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.
The holidays are fast approaching, which means it’s time to start thinking about the star of your holiday meal – the turkey! Choosing the right size turkey for your gathering can be tricky. You want to make sure everyone gets plenty to eat without being stuck with a mountain of leftovers. This complete guide will walk you through how to determine the ideal turkey size for your holiday meal.
Calculate How Much Turkey You Need
The first step is calculating approximately how much turkey you need Here’s a simple formula
- For parties under 10 people: Allow 1-1.5 lbs of turkey per person
- For parties of 10 or more: Allow 1 lb per person
- Add 1-2 lbs if you want lots of leftovers
So for example if you’re having Thanksgiving dinner for 8 people and want leftovers, you’d need about 16 lbs of turkey (8 people x 1.5 lbs each + 2 extra lbs).
To make it even easier, here’s a handy chart with recommended turkey sizes:
| Number of People | Turkey Size (lbs) |
|---|---|
| 4 | 6-8 |
| 6 | 9-12 |
| 8 | 12-16 |
| 10 | 15-20 |
| 12 | 18-24 |
| 14 | 21-28 |
| 16 | 24-32 |
These sizes provide hearty portions with a little extra. Scale up or down depending on your crowd’s appetites.
Choose Between a Whole Turkey, Breast, or Other Cuts
Once you know the weight you need, it’s time to decide what type of turkey to buy. Here are the main options:
Whole turkey – This is the classic choice, with the full bird including breast, wings, thighs, legs, etc. Goes nicely on a platter as the focal point of the table. Takes the longest to cook.
Turkey breast – Just the breast meat, no wings/legs. Cooks faster. Easy to carve. Good for smaller groups.
Turkey crown – The breast with wing/leg portions removed. Makes a nice presentation while cooking faster than a whole bird.
Other cuts – Turkey drumsticks, thighs, wings, or ground turkey are all options too. Good for breaking up the menu or adding variety.
I’d recommend choosing a whole turkey if cooking for more than 8 people. The presentation and tradition make it a great centerpiece. For smaller groups, a breast or crown may be easier to manage.
Allow Time for Thawing
One thing to keep in mind with turkey is thawing time. You’ll need to transfer the frozen bird from the store to your refrigerator to thaw:
- 24 hours for every 4-5 lbs
- Keep turkey in original wrapping
- Place on a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips
- Cook within 1-2 days of refrigerator thawing
So a 15 lb turkey would need about 3 days in the fridge to thaw. Build this into your planning and shopping timeline.
If you’re in a rush, you can thaw in cold water instead. Allow 30 minutes per lb and keep the turkey in its sealed bag. Change the water every 30 mins so it stays cold.Cook immediately after water thawing.
Factor In Cooking Time
Cooking times vary based on the size and type of turkey:
- Whole turkey – 15-20 minutes per lb
- Turkey breast – About 1 hour total
- Turkey crown – 18-22 minutes per lb
Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness, aiming for 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and 180°F in the thigh. Let the turkey rest at least 30 minutes before carving.
For example, a 12 lb whole turkey would take about 3-4 hours at 325°F. While a 3 lb turkey breast roast would cook in 50-60 minutes.
Shop Early for the Best Selection
Turkey sizes tend to sell out close to the holidays, so shop early for the best selection. Most grocery stores start stocking turkeys 1-2 months in advance. If you want a specialty breed like an organic or heritage turkey, order even further ahead from your local farm or butcher.
For the freshest taste, only buy frozen turkey 1-2 weeks max before cooking. Otherwise quality and flavor can decline over time. Check the sell-by date when purchasing.
Order Your Turkey Today!
As you can see, there are a few calculations to make when choosing the perfect turkey. First decide how many people you need to feed. Then use the size chart to pick the right turkey weight and type for your group. Factor in thawing and cooking times as well. Finally, shop early to get the best selection.
Hopefully this guide gives you more confidence in choosing your star holiday bird. Now you’re ready to kick off the festivities with a beautiful, delicious turkey! Dig in and enjoy time with your loved ones around the holiday table.
Here’s to a very happy and tasty holiday season ahead!
How Far in Advance Should I Buy My Turkey?
Turkey is the traditional dish of Thanksgiving and one of the most popular meats to eat for Christmas dinner. As a result, it is advisable to order your turkey well in advance of the big day. This means you can minimise stress for yourself and avoid rushing around at the last minute. In order to avoid disappointment, we recommend placing your Farmison Christmas order from the beginning of September. You can then book a delivery slot for a date between then 19th and 23rd of December for the freshest, most mouthwatering turkey you can imagine. Or, if you have room in your freezer, an excellent option is to order early and freeze your bird. We have a useful freezer guide which spells out everything you need to know about freezing turkey. It couldnt be more simple to eat better meat this festive season.
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
What is the best size of turkey to buy?
The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds per guest. So if you’re serving 10 people on Thanksgiving, choose a bird that is 15 to 20 pounds. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don’t end up getting eaten. Plus there’s always the bonus of having leftovers.
How many people will a 15 lb turkey feed?
- A general rule of thumb is to plan for 1–1.5 lbs of turkey per person.
- This estimate accounts for bone weight.
- Larger turkeys have a higher meat-to-bone ratio, so you can plan for a little less.
- If you want leftovers, you can plan for 1.5 lbs per person.
- Turkeys over 15 lbs can be harder to cook, take longer, and are more likely to dry out.
- If you’re cooking for a large group, you can consider cooking multiple smaller turkeys instead of one large one.
Will a 20lb turkey fit in an 18 quart roaster?
Therefore, an 18-quart roaster can hold a 22-pound turkey, and a 20-quart roaster can hold a 24-pound turkey.Sep 15, 2022
How many will a 20 pound turkey serve?
“So, for 10 people you should prepare a 20-pound turkey.Nov 12, 2024
What size Turkey should I buy?
One of the most frequently asked questions is what size turkey to buy. The rule of thumb is 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person with leftovers and 1 pound of turkey per person without leftovers. If your guest list includes a lot of kids, lean towards a smaller size turkey. If your guests are big eaters, lean towards a larger turkey.
How much raw turkey per person?
That equals one pound of raw turkey per adult and 2/3 of a pound per child. If you’re concerned that’s not enough or you want to ensure there will be plenty of leftovers to go around, consider purchasing 1 1/2 pounds of raw turkey per person attending.
How much Turkey should a 10 pound turkey eat?
The end goal is 1/2 a pound of turkey per adult and 1/3 of a pound per child at the dinner table. So if you’re serving a holiday dinner of 10 adults, you need five pounds of cooked turkey in total. We know we’re going to lose roughly 50% of the weight of a whole bird through cooking and the bones. So you’ll want a 10-pound turkey.
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.
How many people can a turkey breast feed?
How Much Turkey Breast to Buy. One (3-pound) half-breast will feed two to four people. A whole (six- to seven-pound) turkey breast (two breasts, still joined at the breast bone) will feed six to eight people. What size Turkey should I buy? One of the most frequently asked questions is what size turkey to buy.
Do you need a large Turkey to feed a crowd?
You don’t have to buy one large turkey to feed a crowd. Large turkeys are heavy and take a long time to cook. Instead, try dividing the total number of pounds by two and buying two smaller birds. Cooking a small turkey is quicker, and the meat will cook more evenly.