How long can Turkey age in fridge?

[TheOtherHorse]

The way our work schedules are the only day we could process before Christmas would be 7 days prior. Is it okay for the turkey (heritage breed) to rest in the refrigerator for 7 days, or is that too long? What container should it be stored in? Airtight bag? In water?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'd put it on ice cubes in a covered container. Growing up in a family owned market the "fresh" chicken came packed in ice and stayed that way in walk in cooler until needing to be cut up and wrapped for the display case and some would still be there when the next order arrived following week. The birds keep from freezing but are definitely near it so age slooowly. But then I guess it depends on how cold you keep your refrigerator, once the bird is up to 45 degrees it ages rapidly. A bird in display cases only last 3 days (course this is after it's over a week old on ice).

 

[Martin Sandison]

Just curious,
I notice that a lot of people don't hang their turkeys like a game bird,
As a butcher, we dealt with dome very nice game hung turkeys,
The flavour and tenderness would improve with it being hung for a week before being gutted/ evisverated.

Martin.