had been brined for too long. I usually fix a back-up bird, but did not this year making the situation even worse.
I have prepared Willie Birds in the past and have been very pleased. I will not order the pre-brined Turkey again.
Pros: Time-saver
Cons: Disappointing, smell, Flavor