Nov. 25. It’s the Monday before Thanksgiving and time to get your turkey, if you haven’t already, so you’ll have time to thaw or brine your bird.

Thanksgiving dinner will cost less this year than last, but will still be 19% higher than before the pandemic, according to the Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Thanksgiving survey out earlier in November.

The average cost of this year’s dinner for 10 people is $58.08, or about $5.80 per person, the survey found. That’s a 5% drop from 2023.

The center piece of the Thanksgiving meal helped bring down the overall cost. The average price for a 16-pound turkey is $25.67, down 6% from last year.

The best turkey prices come with other purchases at Food Lion, Harris Teeter and Publix. Aldi has the lowest Butterball price per pound.

Here are prices of turkeys in Cornelius groceries;

Aldi: Butterball $1.07 per pound; Butterball smoked $2.29; Simply Nature organic turkey $3.29

Food Lion: 29 cents per pound with $35 purchase; Butterball 99 cents or $1.29 per pound depending on size.

Harris Teeter: Harris Teeter 29 cents per pound with $40 purchase; Shady Brook $1.79 per pound; Butterball $1.99-$2.99 depending on size.

Publix: Publix young turkey 39 cents per pound; Greenwise $1.99 per pound, raised without antibiotics; Butterball $1.19,  $1.99 and $2.29 per pound depending on size; Plainville Farms $2.99 per pound, raised without antibiotics; Empire $4.49 per pound kosher poultry.

The Fresh Market: The Fresh Market fresh turkey $2.79 per pound, no antibiotics, no growth hormones.

If you did buy a frozen turkey, here are some tips for thawing:

Refrigerator

The safest method, the turkey should thaw at a consistent, safe temperature. It takes about 24 hours to thaw every 4–5 pounds of turkey. Here are some turkey thawing times in the refrigerator:

4–12 pounds: 1 to 3 days

12–16 pounds: 3 to 4 days

16–20 pounds: 4 to 5 days

20–24 pounds: 5 to 6 days

To thaw, place the turkey breast-side up in its original wrapping on a tray in the refrigerator.

Cold water

Submerge the turkey in a sink or container of cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. It takes about 30 minutes perpound to thaw.

Microwave

If your microwave is big enough, you can use the defrost function. It takes about 6 minutes per pound to thaw. You’ll need to remove the wrapping, place the turkey on a microwave-safe dish, and rotate and flip it multiple times.

You should not leave a turkey thawing on the counter for more than two hours

You can combine thawing methods, such as using the refrigerator for the first couple of days and then finishing in the sink.

Once thawed, the turkey is safe to eat for another two days.

Brining

As a general rule, let the turkey brine for at least 1 hour per pound of turkey.