Two ounces of turkey is the common portion size, but how many slices of turkey equate to two ounces? Two ounces of sliced turkey is 2 slices of turkey.
It can be difficult to figure this out, but there are some helpful tricks. This article will help you better understand how much turkey is two ounces.
When cooking with turkey it’s important to understand proper portion sizes. But for many home cooks, visualizing exactly how much turkey makes up 2 oz can be tricky. This handy guide breaks down what 2 oz of turkey looks like in different forms – from deli slices to ground turkey – to help you accurately portion this healthy protein.
Sliced Deli Turkey
If you’re using packaged sliced deli turkey from the grocery store, 2 oz is typically equivalent to 4-5 slices However, keep in mind that slice thickness can vary by brand and type of turkey, so the number of slices in 2 oz may be a little more or less Here are some visual examples of what 2 oz of sliced deli turkey looks like
- 4 slices of thin-cut smoked turkey
- 5 slices of thicker-cut oven roasted turkey
- 3 large slices of premium artisan turkey
As a general rule, check the nutrition label on your deli turkey package to see the weight per slice. Or you can use a kitchen scale if you want to be extremely precise.
Ground Turkey
When it comes to ground turkey, 2 oz is a standard portion size used in many recipes. Visually, 2 oz of raw ground turkey is about the size of a golf ball or ping pong ball. It’s a small but dense handful of meat.
Here’s a simple way to visualize 2 oz of ground turkey:
- Scoop up a mound of ground turkey and gently form it into a ping pong ball shape with your hands. That’s your 2 oz portion.
For recipes that call for cooked ground turkey, the 2 oz portion will be slightly smaller after cooking down. But the ping pong ball method still works fairly well as an estimate.
Turkey Cutlets
Turkey cutlets are thin, wide slices of turkey breast meat. Two ounces of turkey cutlet is approximately a 3-4 inch wide slice. Here are some examples of what 2 oz of a turkey cutlet looks like:
- A single 4 inch wide turkey cutlet
- Half of a very large turkey cutlet
- Two small 2-3 inch wide cutlets
The shape and thickness of the cutlets can vary the visual size a bit. But a width of about 4 inches is typically a good gauge for estimating a 2 oz portion.
Diced or Chopped Turkey
When turkey is diced or chopped up into smaller pieces, estimating portions visually becomes a bit trickier. However, here are some helpful guidelines for what 2 oz of diced/chopped turkey looks like:
- 1 heaping cup of 1/2-inch diced turkey pieces
- 1/2 cup tightly packed chopped or shredded turkey meat
These aren’t exact amounts since it depends on how finely you chop or dice the turkey. But they provide a good starting point for portioning 2 oz of chopped turkey.
Turkey Parts
For whole cuts or parts of turkey, like breast, thigh, or drumstick, a 2 oz serving is a thinner, smaller piece of meat. Some examples:
- A 2 oz portion of turkey breast is about 1/4 of a small boneless, skinless breast half.
- 2 oz of a turkey thigh is around 1/3 of a medium thigh.
- For a turkey drumstick, 2 oz is approximately half of a small-medium drumstick.
The key is to slice the thicker turkey part into thinner cutlets or strips for an approximate 2 oz portion.
Key Tips
- The more dense and thick the turkey meat, the smaller the 2 oz portion will be visually.
- Thinner sliced or ground turkey will make up a larger visual amount for 2 oz.
- A kitchen scale helps eliminate the guesswork for the most accuracy.
Knowing what a proper 2 oz turkey portion looks like is helpful for meal planning and keeping protein intake in check. Next time a recipe calls for 2 oz turkey, use this visual guide to nail your portion sizes.
How Much Turkey Is a Serving Size?
A quarter pound, or three-four ounces, is a common serving size for meat. Different types of meat have different serving sizes.
For instance, deli meat portion sizes differ from meat as an entrée. If you’re serving homemade turkey, your serving sizes may differ.
You might want a quarter pound of meat for a burger or as the main food on your plate. But if you’re eating a cold cut, you may only want a couple of ounces.
To determine how many ounces of meat you have, use a kitchen scale; this is the simplest way to measure food. If you don’t have a food scale, other ways exist to estimate portion sizes.
How Can You Measure Sliced Turkey?
The only certain way to know the exact weight is to use an accurate food scale. Otherwise, you can figure it out by using your math skills.
For instance, let’s say you bought sixteen ounces of deli meat. You can divide sixteen by eight if it makes about eight sandwiches. Each serving had two ounces of turkey. You could also count the slices. If there are 24 slices of turkey, you can divide 16 by 24. The standard slice is about .67 ounces.
Bodybuilding Nutrition Tip: How to Accurately Weigh Cooked Meat
FAQ
How many slices of turkey in 2 oz?
What does 3 oz of turkey meat look like?
How many Oz is a serving of turkey?
How many calories are in 2 ounces of sliced turkey?
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Deli Turkey
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Serving Size 2 ounces
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Amount per serving
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Calories
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61
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Calories from Fat
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% Daily Value
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