Before diving into the bird of the hour, timing is everything!

While many prefer the savory side dishes, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without the star centerpiece synonymous with the day: the turkey.

Come November, you’re suddenly overcome with urgency to rush to the store to grab that bird off the shelf and secure that coveted turkey before the crowd. However, there are important safety guidelines to consider before purchasing—and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), “Turkey is the food category consumers ask about most.”

To answer your burning questions, PEOPLE spoke with former National Turkey Federation President and CEO Joel Brandenberger — who retired in June 2024 — about some of the most common questions and topics people mention, from defrosting techniques and cooking temperatures to for storing leftovers.

For additional insider tips, PEOPLE also contacted Butterball Turkey Talk Line Director Nicole Johnson, who has worked for the company for more than 20 years and says Thanksgiving is “our Super Bowl.” to comment on the matter.

For a stress-free holiday, read on for tips on turkey timing before Thanksgiving!

Should I buy a fresh or frozen turkey for Thanksgiving?

Some people prefer fresh or frozen turkeys, while others have no choice as it simply depends on what’s left on the shelves in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Luckily, Butterball’s Johnson says there’s “no difference” between the two when it comes to taste and food safety.

“The only difference between the fresh and the frozen product is whether you want to defrost it or not. The fresh product is just convenient because it is already thawed for you,” explains the mother of four, who says she is “fresh through and through.” because she’s “all about multitasking and making it easier.”

Whether purchasing fresh or frozen, Johnson assures consumers that both turkey options are “tender, juicy and delicious!” (That is, if you take the proper steps to prepare your bird before cooking time!)

When should I buy a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving?

It’s definitely worth developing a strategy for buying a fresh turkey, especially considering you’ll have to run like crazy to the store in November to secure one. Brandenberger, a former member of the National Turkey Federation, tells PEOPLE that it depends on whether turkeys are purchased from a store or a farm.

“If you buy directly from a specialty farm and sell directly to consumers, contact the farm directly for ordering recommendations,” he says. “If you are looking for a specific type or brand of fresh turkey at the supermarket, we recommend checking with the store manager as early as possible about the reservation process.”

“If the turkey is really fresh and never frozen, you probably won’t be able to pick it up until Thanksgiving week,” Brandenberger adds. However, Johnson says Butterball’s fresh turkeys typically hit shelves in early November.

She allayed concerns about purchasing a fresh turkey “too early” this month, explaining that Butterball in particular has a “longer shelf life” due to the refrigeration process they go through before leaving the factory.

So if you want to pick up your turkey in early November, you can do so. However, Johnson recommends that consumers pay attention to the “use by” or “use by” date listed on the hang tag before purchasing a fresh turkey.

“We tell cooks to leave the packaging in the fridge and it’s safe to use until Thanksgiving,” she says. “Usually that date is Thanksgiving Day, but many of them will be even the day after because many people want to have a Friendsgiving celebration.”

In fact, Johnson admits that she celebrates the day after Thanksgiving because she takes calls from Turkey Talk-Line on the day of the holiday! “It’s really our core value here at Butterball to bring people together.”

What questions should I ask before purchasing a fresh turkey straight from the farm?

Brandenberger tells PEOPLE that before purchasing a turkey fresh from the farm, “it’s prudent to ask about the circumstances under which the turkeys were processed,” such as “whether a state or federal inspector was present.”

However, Brandenberger says that a request of this magnitude is “personal preference.” But he also suggests checking directly with the supplier or retailer to see if a consumer has “specific wants or needs.”

To avoid possible foodborne illnesses after purchasing your turkey and before cooking, Brandenberger says it’s “essential” to follow the National Turkey Federation’s “Four Core Food Safety Guidelines.”

This includes: “Clean, separate, cook and cool.” When it’s finally time for the turkey, Brandenberger emphasizes that you should “always cook the turkey to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.”

He then emphasizes that cooks should check at least three parts of the whole turkey to see if it is cooked. He recommends “the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh and the innermost part of the wing.”

How do I store a fresh turkey?

You’ve secured your turkey…now what? Storing your bird in the days leading up to Thanksgiving is just as important as deciding when to purchase it.

Johnson recommends keeping fresh turkeys “unopened” and “refrigerated” until the sell-by date listed on the label is reached or cooks can begin cooking! As for the refrigerator temperature, she says it should be “ideally between 35 and 40 degrees,” noting that “the lower temperature is preferred.”

Regardless of whether the turkey is fresh or frozen, Johnson recommends cooks place a tray underneath it “just in case there are any tiny holes in the packaging.” She explains, “Some of the raw poultry juice may end up in the fridge . If you have a tray underneath you can catch some of those juices.”

When taking the turkey out of the fridge on Thanksgiving Day, Johnson says many people assume that they need to wash their turkey before cooking as part of the preparation process – but she argues, “that’s not the case.”

One of the benefits of Butterball turkeys, in particular, is that they’ve “already been cleaned for you,” Johnson says. “It’s already prepared for you.” While she claims that “additional basting or brining” is possible, she explains, “It doesn’t have to be,” because Butterball “has already done that work for you.”

If you bought a fresh turkey and your Thanksgiving feast was postponed, you don’t have to worry! Johnson says “you can cook your turkey in advance” if you wish, then “cut the turkey meat off the bone and store it in the refrigerator or freeze it for longer storage.”

When should I buy a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving?

If you decide to go the frozen turkey option, Johnson recommends buying one “as soon as you see it,” which goes on sale in November. “This way you have a better chance of getting the size turkey you want,” she says.

Meanwhile, you can buy your turkey months in advance due to its longer shelf life. However, due to the time it takes to thaw, a time frame for purchasing turkeys in the week before the holiday is recommended.

“You ideally want to buy it now,” Johnson tells PEOPLE of those who haven’t grabbed their frozen bird exactly a week before Thanksgiving. “Or if you don’t want to go through the defrosting process, you can also opt for a fresh turkey.”

“These turkeys are still tender, juicy and delicious, but they don’t need to be thawed,” she continues. “They go straight from the grocer’s fridge to your home fridge, so it’s really convenient.”

When should you start defrosting a frozen turkey?

If the turkey is frozen at any point, Brandenberger says, “It’s important to make sure you have enough time for your turkey to thaw completely” and this should always be done “in the refrigerator or in cold water.”

“Allow 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds of turkey,” he notes. “For example, if you have a 15-pound turkey, you’ll need to let it thaw in the refrigerator for three days.”

The most common question Johnson and her team are asked by the Butterball Turkey Talk line tells PEOPLE: “How do I defrost my turkey?” A common question — which Johnson admits is “never from year to year fluctuates” – contains an answer that is easy to remember.

“We actually declare the Thursday before Thanksgiving ‘National Thaw Your Turkey Day,'” she says. “People laugh at it, but it’s a really clever way to remind people.”

How do I store a frozen turkey?

Storing a frozen turkey is not much different than storing a fresh turkey. Again, Johnson suggests “leaving the packaging on throughout the entire thawing process.”

From a food safety perspective, according to Johnson, a frozen turkey can actually be cooked “safely for a number of years” — that is, only if “it’s kept in the original packaging and you haven’t had any major power outages.”

Although you can store a frozen turkey for years, Johnson says, “it may not be as tender and juicy as if you had just bought it.” However, she assures that “you can definitely still cook it safely.”