Gobble Gobble! Just How Much Turkey Do Americans Eat on Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is synonymous with turkey It’s the centerpiece of the huge feast we gather around every November, But have you ever wondered just how much turkey is consumed on this food-focused holiday? The amount is pretty gobble-gobbling impressive!

Here’s a deep dive into the fascinating turkey statistics that show America’s immense appetite for this big bird on Thanksgiving Day.

The History of Turkey on Thanksgiving

While Thanksgiving focuses on being grateful for the fall harvest, turkey wasn’t even on the menu at the original 1621 Plymouth colony feast. Historians say the Pilgrims dined on venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel and fish.

So how did turkey become our iconic Thanksgiving main course? Wild turkeys were abundant in New England, so it made sense for early colonists to hunt them for later holiday feasts By the 1700s, turkey was a regular part of these meals

Domesticated turkeys arrived in the 1800s as turkey farming grew into a thriving industry. Their large size made them perfect as the centerpiece for a bountiful family feast The tradition stuck, and the rest is history!

Turkey Domination on Thanksgiving

Nowadays, turkey dominates Thanksgiving dinner tables across America. Surveys show that around 88% of Americans chow down on turkey as part of their annual Thanksgiving feasts.

So exactly how much turkey are we talking about? Hold onto your wishbones, because the numbers are staggering:

• The National Turkey Federation estimates 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving. That’s a whole lot of drumsticks!

• In total, over 240 million turkeys are consumed in the U.S. each year.

• The average turkey weighs 15 pounds. Doing the math, that’s over 1.3 billion pounds of turkey meat eaten on Thanksgiving!

• Minnesota is the top turkey-producing state, raising over 40 million turkeys annually.

• Californians purchase the most turkeys for Thanksgiving, followed by Texas, New York and Florida.

• The famous turkeys pardoned by the President go on to live out their lives in comfort at universities or parks.

Why We Love Turkey on Thanksgiving

There are several reasons why turkey is ideal for feeding crowds on Thanksgiving:

• Turkey is tasty and versatile. Both white and dark meat please palates.

• These large birds feed lots of hungry guests. Average yield is 70% meat.

• Turkeys are now affordable, costing $1 to $2 per pound. Cheaper than beef.

• They can be stuffed, roasted, fried or grilled for tasty variations.

• Leftovers like sandwiches and soup make turkey last for days.

• It’s tradition! Thanksgiving just isn’t complete without a golden turkey as centerpiece.

Fun Turkey Consumption Facts

Here are some fun facts about how much turkey Americans gobble up on Thanksgiving:

• If you lined up all the Thanksgiving turkeys eaten end to end, they would stretch over 4,500 miles – that’s the distance from Los Angeles to New York City!

• 46 million turkeys could provide over 550 million pounds of meat. That’s enough for every American to have 8 turkey sandwiches.

• The amount of cranberry sauce and gravy consumed would fill 2.5 million bathtubs.

• If you airlifted all the turkey eaten, it would take 5,000 Boeing 747s.

• Californians alone eat 530,000 turkeys on Thanksgiving. Texans eat 480,000 and New Yorkers eat 460,000.

• Turkey production provides over $22 billion in economic output and creates 250,000 jobs.

Cooking the Bird

Once you’ve brought home your Thanksgiving bird, proper thawing, prep and roasting ensures perfect turkey:

• Thaw turkeys for 24 hours per 4-5 pounds in the refrigerator.

• Leave giblets in the turkey cavity during roasting for added flavor.

• Cook stuffed turkeys 15-18 minutes per pound at 325°F until 165°F internally.

• Let rest for 30 minutes before carving – juices will absorb back into meat.

• Slice white meat thinly across the grain. Cut dark meat off the bone in chunks.

The Gobbling Will Continue!

While interest grows in more diverse Thanksgiving centerpieces like ham or vegetarian roasts, turkey remains the longtime star of the show. Americans just can’t get enough of its savory, nostalgic flavor.

In fact, turkey consumption on Thanksgiving keeps going up year after year. So expect even more staggering gobbling statistics next November! Just be sure to save room for pumpkin pie too.