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:
Determining the weight of your holiday turkey is a crucial step for cooking it to perfection The size of the bird impacts everything from roasting times to how many guests it will serve Follow this handy guide to learn foolproof methods for weighing your turkey at home.
Why Knowing the Weight Matters
Measuring your uncooked turkey’s weight helps ensure
- You pick the right size bird for the number of guests
- Calculate accurate cook times based on 15 minutes per pound
- Buy enough side dishes to complement the portion sizes
- Know if it will fit in your oven and roasting pan
- Determine proper seasoning and brine amounts
- Estimate carving and serving sizes
So while the weight printed on the label is handy, it’s wise to verify it yourself before cooking.
Average Turkey Weights
Turkey weights vary considerably based on the type, breed, age, and sex:
- Small Hens: 8-12 pounds
- Medium Hens: 12-14 pounds
- Large Hens: 14-16 pounds
- Small Toms: 16-18 pounds
- Medium Toms: 18-22 pounds
- Large Toms: 22-30 pounds
Hens tend to be smaller than toms. But there can be significant individual variation.
Weighing Your Turkey at Home
You don’t need fancy equipment to weigh a turkey at home. Here are three simple DIY methods:
Kitchen Scale
A digital kitchen scale offers the most precise weight measure. Place the turkey on a tray or plate atop the scale. Be sure to subtract the weight of the container.
Bathroom Scale
Step on your bathroom scale to get your weight, then hold the wrapped turkey and step on again. Subtract your weight from the total.
Water Displacement
Submerge the turkey in a tub of water. Measure the volume of water displaced which equals the turkey’s weight.
Tips for Picking the Right Size
Consider these factors when buying a turkey to match your meal plans:
- Allow 1-1.5 pounds per person
- Add 2 extra pounds if making leftovers
- Make sure your oven/roaster can fit the size
- Allow thawing time for frozen birds
- Buy two small turkeys rather than one huge one for easier cooking. Supplement white meat with extra turkey breasts if needed.
Handling Raw Poultry Safely
Take care when handling raw turkey to avoid spreading bacteria:
- Refrigerate immediately and cook within 2 days
- Thaw frozen turkeys in the fridge 1 day per 4-5 pounds
- Use separate plates/containers for raw and cooked meat
- Wash hands, utensils, surfaces after touching raw poultry
- Cook fully to 165°F internal temperature
Get the Perfect Bird for the Best Feast
Knowing the weight of your turkey removes the guesswork from planning the rest of your meal. You’ll buy the right size bird for your guests, calculate cook times accurately, and carve neat servings.
Weighing a turkey is simple with a kitchen scale or improvised methods. Now you can shop confidently, roast perfectly, and relax knowing your holiday turkey will be a crowning success!
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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 can I tell if a turkey is done?
FAQ
How can I find out how much my turkey weighs?
But do you have an accurate bathroom scale? If your turkey is well wrapped and your scale is clean, I’d start there. (And if the idea of putting your turkey on there is unsettling, you can weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the bird, then subtract A from B.)
Where can I find the weight of my turkey?
It’s always going to be on the tag because the packaging is all generic. It’s on the back side of the price tag.
How do you calculate turkey size?
- For parties of 9 or less: Number of guests x 0.55 = ideal turkey size in kg. Number of guests x 1.2 = ideal turkey size in lbs.
- For parties of 10 or more: Number of guests x 0.45 = ideal turkey size in kg. Number of guests x 1 = ideal turkey size in lbs.
How much actual meat is on a 15 lb 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 does a turkey weigh in a store?
When a turkey is slaughtered and prepared for sale, parts of the turkey are removed. This is why the live weights are so much higher than the average weight in the store. A turkey which was 41 lbs at slaughter, will be about 24 lbs. in the store. This means a turkey in the store is about 10-15 lbs. less of its live weight.
How do you weigh a Turkey on a scale?
Place the turkey on a tray or plate atop the scale. Be sure to subtract the weight of the container. Step on your bathroom scale to get your weight, then hold the wrapped turkey and step on again. Subtract your weight from the total. Submerge the turkey in a tub of water. Measure the volume of water displaced which equals the turkey’s weight.
How do you determine the weight of a Thanksgiving turkey?
To determine the weight of a turkey, you can use a kitchen scale. Simply place the turkey on the scale and note the weight. 2. What is the ideal weight for a Thanksgiving turkey?
How much does a Thanksgiving turkey weigh?
The size of Thanksgiving turkeys can vary widely, and the average weight depends on factors such as the number of people being served, personal preferences, and regional traditions. However, a common size for a Thanksgiving turkey for a typical American family is around 12 to 16 pounds (5.4 to 7.3 kilograms). How many pounds is a full size turkey?
What size Turkey should I buy?
Both come in a range of sizes, so let’s dive into the specifics: Whole Turkeys: Small (8-12 lbs): Perfect for small gatherings of 2-4 people. Medium (12-16 lbs): Ideal for groups of 4-6 people. Large (16-20 lbs): Feeds a crowd of 6-8 people comfortably. Extra-Large (20+ lbs): Perfect for large gatherings of 8+ people. Turkey Breasts:
How do you know if a Turkey is a male or female?
If you buy a turkey in the store and it is 16 lbs. or less, it was probably a female (called a hen). If it is 17 lbs. or more, it was likely a male turkey (called a Tom). Born in Denver, Colorado as the oldest of 5 children, I learned at a young age that the grill was one of the best ways to prepare food for a crowd.