How to Figure Out What Size Turkey to Buy
- Using a Whole Turkey. Whether the bird is fresh or frozen doesn't affect the amount you should buy. ...
- Using Turkey Breast. Plan on 1/2 pound per person for boneless breast or 3/4 pound per person for bone-in breast. ...
- Stuffing a Turkey. ...
- Frozen Turkey Sizes and Cooking Times. ...
How can you tell if a Turkey is cooked through?
To accurately test if the turkey is cooked through use a meat thermometer on the inner thigh of the meat to get a reading of 70C. BBC Good Food has a great calculator for how long to cook a turkey depending on the weight of the bird.
What happens if you get too big a Turkey?
Getting too big a turkey will lead to days and days of leftovers and that may be an issue if you can’t finish them all but getting one too small might leave you having to scrape together enough to feed everyone at your dinner table.
How many people does a 3kg turkey feed serve?
Turkey Size Guide and Serving Number 1 2-2.5kg will serve 4-6 people 2 3kg will serve 6-7 people 3 3.5kg will serve 7-8 people 4 4-4.5kg will serve 8-10 people 5 5-5.5kg will serve 10-23 people 6 6-6.5kg will serve 12-15 people
What size turkey should I get for a family of 4?
While 1 pound per person could feel like too little, and 1 1/2 pounds for each guest might be over-doing it, 1 1/4 pounds of turkey per mouth is the perfect balance. At that rate, feeding a large party of 15 or more people requires 20+ pounds of turkey.Oct 14, 2021
What is the best size turkey to buy?
Q: What size turkey should I buy? Plan on about one pound of turkey per person, which translates to around half a pound of edible meat. Over 15 pounds or so, turkeys become more difficult to cook, take much longer, and are more prone to drying out. I find the best birds are around 10 to 12 pounds.
How big a turkey should I buy for 6 adults?
What Size Turkey Should you Buy?PeopleTurkey Size66-9 lbs88-12 lbs1010-15 lbs1212-18 lbs7 more rows
How big of a turkey do I need for 6?
8lbsHow to Figure Out How Much Turkey Per PersonNumber of GuestsTurkey Weight–45lbs68lbs810lbs1013lbs4 more rows•Oct 7, 2020
How to tell if turkey is cooked through?
To accurately test if the turkey is cooked through use a meat thermometer on the inner thigh of the meat to get a reading of 70C. BBC Good Food has a great calculator for how long to cook a turkey depending on the weight of the bird. Click here to get to the roast timer.
How many people can a 3kg turkey serve?
3kg will serve 6-7 people. 3.5kg will serve 7-8 people. 4-4.5kg will serve 8-10 people. 5-5.5kg will serve 10-23 people. 6-6.5kg will serve 12-15 people. If you’re cooking for a really small group. A turkey crown may be a better option depending on how much you want for leftovers.
How to keep a bird moist?
Before cooking, brine the bird. Putting the bird in a basic brine of salt, sugar and water before cooking will help keep it moist when you cook it. It will also add a whole new layer of flavour to the meat. With the brine, you can customise it by adding herbs and spices of your choice.
How to make a turkey breast not dry?
A good way to make sure the turkey breasts are not dry is to start cooking the turkey upside down. This will allow all the juices to collect in the breast.
How long to defrost a turkey?
It best to defrost a turkey in the fridge over 24 hours. If you’re using a fresh turkey its best to bring them up to room temperature before cooking. You do this by removing the bird from the fridge a few hours ahead of cooking.
Is it okay to order a big turkey for Christmas?
When it comes to Christmas dinner, turkey is the classic choice but deciding what size turkey to order can be challenging. Getting too big a turkey will lead to days and days of leftovers and that may be an issue if you can’t finish them all but getting one too small might leave you having to scrape together enough to feed everyone ...
Can you leave a frozen turkey in the fridge?
If it was frozen make sure it is completely thawed before cooking. Even if that means leaving it in the fridge the day before you need it. It’s better to be safe than have a half-frozen turkey in the oven on Christmas day.
Using a Whole Turkey
Whether the bird is fresh or frozen doesn't affect the amount you should buy. Allow 1 pound of turkey per person. Buy fresh turkeys one or two days ahead of time. Frozen turkeys should ideally be thawed in the refrigerator.
Using Turkey Breast
Plan on 1/2 pound per person for boneless breast or 3/4 pound per person for bone-in breast. Turkey breast by virtue of its lower weight will thaw more quickly than whole birds.
Stuffing a Turkey
While stuffing your bird with your favorite dressing recipe results in a moister finished product, experts advise against it. The internal temperature of the stuffing might not reach the required 165 degrees before the turkey is finished. Instead, add a little extra stock and cook your stuffing in the oven outside of the bird.
Frozen Turkey Sizes and Cooking Times
Frozen turkey sizes range from about 4 pounds for a breast to well over 25 pounds for a whole bird. There is also a wide range of preparation methods. The simplest calls for putting the turkey in a roasting pan, seasoning the skin and cooking.
Turkey-Cooking Tips
Don't wash the turkey. This may spread bacteria in the kitchen. Proper cooking will kill any bacteria in the bird.
How Big Domestic Turkeys Get?
Domestic Turkeys are typically twice the size of their wild counterparts. From there, males are again larger than the females:
How Big Do Wild Turkeys Get?
Wild Turkeys are generally half the size of their domestic counterparts. Again, males are still expected to be larger than the females:
How Long Does It Take For A Turkey To Grow To Full Size
Turkeys typically take between 4-5 months to grow to full size. But the bigger the turkey, the longer it generally takes.
Size Considerations When Keeping Turkeys
There is a lot to consider when keeping turkeys, especially due to their relatively significant size.
Finally
Turkeys are large birds compared to many others. Compared to chickens, they are on average 3-5x the size (and sometimes more!)
