Physicist holding a 1st class degree and a member of the Institute of Physics. Creator of the UK vaccine queue calculator, and featured in many publications, including The Sun, Daily Mail, Express, and Independent. Tenacious in researching answers to questions and has an affection for coding. Hobbies include cycling, walking, and birdwatching. You can find him on Twitter @OmniSteve. See full profile
Omnis turkey size calculator might have just a perfect answer for the question “How big a turkey for 10 people?
Find out how many pounds of turkey per person you need, how much time its going to take for it to unfreeze, and be fully ready to serve.
The short story below will introduce you to our turkey calculator and all the assumptions we made in our tool – get to know your turkey. ⤵️
As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, many home cooks start planning their holiday meals and inevitably have questions about turkey sizes One of the most common sizes for a whole turkey is 20 pounds But how big is a 20lb turkey really? This guide will provide a complete breakdown of turkey sizes so you can select the perfect bird for your holiday feast.
Key Facts About a 20lb Turkey
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A 20lb turkey is considered a large-sized bird, typically feeding 10-12 people.
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Raw turkeys shrink about 25% during roasting so a 20lb raw turkey will yield around 15lbs of cooked meat.
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A 20lb turkey is approximately 24-26 inches long from neck to tail.
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The wingspan of a 20lb turkey is roughly 4.5 feet.
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Allow about 15 minutes of roasting time per pound of turkey. So a 20lb bird will need about 5 hours in the oven.
Serving Size Estimates by Turkey Weight
When estimating how big of a turkey you need, plan for about 1 pound of turkey meat per person. Here are some common turkey sizes and their suggested serving capacities:
- 10lb turkey: Feeds 8-10 people
- 12lb turkey: Feeds 10-12 people
- 14lb turkey: Feeds 12-14 people
- 16lb turkey: Feeds 14-16 people
- 18lb turkey: Feeds 16-18 people
- 20lb turkey: Feeds 18-20 people
- 22lb turkey: Feeds 20-22 people
These serving estimates are based on about 4-5 ounces of cooked turkey meat per person. You can adjust up or down depending on your guests’ appetites.
Factors That Affect Turkey Size
Several factors impact the final size and yield of a roasted turkey:
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Breed: Heritage breed turkeys tend to be smaller than commercial broad-breasted varieties.
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Sex: Toms (males) are bigger than hens (females). Toms can gain up to 50% more weight than hens.
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Age: Younger turkeys are smaller than older birds. Most supermarket turkeys are under 1 year old.
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Diet: Turkeys fed a high-protein diet with corn and soy gain more weight. Pasture-raised turkeys are typically smaller.
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Butchering: Whole turkeys contain bones, skin and cartilage that add weight but not edible meat. Removing those can significantly reduce overall size.
Popular Turkey Size Options
Here are some of the most common whole turkey sizes available from major poultry brands:
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Butterball turkeys: 10-24lb range available
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Jennie-O turkeys: 10-24lb range available
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Perdue turkeys: 10-24lb range available
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Plainville Farms turkeys: 10-18lb range available
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Organic and heritage turkeys: 8-18lb range typically
For small gatherings under 8 people, turkey breasts are a great option. They range from 2 to 8 pounds. A turkey breast provides white meat without wings, thighs and back.
Buying Tips for Whole Turkeys
When purchasing a whole turkey, here are some helpful buying tips:
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Allow 1-1.5 pounds per person, depending on appetite and leftovers.
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Buy 1-2 pounds over your target weight. It’s better to have leftovers than not enough.
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Turkeys are sold frozen. Make sure to allot time for thawing.
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Check your refrigerator space. Make sure your bird will fit.
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Consider buying two small turkeys versus one huge one for easier cooking.
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Opt for hens which have more tender, flavorful meat than extra-large toms.
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Higher quality heritage or organic turkeys have smaller sizes but better taste.
Get the Right Turkey Size for Your Holiday Feast
When planning your perfect holiday meal, don’t guess on turkey size! Use this handy guide to select the ideal whole turkey or turkey breast for your gathering. Aim for 1-1.5 pounds per person, keeping appetite and leftovers in mind. For a group of 10-12 hungry guests, a 20lb turkey is typically a great fit. With the right size bird and a little preparation, you’ll enjoy a beautiful, delicious turkey feast this holiday season.
Lbs of turkey per person
Our turkey size calculator assumes that during the Thanksgiving party, we usually consume:
- 1 pound (0.45 kg) of turkey per adult
- 0.5 pound (0.23 kg) of turkey per child
Do you think its way too much meat?
Dont forget that we need to incorporate both edible and inedible parts: the weight of the entire turkey consists of bones, fat, skin, tendons, as well as meat.
Have you already got what you need? Or maybe youre still looking for other holiday food calculators?
How big of a turkey should I get?
- What is the size turkey for 10 people?
- How to estimate the size of turkey for 8?
- How big of a turkey for 12?
These questions are a lot easier than you think – carefully count the number of adults, children and vegetarians/vegans at your party (dont forget to check all the other food options for your Thanksgiving party).
- Kids aged 6-15 usually eat around half of the adults portion.
- Think about your guests and their preferences – e.g., theres a probability that an all-male group will eat considerably more than an all-women gathering.
Your next step will be deciding if you need any leftovers. If you need some of them to make a turkey sandwich or turkey casserole , be sure to multiply the original amount by 1.5.
Now, as weve covered the general idea, lets proceed to the details used in our turkey portion calculator presented in the next section.
Matt Stonie vs 20lb Turkey
FAQ
How many people will a 20 lb turkey feed?
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Number of Guests
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Turkey Weight–
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12
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15lbs
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15
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20lbs
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20
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25lbs
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25
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32lbs
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Will a 20 pound turkey fit in my oven?
Is 20 lb turkey too big?
What size turkey for 2 adults?
How many turkeys should a 20 pound turkey eat?
Another option: cook two smaller turkeys instead. If you’re feeding a crowd of 20, shoot for two 12- to 14-pound turkeys. You could even try different seasoning methods on each and let your guests decide which one they like better. Or, just pick another Thanksgiving main course to serve alongside your medium-sized bird.
How to cook a 20 pound turkey?
To cook a 20-pound turkey at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. Spray the roasting pan with cooking spray. 3. Place the turkey in the roasting pan. 4. Rub the turkey with salt and pepper. 5. Cover the turkey with aluminum foil. 6.
What size Turkey should I buy?
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.
What temperature should a 20 lb Turkey be cooked at?
So, strap on your boots, pick up your gear, and let’s embark on a journey together into the world of turkey hunting. Welcome to my site, and happy hunting! 20lb turkey at 350F: How to cook a juicy, flavorful turkey for your next holiday feast. Learn the best temperature, cooking time, and tips for a perfect turkey every time.