What Size Turkey Do You Need? Tips On Selecting The Perfect Size Turkey
Are you cooking the holiday feast for the family this year and not sure how much turkey you need? Knowing what size turkey it takes to feed a family can be a difficult task. You do not want to get too small of a bird and have people hungry but you do not want a huge one if you do not need it.
To help you take out some of the guess work of selecting the perfect size turkey this Thanksgiving or Christmas, use these guidelines:
Number of Diners: 8.
Turkey Size (including leftovers): 10 to 12 pounds.
Thawing Time (for a frozen turkey): Refrigerator, 2 to 2 1/2 days; cool water (changed every half hour), 5 to 6 hours.
Roasting Time (unstuffed): Roast at 425° F for 45 minutes. Cover with foil, reduce temperature to 350° F, and continue to roast until a thigh registers 180° F, about 2 hours total .
Number of Diners: 12.
Turkey Size (including leftovers): 16 to 18 pounds.
Thawing Time (for a frozen turkey): Refrigerator, 3 1/2 to 4 days; cool water (changed every half hour), 8 to 9 hours.
Roasting Time (unstuffed): Roast at 425° F for 45 minutes. Cover with foil, reduce temperature to 350° F, and continue to roast until a thigh registers 180° F, 2 1/2 to 3 hours total.
Number of Diners: 16.
Turkey Size (including leftovers): 20 to 22 pounds.
Thawing Time (for a frozen turkey): Refrigerator, 4 to 4 1/2 days; cool water (changed every half hour), 9 to 11 hours.
Roasting Time (unstuffed): Roast at 425° F for 45 minutes. Cover with foil, reduce temperature to 350° F, and continue to roast until a thigh registers 180° F, 3 to 3 1/2 hours total.
Number of Diners: 20.
Turkey Size (including leftovers): 24 to 26 pounds.
Thawing Time (for a frozen turkey): Refrigerator, 5 to 5 1/2 days; cool water (changed every half hour), 11 to 13 hours.
Roasting Time (unstuffed): Roast at 425° F for 45 minutes. Cover with foil, reduce temperature to 350° F, and continue to roast until a thigh registers 180° F, 4 to 4 1/2 hours total.
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