As Thanksgiving inches closer, the day-of stress may be mounting — and much of it may come directly from the bird. If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving feast for your loved ones, one of the biggest questions is how much turkey to make per person. Before choosing between a wet or dry brine and whether to stuff the bird or serve the dressing on the side, you need to buy the right size turkey for your crowd.
Cooking a turkey can feel overwhelming — no doubt — but it doesnt have to take away the joy of your festive feast.
If the turkey is sending you into a tailspin, don’t panic! Here’s what you need to know about cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year when it comes to the big bird.
When planning a holiday meal or large gathering, one of the most important questions is how much turkey you need to buy. Determining the right size turkey ensures there is enough for everyone while minimizing wasted food. So how many people will a 20 lb turkey feed? Read on for a detailed guide on calculating your turkey needs
Factors That Determine Turkey Servings
Several key factors impact how many servings you can get from a turkey:
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Raw Weight vs Cooked Weight – Turkeys shrink substantially during cooking due to moisture loss, A 20 lb raw turkey may yield only 10-12 lbs cooked meat
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White Meat vs Dark Meat – The breast meat yields more servings per pound than the legs and wings, Prioritize white meat if catering light eaters
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Leftovers – Leftover turkey makes great sandwiches, soup, casseroles. Buy extra if wanting leftovers.
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Side Dishes – Numerous side dishes reduce meat servings needed per person.
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Appetizers – Appetizers before the meal also decrease main course portion sizes.
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Age of Guests – Children and seniors often eat smaller portions than adults.
Calculating Turkey Servings Per Person
As a general guideline, plan on 3/4 lb to 1 lb of turkey meat per person. But this must be raw, uncooked weight. With a 20 lb raw turkey, here is how to estimate cooked servings:
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Turkey loses ~30% weight from moisture loss. A 20 lb raw turkey yields ~14 lbs cooked meat.
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About 1/3 of turkey weight is bones/skin/fat that is not eaten. Of the 14 lbs cooked weight, only ~9-10 lbs is edible meat.
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Adults eat ~3/4 lb turkey meat each. Kids eat ~1/3 lb each.
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A 20 lb turkey would feed 12-15 adults or more if including kids and seniors.
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For only adults, allow 1 lb raw turkey per person. Include extra for leftovers.
Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
A turkey should cook 15-18 minutes per pound at 325°F. Use this handy chart:
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Turkey Weight</th>
<th>Cooking Time at 325°F </th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>10 lbs</td>
<td>150-180 minutes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15 lbs</td>
<td>225-270 minutes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20 lbs</td>
<td> 300-360 minutes</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Always use a meat thermometer to verify the turkey reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the breast and thigh. Let the turkey rest 20 minutes before carving.
Purchasing the Right Size Turkey
Use 1 lb of raw turkey per adult, 2/3 lb per child as a starting point. Then add a couple extra pounds if you want ample leftovers.
A 20 lb turkey will feed:
- 12-15 adults
- 15-20 adults and kids
- 20-25 adults, kids, and seniors
Buy two small 10-15 lb turkeys if cooking a turkey over 20 lbs. It shortens cooking time and gives extra oven space for sides.
Also consider buying an extra turkey breast if catering light eaters.
Handling Leftover Turkey
Leftover turkey keeps 4-6 months in the freezer. Use it in the following recipes:
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Turkey sandwiches – Stuff into rolls with mayo, cheese, lettuce
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Turkey noodle soup – Simmer turkey in chicken broth with veggies and noodles
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Turkey tetrazzini – Turkey, noodles, mushrooms in a creamy sauce baked with cheese
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Turkey curry – Simmer turkey in coconut milk, spices and vegetables over rice
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Turkey pot pie – Turkey mixed with veggies and gravy baked under a pie crust
Don’t Forget the Stuffing!
Allow 3/4 cup stuffing per person. Avoid stuffing the turkey which can result in undercooked stuffing. Cook it separately in a casserole dish.
A 20 lb turkey feeding 15 people will need about 11 cups of stuffing.
Order Your Turkey Early
Be sure to order your turkey at least 1-2 weeks in advance from a butcher or grocery store. Reserve an organic or free-range turkey if desired. Popular sizes like 15-20 lbs often sell out right before the holidays.
Let the Feasting Begin!
Figuring out the right size turkey ensures you have enough meat without overspending and creating a lot of waste. Use 1 lb raw turkey per adult as a baseline, then adjust for kids, seniors and desired leftovers. Follow cooking times and temperatures, and your holiday meal will be perfectly seasoned with relaxation and enjoyment!
When should I thaw my turkey?
Most turkeys are sold frozen and if you’re shopping in advance, it’s a good idea to keep the bird frozen until it gets closer to Thanksgiving. So, how long does it take to thaw a turkey? The USDA recommends one day for every five pounds when it comes to thawing a turkey. That means if you purchased a 20-pound bird, you should start thawing it on Saturday or Sunday so that it’s ready to brine and bake by Thursday.
“If you can, do not thaw your turkey with warm water,” Noguchi says. “You want to take your frozen turkey out, put it in a cooler and let it thaw through the week. Don’t rush it.” Alternatively, you can thaw the bird in the refrigerator by resting it in a roasting pan or a large stockpot.
More Thanksgiving help for the big day:
As a rule of thumb, account for one to 1½ pounds of turkey meat per person. Chef Mark “Gooch” Noguchi, co-founder of Pili Group and Chef Hui, tells TODAY.com that the most important part of determining how much turkey to buy is accounting for the fact that your turkey will shrink as it cooks.
“You’re going to lose twenty to thirty percent,” he says.
Noguchi, who has been a chef for more than two decades, says an easy way to shop is to buy one pound of raw turkey for every person you plan to feed.
“One pound of raw whole turkey will equal about eight ounces of raw, usable meat,” he says. “With moisture loss, that is about five to six ounces of cooked meat per person.” Keep in mind that if some of your guests are vegetarian, you can purchase a smaller bird.
Consider your crowd’s preferences for light meat versus dark meat, too. If your guests tend to eat more dark meat, you may want to stock up on additional turkey thighs and drumsticks to serve on the side. Alternatively, if everyone tends to pluck light meat from the platter, roast a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey.