All the little things we do to raise happy and healthy turkeys adds up to a superior product, the smartest choice for those who care about the food they feed their families. Perdue’s PREMIUM whole turkeys are:
For many people, turkey is a staple part of holiday meals and family gatherings. However, when purchasing and cooking a whole turkey it can be tricky to determine exactly how much meat you’ll end up with. Between the bones skin, and organs, a significant portion of the turkey’s weight is inedible. Understanding the ratio of meat to the total weight is useful for meal planning and avoiding waste. In this article, we’ll break down the meat yield of turkeys to help you make the most of this delicious bird.
Factors Affecting Meat Yield
Several factors impact the amount of edible meat that can be harvested from a turkey:
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Breed and Sex – Some turkey breeds are bred specifically for meat production, like Broad Breasted Whites. Hens also tend to have a higher meat to bone ratio compared to toms.
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Age – Younger birds have a higher meat yield because their bones are less developed.
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Feeding – Turkeys fed a high protein diet with plenty of room to move have more breast meat and less fat.
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Cooking Method – Faster, high-heat methods like frying or grilling can cause more moisture loss compared to roasting or braising Proper resting also maximizes yield
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Carving Skill – Careful, properly angled cuts ensure all edible meat is removed from the carcass.
Meat Yield of Whole Turkeys
For whole turkeys with the skin, bones, and organs intact, you can expect the following meat yield percentages:
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Hen turkey – About 45-50% of the total weight is edible meat.
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Tom turkey – Roughly 40-45% of the weight will be consumable meat.
So for a 16 lb hen turkey, the anticipated edible meat would be around 7-8 lbs. A 20 lb tom may yield approximately 8-9 lbs of meat.
The remaining weight comes from the skin, bones, giblets, and other organs. Giblets account for about 1-2 lbs while the bones and skin make up the bulk of the rest.
Breakdown of Meat by Cut
Looking beyond the total meat yield, we can analyze the typical amounts of specific cuts:
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Breast Meat – This lean, white meat makes up about 30-35% of the whole turkey’s weight. A 16 lb turkey would yield 4.8-5.6 lbs of breast meat.
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Leg Meat – The meaty thighs and drumsticks constitute around 15-20%. For a 20 lb turkey, this would equal 3-4 lbs.
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Wing Meat – While small in size, the wings contribute about 3-5% of total meat.
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Remaining Meat – The back, neck, and miscellaneous scraps make up the final 5-10%.
So for a 12 lb turkey, you may get approximately 3.5-4 lbs of breast meat, 1.8-2.4 lbs of leg meat, 0.4-0.6 lbs of wing meat, and 0.6-1.2 lbs of remaining meat.
Getting the Most Meat from a Turkey
Follow these tips to maximize the usable meat from your turkey:
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Select a hen turkey under 16 lbs for optimal yield.
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Roast slowly at 325°F then let rest 30 minutes before carving.
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Use poultry shears and an electric knife to carefully cut meat from the bones.
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Remove the oysters from the turkey’s back – they are tasty morsels of meat.
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Save the wings, legs, thighs, and carcass to make stock for soups or gravy.
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Cook the liver, heart, and gizzard to use in stuffing, gravy, or snacks.
Understanding how much meat can be harvested from a turkey takes the guesswork out of meal planning and preparation. A typical 15 lb turkey yields around 6-7 lbs of high-quality protein to enjoy on your holiday table and in tasty leftovers for days to come. With proper cooking techniques and thorough carving, you can make the most of your bird!
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Tis the ultimate question come the holiday season. Here, we share our suggestions for turkey size per number of guests, based on both servings with no leftovers and with leftovers taken into account.
