Other than size, is there any real difference between a tom and a hen turkey?

By Enchens on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 03:09 am:

You mean, other than one's female and one's male?

By Cocoabutter on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 06:43 am:

yeah.

Like is there any difference in the taste or the texture of the meat or are they just the same? What makes one decide whether to get a tom or a hen? Just the size?

By Colette on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 09:50 am:

Is a tom turkey tougher than a hen?

No. Most experts agree that a hen turkey is better than a tom, but it is probably a matter of personal preference. Hens are generally smaller than tom turkeys of the same age. Hens weigh less than sixteen pounds while toms always weigh over sixteen pounds. Tom turkeys have larger bones and less edible portions, which may be reason for hens as preference. However, age not gender is the determining factor for tenderness and all commercial turkeys are young and tender.

By Cocoabutter on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 02:05 pm:

Thanks!

I got a young turkey. The toms were mostly about 25 pounds, and I am only having 6 people so I figured that was too much.