Do you find yourself asking around to find out how much turkey to prepare for your guests? We do too! That’s why we talked with food experts and chefs and built a tool to help plan the right amount of turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
Simply enter the number of adults and children in the form below to calculate how much turkey you’ll need. Adults: Children: Want Leftovers?: No Yes
So you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year for 8 adults, A common question that comes up when planning the menu is what size turkey do you need to buy? Figuring out the right turkey size in kilograms (kg) for your guest list ensures you have enough meat without tons of leftovers going to waste
When determining turkey size, there are a few factors to take into account
How Much Turkey Per Person?
As a general guideline, plan on about 1 pound or 0.45 kg of turkey meat per adult. For a group of 8 adults, that comes out to:
- 8 adults x 0.45 kg per person = 3.6 kg of turkey
So for 8 adults with no leftovers, you’ll want a turkey around 3.5-4 kg in size.
However, having leftovers for turkey sandwiches, casseroles, and soups is part of the fun. For leftovers, allow about 1.5 pounds or 0.68 kg per person.
- 8 adults x 0.68 kg per person = 5.5 kg of turkey with leftovers
In this case, buy a 5.5-6 kg turkey.
Turkey Sizes to Avoid
Avoid excessively large or small turkeys:
- Turkeys smaller than 3 kg will have a poor meat-to-bone ratio.
- Turkeys over 7 kg take a long time to cook through and can dry out.
Stick to the 4-6 kg size range for a group of 8 adults.
Other Turkey Size Considerations
- If you have a mix of men, women, big eaters, etc then skew towards the higher amount per person.
- Make sure your roasting pan can fit the size bird you buy. Measure first if needed.
- Whole frozen turkeys are easier to find than partial breasts or other cuts.
- You can cook two smaller birds instead of one huge turkey if needed.
Turkey Size Charts
Here are some standard turkey size charts to give you an idea of how many people different sizes feed. Use the kg column for metric weights:
Turkey Sizes Without Leftovers
| Turkey Size | People Fed |
|---|---|
| 3-4.5 kg | 6-8 people |
| 4-5 kg | 8-10 people |
| 6-6.5 kg | 12-15 people |
Turkey Sizes With Leftovers
| Turkey Size | People Fed |
|---|---|
| 4.5-6.8 kg | 4-6 people |
| 6.8-8.2 kg | 6-8 people |
| 8.2-9.5 kg | 8-10 people |
| 9.5-11 kg | 10-12 people |
Thawing Times for Turkey
Allow enough time for your frozen turkey to thaw before cooking day.
- In the refrigerator: 24 hours for every 1 kg
- In cold water: 30 minutes per 1 kg, changing water every 30 mins
So a 6 kg turkey takes 6 days in the fridge or 3 hours in cold water.
Cooking Times
Figure 15-20 minutes per 1 pound or 30-40 minutes per 1 kg at 325°F/160°C. Use a meat thermometer and cook until the breast reaches 165°F/75°C.
Cite As:Sexton, J. (n.d.).
How Much Turkey Do You Need?
The happiest holiday memories are often made around the Thanksgiving table, with the turkey being the ultimate centerpiece! Thankfully (pun intended!), this chart will help you decide what size turkey to buy based on guest count.
The general rule of thumb is one pound of turkey per adult and a half pound per child. But if leftovers like late-night turkey sandwiches and turkey tetrazzini are as traditional as the feast itself, plan for two to three pounds per person total.
Smaller gatherings don’t necessarily mean smaller turkeys because the meat-to-bone ratio is typically less for birds under 12 pounds. If in doubt, always go bigger at two pounds per person.[1]
What Size Turkey To Buy – Ace Hardware
FAQ
What size turkey will feed 8 people?
Is a 14 lb turkey enough for 7 people?
What weight is 8 to 10 person turkey?
How big of a turkey do I need for 7 adults with leftovers?
How do you calculate Turkey size?
turkey size = people × amount per person Start by multiplying the number of adults times 1 (or 1.5 if you want leftovers). Then multiply the number of children by .5. Finally, add the two numbers together. If the result is less than 12 pounds, then multiply by 1.5 since there will be a little less meat.
How much does a turkey weigh per person?
You can also estimate calories consumed by you and other guests in the Turkey treat. Per adult Turkey = 1 Pound or 0.45 Kg Per child Turkey = 0.5 Pound or 0.23 Kg For precision use, the turkey pounds per person calculator calculates for each person and child making your Thanksgiving dinners a perfect treat.
How big should a Turkey be?
Turkey size varies wildly, with some birds as big as 9kg. Those larger birds will easily feed a group of 24, with plenty of leftovers for the next day.
How many G of Turkey should a person eat?
The general rule of thumb is to allow for 450 grams per serving and if you want leftovers aim for 675g per person. Obviously, that’s not how much everyone will eat, but it will mean there is an extra 225g per person that will become leftovers. Here are some turkey sizes and the number of people they will serve.