The United States is commonly associated with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a national holiday that is designed to celebrate the union of Native Americans with European settlers. Therefore, the vast majority of families in the United States eat turkey on Thanksgiving. In fact, approximately seven out of eight families in the United States consume turkey on Thanksgiving Day. On the other hand, the US is not the country where each person eats the most turkeys each year. That belongs to Israel, where an even greater percentage of the population consumes turkey every year. There are plenty of other countries that consume turkey regularly as well.
Come Thanksgiving Americans across the country sit down to feast on roast turkey. But in which state do residents gobble up the most turkey per capita? The answer may surprise you. While states like California and Texas consume a lot of turkey in total volume, it’s Minnesota that earns the title for highest turkey consumption per person.
Why Minnesotans Love Turkey
Several factors contribute to Minnesota’s top turkey consumption
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Major producer – Minnesota is the #1 turkey producing state, raising over 40 million birds annually. Easy access to locally raised turkeys contributes to higher consumption.
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Agricultural tradition – Turkey farming has long been a family tradition in Minnesota, with generation after generation continuing in the turkey business. This influences local food customs.
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Cultural preferences – Midwestern food tastes and holiday traditions prioritize turkey as the centerpiece of meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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Cold climate – Some researchers speculate Minnesota’s colder climate increases appetite for hearty, comforting foods like turkey.
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Relative affordability – Domestically raised turkey is more affordable in Minnesota compared to meats like beef, making it appealing.
Minnesotans have enjoyed turkey since the pioneer days when wild turkeys were hunted for subsistence. Today commercial turkey farming dominates the scene but turkey remains a cherished local food.
Other Top Turkey-Consuming States
While Minnesota occupies the top spot, several other states also consume above-average amounts of turkey per capita:
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California – With its huge population and agricultural sector, California consumes the most total turkey by volume.
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Texas – Everything is bigger in Texas, including turkey consumption per person.
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North Carolina – As the second largest turkey producer, North Carolinians eat a good share of home-state birds.
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Arkansas – This state provides over 1/4 of U.S. turkey production, which residents enjoy eating.
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Missouri – Missouri cracks the top five states for turkey consumption per person.
Regional tastes, local farming, and population all influence state-by-state turkey consumption statistics.
Holidays Prime Time for Turkey Eating
While Americans eat turkey year-round, consumption spikes during the holiday season:
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Thanksgiving – No surprise here, turkey is the quintessential Thanksgiving main course across the U.S.
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Christmas – Many families opt for roasted turkey over ham or beef for their Christmas dinner.
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Easter – Turkey competes with hams and lamb as the centerpiece for Easter meals.
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New Years – There’s a tradition of eating turkey on January 1st for progress in the new year.
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Super Bowl – Fans feast on turkey wings, sandwiches, and other game day snacks.
From elegant roasted whole turkeys to casual sandwiches, turkey fills menus during the holidays when gathering with friends and family.
The Year-Round Popularity of Turkey
Beyond the holidays, turkey remains popular as an everyday protein:
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Nutritious – Turkey provides lean protein with less fat than red meats.
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Versatile – Turkey can be smoked, roasted, grilled, used in chili, casseroles, sandwiches, salads and more.
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Kid-friendly – Turkey hot dogs, lunch meat, and nuggets appeal to picky eaters.
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Budget-friendly – Ground turkey is an affordable healthy protein.
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Comforting – Warm turkey dishes like pot pie or turkey noodle soup satisfy.
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Customizable – Turkey takes on any flavor profile like Mexican, Italian, Cajun and more.
From rising health consciousness to creative recipes, turkey earns its place at tables throughout the year.
Why Turkey Deserves Its Popularity
Turkey isn’t just a custom at Thanksgiving or Christmas – it brings nutritional and culinary benefits that make it a valuable protein source:
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High in protein for muscle maintenance, tissue repair, and energy.
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Contains amino acids like tryptophan for mood regulation and serotonin boosts.
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Low in fat and cholesterol compared to red meat, when skin is removed.
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Provides B vitamins for generating energy and maintaining brain health.
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Contains essential minerals like selenium, phosphorus, and zinc.
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Offers immune-boosting properties with its natural anti-inflammatory abilities.
With its versatility for recipes, nutritional benefits, and role in traditions, turkey earns its place at the table.
Minnesota Proudly Leads the Pack
When it comes to states with the highest turkey consumption per person, Minnesota emerges as the winner. Between being the top turkey producer, influences of regional food culture, and the pleasures of turkey any time of year, Minnesota embraces the turkey. Citizens across the country enjoy sinking their teeth into turkey, but Minnesotans have a particular fondness for this hearty protein.
Is Turkey a Dry Meat?
Yes, turkey is considered to be relatively dry meat. If someone just put a turkey in the oven, it would be pretty dry. That is why a lot of people use recipes that can make the meat a bit juicier. For instance, some people choose to stuff their turkey with different things that will make the meat a little more moist. A lot of people also choose to put gravy on their turkey to make the meat less dry. There are a lot of ways to improve the taste of turkey meat, and a lot of them add more water to the meat.
How Long Do You Cook a Turkey?
The exact time a turkey needs to be cooked depends on how big it is and how hot the oven is. A lot of people choose to set the oven to 325 or 350 degrees Fahrenheit. After that, if the turkey is between 8 and 12 pounds, it needs to be cooked for about 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours. If the turkey is between 12 and 14 pounds, on the other hand, it will need to be cooked for 3 hours to 3 hours and 45 minutes. You might need to leave the turkey in the oven longer if you decide to stuff it with other things other than turkey.
What 5 states eat the most turkeys?
FAQ
Which US state consumes most turkey?
Do Californians eat the most turkey in the United States?
What are the top 3 states for turkeys?
Where is turkey eaten the most?
Which state eats the most Turkey?
Turkey is a Thanksgiving staple in the United States. Minnesota is the state that raises the most turkeys, and Turkey consumption is growing in the US.
Which states produce the most Turkey?
According to USDA, the top turkey producing states are Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Virginia, Iowa and California. The U.S. turkey industry currently exports more than 10 percent of its products, and trade remains a market segment with growth potential for the industry.
How much do turkeys eat per capita?
This statistic shows the per capita consumption of turkeys in the United States from 2015 to 2021 with a projection until 2032. The consumption of turkeys in the U.S. amounted to 15.3 pounds per capita in 2021. Get notified via email when this statistic is updated. Retail weight. * Figures from 2022 to 2032 are projected as of October 2022.
Which country eats the most turkey meat?
With nearly X thousand tons, the United States became the world’s leading turkey meat consuming country, mixed up X% of global consumption. The other major consumers were Germany (X thousand tons) and Brazil (X thousand tons), with a share of X% and X%, respectively.
Which state raises the most turkeys?
Turkey farming is an activity embraced by many poultry farmers found all over the country. Arkansas, Minnesota, and California are among the major turkey-producing states in the country. Which US State Raises the Most Turkeys? Minnesota is the number-one state in rearing turkeys in the United States.
How many turkeys are reared in Minnesota?
Minnesota is the number-one state in rearing turkeys in the United States. There are an estimated 44 million turkeys reared around the state. Turkey farming in Minnesota is a family tradition which transcends several generations. There are about 450 families in the state which are involved in turkey rearing.