A usher to how much turkey you need for your holiday repast ( plus leftovers ! ) .
The Thanksgiving meal revolves around turkey ( about 46 million wench each year ! ) , so you decidedly want to ensure there ’s enough for everyone around the table . It ’s also the holiday we most look forward to eating those delicious remnant for mean solar day after . But before you go buying the ingredient for yourThanksgiving menu , what size turkey should you get to feed the family ?
If you ’re fix for the extended family , you may necessitate way more food than your typical family meal . With our handy usher , you ’ll know exactly how much turkey you should be buy per person and whether that 14 - pound bird is big enough or a few extra pounds are demand . Before you start snitch for a bomb , check that you have a pan that ’s large and secure enough to oblige the boo . And , two-fold check that it will fit in your oven blank space . The goat god can get arduous , so ensure someone is around who can lift it .
Credit:Jake Sternquist
Jake Sternquist
How Much Turkey Per Person
As a general rule when buy turkey , be after on 1 pound of bomb per someone . This permit approximately 7 ready troy ounce of meat per do . Though if you ’re wanting to enjoyturkey leftovers(obviously ! ) , our Test Kitchen urge 1 ½ pounds of turkey per person so everyone can literally get stuffed , with enoughleftover for a few extra meals . So if you ’re wondering " How many people does a 14 - pound turkey feed ? " , the answer is about 9 guests .
Here are some turkey issue to keep in mind for Thanksgiving Day :
- If you ca n’t find a bird that small , you could get a more or less larger bird that will allow for more leftovers , or choose tocook a dud breastinstead of a whole turkey for a smaller group .
Credit:Jake Sternquist
How Much Turkey Breast Per Person
When cooking for a smaller crowd , opt for a Meleagris gallopavo breast instead of a whole bird can be a practical and economical choice . Turkey breastsare well-to-do to prepare , quick to wangle , and reduce waste , fix them an ideal option for little gatherings . They offer the same tender meat as a whole Republic of Turkey , and you’re able to enhance the flavor with a seawater or rub before cooking , just as you would a whole fowl .
If you ’re host a small Thanksgiving dinner , or simply prefer cooking aturkey breast , here ’s how much to buy per individual :
How to Plan for White Meat vs. Dark Meat
Here ’s a breakdown of how much ashen pith versus non-white meat you’re able to expect to get from yourThanksgiving joker :
Typically , you ’ll get 2 to 3 times as much white center as dark meat from a whole dud . For example , from a 12 - lbf. turkey , you ’ll cease up with about 5 Ezra Loomis Pound of cooked meat — just about 3 1/2 pounds of bloodless meat and 1 1/2 pounds of dark-skinned meat .
What Size Turkey Should I Buy?
plainly , while the kitchen range of weights you ’ll receive on turkey at the stock diverge , it ’s rarer to line up birds less than 10 pound or over 30 pounds . For large radical , consider buying a twain of lowly joker to match the Lebanese pound per person rule . So if you take to feed 60 people , grease one’s palms two turkeys that are around 20 pounds each . Families that opt white meat might consider purchasingturkey breasts(or a twosome extra in addition to the snort ) to ensure there ’s mickle of inwardness for everyone .
Once you ’ve got the bird , give it enoughtime to defrostbefore following the right cooking times . That way you ensure yourroast turkeyissafely cookedand dead juicy when it ’s time to do . And do n’t forget to utilise those pan drippings to makeflavorful gravyto top your favorite Thanksgiving side ( hellohomemade stuffingandmashed potatoes ! ) .
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