Determining the right turkey platter size ensures you can beautifully present the star of your holiday meal. Follow these tips to choose a platter that comfortably fits your roasted bird and complements your serving style.
General Size Guidelines
As a rule of thumb, your turkey platter should provide about 2 inches of border space around the bird. This gives room for aesthetically arranged sides or garnishes without crowding.
For a 12-14 pound turkey, a 16-18 inch platter is usually sufficient. An 18-20 pound turkey needs a 20-22 inch platter. And a large 20+ pounder calls for a 22 inch plus sized platter.
Oval and rectangular shapes offer the most surface area. But wide round platters can also work well. The key is having adequate room around the turkey with some empty platter border.
Other Factors to Consider
Along with turkey weight. keep these aspects in mind when determining platter size
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Shape of turkey – Rounder birds may need more space than long narrow ones.
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Stuffing – A stuffed turkey takes up more room than an unstuffed one
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Presentation – Surrounding turkey with sides requires a larger platter.
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Carving at table – Needing room for carving tools means extra space
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Platter material – Sturdy materials like stoneware or silver require adequate size.
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Platter depth – Deeper is better for holding stuffing and gravy.
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Serving method – Buffets need bigger platters than individual plated servings.
An extra inch or two larger is recommended over going too small.
Complementary Platter Styles
Once proper size is determined, choose a platter style that complements your tablescape. Consider:
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White porcelain or stoneware for an elegant, classic look
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Wood or bamboo for natural, rustic charm
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Colored or decorated ceramic platters to match seasonal decor
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Pewter or silver for upscale, refined style
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Clear glass to showcase the turkey underneath
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Rimmed to hold gravy and sauces vs. rimless for clean lines
Pick shapes, colors, and materials that visually tie in with your table linens, dishware, and overall decor.
Setting the Scene
Once rested and carved, artfully arrange turkey on the platter along with:
- Cranberry sauce
- Roasted fall vegetables like squash or Brussels sprouts
- Green bean or corn casseroles
- Mounds of stuffing
- Dinner rolls
- Fresh herb garnishes
Nestle white and dark meat, pour gravy into a boat, and keep the presentation bountiful but not crowded.
Oversized Platters
For huge turkeys or grand buffets, extra wide platters can provide stunning presentations. Some spacious options:
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Williams Sonoma’s 18 x 21.5 inch porcelain Plymouth Platter
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Sur La Table’s 21.5 x 16 inch white Turkey Platter with Handles
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Crate and Barrel’s 21.5 inch long Coupe Oval Platter
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World Market’s acacia wood Farmhouse Platter at 21 x 15 inches
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Bergdorf Goodman’s elegant 22 inch silver-plated Quartermaine Oval Tray
So find that ideal turkey platter size and style to perfectly showcase your holiday bird!
The Best Small Platter
A simple, classic design made any food I served on this platter look trés chic. It also had a flared, raised edge, which kept any liquids contained. This platter has held up over the course of many, many dinner parties since I first tested it.
Durability Mattered
Like dinnerware, serving platters need to be sturdy and durable. Since they are large, they can be tricky to store and I often end up stacking them together—so theres ample opportunity for chipping. As Ive used the winning platters in long-term testing, some have stood out for their durability, namely, the Le Creuset and the Our Place platters. The Le Creuset, though large, hasnt scratched or chipped even though I store it stacked with a few other serving platters. The Our Place platters nest inside each other, which makes them easy to store. Theyve also stayed intact even after much use. Unfortunately, the Williams Sonoma serving platter did get a chip, which I noticed after pulling it from a stack of platters. While its not a dealbreaker, it does cheapen the aesthetic, and Im less likely to grab it to serve guests.
How to Carve a Turkey (and Plate It Beautifully) | NYT Cooking
FAQ
What size plate do you use for turkey?
In general, when cooking turkeys: A small (14-inch) roasting pan works for birds up to 12 pounds. A medium (16-inch) roasting pan is ideal for birds up to 16 pounds. A large (18-inch) roasting pan can fit turkeys up to 20 pounds.
What is a good size for a platter?
What is the best size platter? Platters around 16 inches long and at least 1.5 inches deep were the best. That said, I did like some smaller, shallower platters for serving charcuterie and appetizers.
What is the standard size of platter?
The size of a platter varies from dish to dish and what sort of food it holds. The typical platter will usually be round and measure between 10 and 12 inches in diameter, but an oval platter will usually measure 14 inches wide and 10 inches across.
What are the serving sizes for turkey?
The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per guest. If you’re buying boneless meat, assume about 8 ounces per guest. To buy the right size turkey for your party, simply tally up the turkey-eating guests. Add a few pounds on for bones and you’ve got your turkey weight.
What size is a turkey platter?
We love that this relatively delicate stoneware platter has the look of more expensive porcelain but is affordable and dishwasher-safe. The oval platter is 19½ inches long. If a turkey platter with a full turkey on it feels a bit too traditional (or too literal) for your taste, consider this botanical take.
How many sizes are there in a platter set?
This platter range is sold in a set that includes three sizes (small, medium, and large), but you can also buy a single platter of your preferred size (I liked the medium, which measured 16 inches long). These no-frills platters match any decor, and the wide, bowl shape made containing and scooping mess-free.
Is a large platter too big?
While larger platters allowed for serving feast foods like Turkey, some platters were just too big, like the Nashi home (pictured here below the Le Creuset). Platter sizes varied surprisingly widely, with extremes on both ends.
How deep should a platter be?
The Our Place platters, which were flat and shallow, were great for fancy cheeses and cured meats. If you’re looking for a platter to serve messy things like heaping, dressed salads or roasted meats, I recommend going for platters with deeper, flared edges (at least one-and-a-half inches deep).
Does a turkey platter come with a saucer & saucer?
The platter comes with a sauce boat and saucer, and these pieces are part of a larger collection should you want to build your harvest tablescape around this turkey platter. This unique aluminum tray is crafted with a sculptural turkey, making quite a statement on your holiday table.
Do you need a carving board for a Thanksgiving turkey?
You spend time and effort brining, roasting, and carving your Thanksgiving turkey. Sure, you could serve your perfectly browned bird straight from the carving board, but in our opinion, a beautiful turkey platter gives it the platform it deserves.