What size turkey do I need is a question which many dinner party planners may find themselves asking. On the one hand, not having enough turkey to go round can be a disaster. On the other hand, order too big a turkey and you are drowning in left overs! (Although we doubt you could ever get enough of Farmisons delicious, award-winning, free range turkey!) If you are planning a festive feast and find yourself wondering what size turkey do I need, then this guide is for you. Whether it is for Christmas, Thanksgiving or any other occasion, turkey is a fantastic option for a roast dinner. Read on to find out what size turkey will suit you best. Plus, we will share the answers to lots of other questions you may have.
Cooking the perfect turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner can seem daunting, Getting the size right for your guest list is key to having enough meat without any going to waste So what size turkey do you need for 8 adults in kg?
Through research and expert advice I’ve created this comprehensive guide on how to determine the ideal turkey size in kg to buy for 8 adults.
How Much Turkey Per Person?
The standard recommended amount of turkey is:
- 1 pound or 0.45 kg per adult
- 0.5 pound or 0.23 kg per child
For a group of 8 adults, with no kids, that would be:
- 8 adults x 0.45 kg per person = 3.6 kg of turkey
So for 8 adults and no leftovers, a 3.5-4 kg turkey would be sufficient.
However, most hosts want leftovers for sandwiches, soups and casseroles. For leftovers, plan for 1.5 pounds or 0.68 kg per person.
- 8 adults x 0.68 kg per person = 5.5 kg of turkey with leftovers
In this case, I’d recommend buying a 5.5-6 kg turkey.
Turkey Sizes to Avoid
When choosing your turkey size in kg, avoid very large or very small birds:
- Turkeys under 3 kg tend to have a poor meat to bone ratio.
- Oversized turkeys over 7 kg take much longer to cook through and can dry out.
For 8 adults, look for turkeys in the 4-6 kg range for the best results.
Other Turkey Size Considerations
- Account for big eaters in your group by rounding up on kg per person.
- Make sure your roasting pan fits the size turkey you buy. Measure if unsure.
- Whole frozen turkeys are easier to find than partial turkey breasts.
- You can cook two smaller turkeys instead one huge bird if needed.
Turkey Size Reference Charts
These standard turkey size charts provide a rough idea for how many people different sizes will feed. Use the kg column for weights:
Turkey Sizes Without Leftovers
| Turkey Size | People Fed |
|---|---|
| 3-4.5 kg | 6-8 people |
| 4-5 kg | 8-10 people |
| 6-6.5 kg | 12-15 people |
Turkey Sizes With Leftovers
| Turkey Size | People Fed |
|---|---|
| 4.5-6.8 kg | 4-6 people |
| 6.8-8.2 kg | 6-8 people |
| 8.2-9.5 kg | 8-10 people |
| 9.5-11 kg | 10-12 people |
Thawing Your Turkey
Make sure to allow enough time to thaw a frozen turkey before cooking:
- In the refrigerator: 24 hours for every 1 kg
- In cold water: 30 minutes per 1 kg, changing water every 30 mins
So a 6 kg turkey takes 6 days in the fridge or 3 hours in water.
Cooking Time Guidelines
Figure approximately:
- 15-20 minutes per 1 pound or
- 30-40 minutes per 1 kg at 325°F/160°C.
Use a meat thermometer and cook until the breast reaches 165°F/75°C for food safety.
The Right Turkey Size for 8 Adults
To summarize, for 8 adult guests with some leftovers, look for a 5.5-6 kg turkey. This will provide enough meat without tons of leftovers. Carefully thaw and cook the turkey using the guidelines above for a perfect holiday bird!
How Long to Cook Your Turkey for Depending on Size
As a rule of thumb, calculate the time needed to cook your whole turkey by multiplying its weight by 40 minutes per kilo or 20 minutes per lb. For example, we recommend:
- Cooking a 2kg turkey for around 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Cooking a 4.5kg turkey for around 3 hours.
- Cooking a 6kg turkey for around 4 hours.
Adding a trivet of vegetables to the tray and covering with foil will help keep the turkey super succulent. Remove the foil for the final 30 minutes of cooking to create a crisp, golden skin. Remember to leave your turkey to rest for between 30 mins to an hour before serving. For more expert advice on how to cook your turkey, take a look at our guide to christmas cooking times.