46 MILLION turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving
3 lbs. turkey breast (1 lb. cooked turkey)
6 to 7 lbs. turkey breast (2 lbs. cooked turkey)
5 lbs. turkey breast (1 1/2 lbs. cooked turkey)
10-lb. whole turkey (3 lbs. cooked turkey)
6 to 7 lbs. turkey breast (2 lbs. cooked turkey)
13-lb. whole turkey (4 lbs. cooked turkey)
8 lbs. turkey breast (2 1/2 lbs. cooked turkey)
16- to 17-lb. whole turkey (5 lbs. cooked turkey)
10-lb. whole turkey (3 lbs. cooked turkey)
20-lb. whole turkey (6 lbs. cooked turkey)
11- to 12-lb. whole turkey (3 1/2 lbs. cooked turkey)
Two 12-lb. whole turkeys (7 lbs. cooked turkey)
13-lb. whole turkey (4 lbs. cooked turkey)
Two 14-lb. whole turkeys (8 lbs. cooked turkey)
15-lb. whole turkey (4 1/2 lbs. cooked turkey)
Two 15-lb. whole turkeys (9 lbs. cooked turkey)
16- to 17-lb. whole turkey (5 lbs. cooked turkey)
Two 17-lb. whole turkeys (10 lbs. cooked turkey)
20-lb. whole turkey (6 lbs. cooked turkey)
Two 20-lb. whole turkeys (12 lbs. cooked turkey)
20-lb. whole turkey plus 6 to 7 lbs. turkey breast (7 1/2 lbs. cooked turkey)
Two 20-lb. whole turkeys plus 10 lbs. turkey breast (15 lbs. cooked turkey)
How much meat do you get from a 20 pound turkey?
FAQ
How much meat is actually on a turkey?
the total meat yield per carcass was 4,016 grams (59.3%) (Table 1). The average skin yield was 509 grams or 7.5% of the carcass weight.
How much meat do you get off of a turkey?
You can assume about 40% to 50% of every turkey is bone or parts that won’t be eaten. That means for every pound of turkey, guests will get about eight to nine ounces of meat.
How much meat is in a 12 lb turkey?
Typically, you’ll get 2 to 3 times as much white meat as dark meat from a whole turkey. For example, from a 12-pound turkey, you’ll end up with about 5 pounds of cooked meat—roughly 3 1/2 pounds of white meat and 1 1/2 pounds of dark meat.
How many pounds of meat are in a 20 pound turkey?
We have a 20 pound turkey which should roughly yield 11 pounds of roast meat and scraps.
How much meat do you get from a Turkey?
**The amount of meat you get from a turkey** primarily depends on the size of the bird itself. On average, a 12-pound turkey will provide approximately 4.8 pounds of meat, while a larger 24-pound turkey can yield around 9.6 pounds of meat. It is important to keep in mind that these weights include both white and dark meat.
How much meat is in a turkey breast?
Turkey breast – The breast contains the leanest and most tender meat. You can expect up to 2 pounds of boneless meat per pound of turkey breast. It offers the highest meat-to-bone ratio. Turkey legs – The legs include the drumsticks and thighs which are dark meat. Each turkey leg will yield approximately 0.75 pounds of meat.
How much meat does a wild turkey eat?
For wild turkey hunters, the question of meat yield often arises. While the size and breed of the bird can influence the amount of meat, a general guideline is that a 20-pound wild turkey will yield around 3 pounds of boneless breast meat and 2 pounds of boneless thigh meat.
How much meat can a 20 pound turkey eat?
For those purchasing domestic turkeys from the grocery store, the meat yield is typically higher compared to wild turkeys. A 20-pound domestic turkey can yield approximately 8 pounds of boneless breast meat and 4 pounds of boneless thigh meat, resulting in a total of 12 pounds of edible meat.
How much should a turkey weigh?
For eight guests, buy a turkey that weighs about 12 pounds. For 10 guests, you want a bird that is at least 15 pounds. If you know right off the bat whether your guests prefer white meat or dark meat, then you can opt to roast bone-in breasts for white meat, turkey legs for dark meat, or a mixture of both.
How much thigh meat does a 10 pound turkey have?
A 10-pound turkey can yield approximately 2.4 pounds of breast meat. 4. How much thigh meat does a turkey have? A turkey typically contains about 1.4 pounds of thigh meat.