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:
As Thanksgiving approaches, many home cooks are purchasing turkeys to serve as the centerpiece of their holiday meals. But when it comes time to carve up the bird, some may be wondering – how much of this turkey is actually edible meat?
The percentage of meat that can be obtained from a whole turkey can vary based on a few factors, but on average, a turkey yields about 70% of its total weight in edible meat. This includes both white and dark meat, along with the bones and skin. The remaining 30% of the bird’s weight comes from the inedible parts like the neck, giblets, feathers, etc.
To get a better understanding let’s look at some typical turkey sizes and their expected meat yields
- A 10 lb turkey will yield around 7 lbs of meat
- A 15 lb turkey will yield around 10-11 lbs of meat
- A 20 lb turkey will yield 14 lbs of meat
Keep in mind that these are rough estimates, and the actual amount can vary based on the specific bird. Hens generally have a higher percentage of meat compared to toms. Also, heritage breed turkeys and wild turkeys typically have a lower meat to bone ratio.
Meat Yield by Turkey Part
Different cuts and parts of the turkey will also produce varying amounts of edible meat:
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Turkey breast The breast is the leanest part of the bird and yields the greatest amount of meat per pound. A whole boneless, skinless breast averages about 2.5 lbs of meat per 1 lb of raw meat. With the bone and skin expect approximately 2 lbs per 1 lb.
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Legs The legs (with thighs and drumsticks) contain a good amount of meat, providing 0.5–075 lbs per leg.
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Wings: Turkey wings yield around 0.25–0.35 lbs of meat each.
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Giblets: The giblets (neck, heart, gizzard and liver) provide very minimal meat, but can be used for flavoring stocks and gravies.
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Bones: After removing the meat, the bones can be used to make a tasty turkey broth or soup stock.
Calculating Serving Size from a Turkey
When estimating how many people a turkey can serve, a good rule of thumb is that 1 lb of boneless turkey meat will provide approximately 1.5 servings. With the bone in, you can expect about 1 serving per pound.
So for a 15 lb turkey that yields around 10-11 lbs of meat, you can expect to get 16-17 servings when serving approximately 6 oz (boneless) or 8 oz (bone-in) portions.
Of course, this is just a general guideline. The number of servings can vary a lot depending on the size of the portions and the appetites of your guests. It’s always smart to plan for a little extra.
Here are some other turkey serving size estimates:
- For sandwiches, allocate around 0.25 lbs of meat per person
- If making broth, you’ll get approximately 1 quart of broth per 1 lb of bones
- Leftover turkey will last 3-4 days refrigerated, or around 3 months frozen
Maximizing Your Use of the Turkey
To get the most out of your turkey, here are some tips:
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Carefully separate the skin from the breast meat before cooking. The skin can become very crispy when roasted alone and provides extra flavor.
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Cook the giblets in the turkey cavity or use to make gravy. The neck can add richness when simmered for stock.
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Roast the bones before making turkey stock to enhance the flavor.
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Use the leftover meat within 3-4 days. Turkey keeps longer than most meats.
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Freeze carved meat in portions for casseroles, sandwiches, etc. It will keep for 2-3 months.
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Turn leftovers into creative dishes like pot pies, turkey tetrazzini or turkey tortilla soup.
Key Takeaways
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On average, expect a whole turkey to yield about 70% of its total weight in edible meat.
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The breast provides the greatest amount of white meat per pound. Legs and wings offer slightly less meat.
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Estimate about 1 serving per 1 lb of bone-in turkey, or 1.5 servings per lb of boneless meat.
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Cooked turkey meat will last 3-4 days refrigerated, and 2-3 months if frozen.
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Get creative with leftovers! Turkey makes delicious casseroles, sandwiches, soups and more for meals after the big day.
Following proper storage times, using bones for stock, and finding ways to give turkey a new life after the holiday feast can help you get the most out of your holiday bird. With some simple planning and preparation, your turkey can become the tasty centerpiece of not just one, but many delicious meals.
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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.
HOW DO I COOK MY PERDUE FARMS TURKEY?
PERFECTLY COOK A TURKEY
Hungry for more? Check out these main and side dish recipes from Perdue Farms culinary team.
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 a turkey?
- Bone and parts: About 40% to 50% of a turkey is bone or parts that won’t be eaten.
- White meat vs. dark meat: You’ll usually get 2 to 3 times as much white meat as dark meat.
- Carcass size: As the turkey’s carcass size increases, the percentage of meat increases.
- Skin: Adding the skin increases the yield by a few percent.
- Factors influencing yield: Age, finish, sex, strain, and carcass size are all factors that influence yield.
How many pounds of meat are on a 20 lb turkey?
We have a 20 pound turkey which should roughly yield 11 pounds of roast meat and scraps.
What is the average meat yield from a wild turkey?
A typical wild turkey yields 8–12 pounds or more, including bone-in meat, depending on the size of the bird and assuming that all parts are kept (legs, thighs, wings, breasts, and giblets).
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 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 meat is in a pound of Turkey Breast?
**A turkey breast typically yields about 2 pounds of meat per pound of uncooked meat.** 2. How many servings will a turkey provide? **As a rough estimate, a pound of bone-in turkey provides about one serving, while a pound of boneless turkey provides 1.5 servings.
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.
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.