What Different Types of Turkey are Available?
Once you have figured out what size turkey you need, you may be wondering what style of turkey to choose. Depending on personal taste, oven space and size you may want to choose a whole turkey, a turkey crown or turkey breast. This is what you can expect from each cut of turkey:
- Whole roasting turkey – Exactly what it sounds like, when you buy a whole roasting turkey you get the entire bird. The breast on the bone, the wings, the legs and the giblets. This is great if you and your guests enjoy a mixture of white breast meat as well as the darker thigh and drumstick meat. It also makes for a spectacular centrepiece on your Christmas or Thanksgiving table.
- Turkey crown – A turkey crown is similar to a whole turkey but with the thighs and drumsticks removed. Still excellent as a centrepiece, a turkey crown will take less time to roast than a whole turkey. Follow our Christmas turkey crown recipe for an exceptional main course.
- Turkey breast joint – A turkey breast joint is boneless and is customarily filled with stuffing. For example, Farmison offers a delectable turkey breast stuffed with chestnut, apricot and winter sage which is perfect for Christmas dinner. If you are feeding a smaller group, this is a very attractive option. It takes less time to cook and there is less wastage because turkey breasts are simple to carve.
What Size Turkey To Buy – Ace Hardware
FAQ
How big of a turkey do I need for 7 adults with leftovers?
For a gathering of 7 people with the goal of having plenty of leftovers, you should aim for a turkey that weighs between 14 to 16 pounds. A general guideline is to plan for about 1.5 pounds of turkey per person if you want leftovers. Here’s a breakdown:
Is a 14 lb turkey enough for 7 people?
“For four to six people, 11 to 13 pounds is a good range,” Jessie says. (Most of our recipes call for a 12-to-14-pound bird.)Oct 28, 2024
Is a 10 lb turkey too small?
Finding the Right Size Bird for Your Group
For an idea of where to start, consider that an eight-pound turkey is a perfect size if you’re entertaining up to six people. If you’re hosting eight people, a 10-pound turkey should be perfect. (And leftovers are always, of course, welcome).
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.Nov 6, 2024
How big should a Turkey be for 8 adults?
So for 8 adults with no leftovers, you’ll want a turkey around 3.5-4 kg in size. However, having leftovers for turkey sandwiches, casseroles, and soups is part of the fun. For leftovers, allow about 1.5 pounds or 0.68 kg per person. In this case, buy a 5.5-6 kg turkey. Turkeys smaller than 3 kg will have a poor meat-to-bone ratio.
How much Turkey should a group of 8 eat?
For leftovers, allow about 1.5 pounds or 0.68 kg per person. In this case, buy a 5.5-6 kg turkey. Turkeys smaller than 3 kg will have a poor meat-to-bone ratio. Turkeys over 7 kg take a long time to cook through and can dry out. Stick to the 4-6 kg size range for a group of 8 adults.
How do you calculate Turkey dimensions by weight per person?
A simple estimation should be used to find the turkey dimensions by weight per person. You can also estimate calories consumed by you and other guests in the Turkey treat. Per adult Turkey = 1 Pound or 0.45 Kg Per child Turkey = 0.5 Pound or 0.23 Kg
How much should a turkey weigh per person?
This is because when the turkey cooks it releases a surprising amount of liquid. Add in all the bones and you loose a lot of your starting weight. So you really do want to figure 1 1/2 to 2 pounds per person, especially if you want leftovers. We found a 7lb turkey which, for the three of us, gave almost no leftovers.
What size Turkey should I buy?
The happiest holiday memories are often made around the Thanksgiving table, with the turkey being the ultimate centerpiece! Thankfully (pun intended!), this chart will help you decide what size turkey to buy based on guest count. The general rule of thumb is one pound of turkey per adult and a half pound per child.
How many people can a 8 pound turkey serve?
Most turkey portion serving sizing charts are based using a bone-in turkey. A chart might say 1 to 1.5 pounds of purchased turkey per person, so an 8-pound turkey is allegedly perfect for 6-8 people. I say NO! Initially, the bone removes some of that weight. Secondly, the weight becomes further reduced during cooking.