Buying turkey for Thanksgiving dinner is a big choice. Do you want a heritage bird or a classic grocery store bird-in-a-bag? Fresh or frozen? Whole or parts? And, arguably the most important consideration of all: Just how much turkey per person do you need?
To calculate how big your Thanksgiving turkey should be, you’ve got to figure out the number of guests you’re serving and how much turkey each might eat. After all, if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, it’s your mission to send everyone home as full of delicious food as possible.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning your holiday menu The centerpiece of any Thanksgiving meal is undoubtedly the turkey But if you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, how do you know how big of a turkey to buy? Buying the right size turkey is crucial to feeding your guests and having plenty of delicious leftovers. Here’s a complete guide on how to determine the perfect turkey size for your Thanksgiving gathering.
Calculating How Much Turkey You Need
The general guideline is to plan for 1-1.5 pounds of turkey per person However, this number can vary based on a few factors
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Number of guests The more people you’re cooking for the more turkey you’ll need. Make a list of everyone attending and get an accurate headcount.
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Appetites: If you have a lot of big eaters attending, consider going for the higher end of the range (1.5 lbs per person). Kids and seniors often eat less.
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Leftovers: Do you want to have ample leftovers? Add a few extra pounds to your turkey.
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Parts vs whole: Whole turkeys include bones and cartilage that don’t get eaten. Stuffing and cooking method also affect edible meat.
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Other mains: If you are also serving ham or other proteins, you may need less turkey per person.
To give you an idea, here’s a general turkey size guide based on number of guests:
- 4 guests: 5 pound turkey
- 6 guests: 8 pound turkey
- 8 guests: 10 pound turkey
- 10 guests: 13 pound turkey
- 12 guests: 15 pound turkey
- 15 guests: 20 pound turkey
- 20 guests: 25 pound turkey
You’ll want to plan on about 1.25 pounds of turkey per person. That means if you’re expecting 12 guests, you should plan for a 15-pound bird. This will provide enough meat without tons of wasted leftovers.
Should You Buy a Whole Turkey or Breast?
Whole turkeys make for an impressive table centerpiece, but they do contain bones and other parts that won’t get eaten. Turkey breasts give you more edible meat per pound. If you have a smaller gathering or prefer white meat, a boneless turkey breast may be a better option.
For a group of 4-6 people, an 8-10 pound bone-in turkey breast is ideal.Cooks evenly and gives you enough meat without too many leftovers.
What if You’re Cooking Turkey for a Large Group?
For gatherings of 12 or more people, a whole turkey is your best bet. However, one massive turkey is difficult to cook evenly. Here are some tips:
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Buy two smaller turkeys instead of one huge one. It will cook more evenly.
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Cook the dark meat and white meat separately. Slow roast the legs and thighs, then roast the breast.
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Spatchcock or spilt the turkey into parts. Cook legs and wings separate from breast.
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Grill or smoke portions of the turkey to free up oven space. Adds great flavor too.
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Supplement with a baked ham or different protein, so all the burden isn’t on the turkey.
Should You Make Extra Turkey for Lots of Leftovers?
Leftover turkey makes amazing sandwiches, soup and casseroles. But don’t go overboard on size just for leftovers. Here are some tips for leftovers:
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Stick to your 1-1.5 pounds per person. You’ll still have leftovers without wasting food.
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Cook extra turkey breasts separately if your group prefers white meat.
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Save bones to make your own turkey stock for soups and braises.
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Slice and freeze leftovers in portions right away for easy weeknight meals later.
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Shred leftover turkey for quick tacos, sandwiches, casseroles and pot pies.
Choosing the Right Turkey
Once you’ve settled on the perfect size, here are some tips for picking the best bird:
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Fresh or frozen? Either works fine. Make sure frozen turkeys have time to fully thaw – at least 24 hrs for every 4 lbs.
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Free range, organic, heritage? Your preference, but won’t affect taste or cook time.
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Kosher or self-basting? Only if you don’t plan to brine or inject flavor. Brining gives the best flavor.
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Intact breast? You want a full, rounded breast without flat edges for juiciest meat.
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Expiration date? Pick one with the longest expiry to give you prep time.
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Packaging? Resealable is best for fridge storage. Look for leak-proof.
