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One of the most crucial questions you’ll face when preparing for Thanksgiving dinner is: “How large should my turkey be?”
Estimating how much turkey your guests will eat can seem tricky, but with some trusted methods, it’s possible to make an accurate guess. Keep reading to learn more.
What’s the Right Turkey Size for Me?
A general guideline is that your raw turkey should weigh approximately the same number of pounds as the number of adults at your dinner table. For example, a 6-pound turkey should feed 6 people, a 10-pound bird will serve 10, and so on.
That being said, it’s a good idea to prepare a little extra to ensure your guests have more than enough food, and to provide you with the opportunity to enjoy leftovers. Delish recommends planning for 1.25 pounds per guest, so for an eight-person dinner, you'd need a 10-pound turkey; a 20-pound turkey will serve about 15 people.
MarthaStewart.com, however, advises allocating 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. The site points out that smaller birds weighing less than 12 pounds tend to have a greater ratio of bone to meat, so it suggests 2 pounds per person in those cases.
Ultimately, picking the ideal turkey size isn’t a precise formula, as other factors—like the number of children attending and whether your guests enjoy large portions—can affect the decision. Fortunately, Butterball offers a turkey size calculator that accounts for these factors. By entering four variables—number of adults, number of children, preference for leftovers, and whether guests are light or heavy eaters—you'll receive not only the recommended weight of turkey, but also an estimate of the stuffing needed.
How long does it take to thaw a turkey?
The time required to defrost a frozen, uncooked turkey depends on its size, and Butterball offers a handy calculator to determine how long it will take.
The method you choose for thawing the turkey influences the time needed. Thawing in the refrigerator is slower, taking about one day for every 4 pounds of turkey, whereas the cold water method is faster. With cold water, you’ll need 30 minutes of defrost time per pound, but it requires more effort, as the water needs to be replaced every 30 minutes. For example, a 12-pound turkey will thaw in roughly three days in the fridge or just six hours in cold water, though the latter is more labor-intensive.
After selecting the perfect turkey and deciding on your defrosting method, consider these expert tips to ensure it cooks perfectly.
