How to Choose a Turkey (2024)

FAQs

How do I pick the right turkey? ›

Grade A turkeys are meaty, have well developed layers of fat under the skin, and are practically free from pinfeathers, bruises, cuts, tears on the breast and legs, and broken bones. Select a turkey cold to the touch. The younger the turkey, the more tender and mild flavored it will be.

How many pounds of turkey per person do I actually need? The general rule of thumb is 1–1½ pounds turkey per person. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don't end up getting eaten.

Chef Neal Fraser of Redbird in Los Angeles budgets for 2 pounds per person as does Rocco DiSpirito, executive chef at The Standard Grill in NYC. “So, for 10 people you should prepare a 20-pound turkey.

You'll want to plan on about 1.25 pounds of turkey per person. That means if you're expecting 12 guests, plan for a 15-pound bird. To make things simple, we've created a guide to help you pick the perfect-sized turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner menu.

Above all else, look for one with a well-rounded breast—it'll turn out juicier. Beware of flat spots, which can indicate the bird has been thawed and refrozen. This not only increases the chances of freezer-burned meat, but it also raises the risk of food-borne illness.

The flavor of a bird is determined by several additional factors, which may actually be more important than whether your turkey is fresh or frozen. Size is key — smaller birds tend to be more tender; if you have a lot of guests coming, think about cooking two small turkeys instead of one large one.

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.

4 to 6 people = 4- to 9-lb. turkey (If you can't find a bird that small, you can get a slightly larger bird that will allow for more leftovers. Or cook a turkey breast for a smaller group.) 8 to 10 people = 8- to 15-lb.

Buy a fresh turkey one to two days before the day you plan to cook. If there is a 'best-by' or 'use by' date on the manufacturer's label, then you can keep fresh poultry, unopened, in the refrigerator until that date. Do not follow the 'sell by' date on the label.

How long do you rest a turkey for? ›

REST: Once you're sure the turkey is fully cooked (check by piercing the thickest part of the leg with a skewer to see if the juices run clear), leave it to rest in a warm place for at least 45 minutes or up to a few hours. This lets the meat relax and allows all the juices to be reabsorbed.

It takes 24 hours for every four to five pounds of weight for a turkey to thaw in the refrigerator (a 15-pound turkey will take three days to thaw in your refrigerator). A completely thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for one or two days before cooking.

How Long Do I Cook Turkey Per Pound? An unstuffed turkey will typically need about 10 to 12 minutes per pound. A stuffed turkey will typically need about 15 to 17 minutes per pound.

You'll find that most "small turkeys" range in size from 10 to 14 pounds, although you may be able to find them as small as 6 pounds. So how much turkey will you need for a small gathering? As a general rule, estimate about 1 pound for serving, give or take a little.

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.

Butterball turkeys are of the highest quality product and will be sure to impress your guests. Here's why Butterball is the right choice, especially for the holiday season: Butterball turkeys are always tender and juicy because we take the extra step of individually pre-brining them based on size.

Editor's Choice: 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Turkey

Many of our testers loved this organic turkey from Whole Foods, which had great flavor—and looked good, too. The 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Turkey was the second-most expensive turkey we tested—it flew to the top spot of the lists of most evaluators.

Buy a fresh turkey one to two days before the day you plan to cook. If there is a 'best-by' or 'use by' date on the manufacturer's label, then you can keep fresh poultry, unopened, in the refrigerator until that date. Do not follow the 'sell by' date on the label.

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.