Handling, Thawing and Storing Turkey
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Thawing: Thaw frozen turkey in the fridge 1 day for every 4 lbs (breast side up). Thaw in cold water if you’re in a rush.
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Brining: For moist, flavorful meat, brine thawed turkey 1-2 days in advance. Make sure turkey doesn’t have added broth.
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Storing: Keep turkey refrigerated until ready to cook. Place breast side up in a tray to prevent leaks.
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Timing: Plan to start thawing early to give brining and roasting time. Defrost turkey days in advance.
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Food safety: Cook within 1-2 days of refrigerator thawing. Use within 3 days of purchase. Discard if smelling unpleasant.
Calculating Cook Time
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Unstuffed: Figure 15 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. A 15 lb turkey will need about 3 hours 45 minutes total.
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Stuffed: Add 15 minutes per pound if stuffed. A 15 lb stuffed turkey will need about 4.5 hours.
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Partial turkey: Turkey breasts and parts take less time. Figure 10-12 minutes per pound for bone-in breasts.
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Check temp: Cook until thigh temp reaches 165°F and breast temp hits 150°F. Let rest 30 minutes before carving.
Picking the Perfect Turkey Size
Determining how big of a turkey to buy for Thanksgiving comes down to the number of guests, preference for white or dark meat, and how many leftovers you want. For most gatherings of 8-12 people, a 12-15 pound turkey is just right. Supplement with extra side dishes and appetizers if needed. And be sure to store and thaw the turkey properly for a picture-perfect holiday centerpiece.
How many pounds of turkey per person do I actually need?
The general rule of thumb is 1–1½ pounds turkey per person. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don’t end up getting eaten. “When you buy a whole turkey, a lot of it is bone,” says recipe developer (and former BA staffer) Jessie YuChen. The smaller the bird, the higher that percentage may be. For smaller gatherings, Jessie recommends scaling up to 2 pounds per person to maximize leftovers (more on that later). “For four to six people, 11 to 13 pounds is a good range,” Jessie says. (Most of our recipes call for a 12-to-14-pound bird.)
Beyond the bones, the total mass of a whole bird accounts for cartilage and less favorable cuts of meat around the shoulders, neck, and back that are better suited for making stock the next day than for presenting on a platter. Just because you’re buying a pound per each guest doesn’t mean it’ll yield an equivalent amount of turkey meat.
What if I’m afraid of underserving my guests?
“Most people put out so many sides that running out of turkey really isn’t an issue,” says contributing editor Amiel Stanek. “Turkey is, in my experience, the thing people want least.” As a host, you can even take some of your attention away from a cartoonishly large Rockwellian bird and think deeply about the Thanksgiving side dishes. This is where you can customize your selection based on the size, tastes, and needs of your crowd. Serving a few extra vegetarians this year? Go all-in on mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and roasted veggies (we recommend balsamic-roasted brussels sprouts, which are a test kitchen favorite).
Want to show off your baking skills? Make a big tray of showstopping stuffing biscuits. And, of course, you’ve got to have cranberry sauce—either homemade or canned, that’s your prerogative.
If you’re wondering, How big of a turkey do I need, really?, Amiel points out that the bigger the turkey, the less likely it is to cook evenly. He would much rather serve smallish portions of perfect poultry than massive servings that are half-raw, half-dry. “In terms of ensuring that the breast meat is delicious and moist and the dark meat is cooked through, I think you’re going to get the best results from a 14-to-15-pound turkey, max.”
Turkey size per person
Our advice: Go for a smaller turkey. We promise, there’ll be enough to go around.
If a 15-pound bird sounds teeny compared to your guest list, Amiel and Jessie recommend supplementing with a different meat or protein (no matter your party’s size). “I like to do steak or lamb chops,” says Jessie, “which are very festive and a lot easier to prepare than a whole turkey.” Having a second meat on the table provides a backup if your bird is on the scrawny side, but it also makes your turkey stretch further. Aim for 1–1½ total pounds of protein per person, including your supplementary main, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
If you’re hosting a smaller gathering, another option is to forgo the roast turkey entirely in favor of a smaller bird—roast chicken or glazed duck make just as nice a centerpiece.
Turkey Farm Prepares For Thanksgiving
FAQ
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