How many does a 14 lb turkey feed?

Turkey Math

Here are some turkey numbers keep in mind for Thanksgiving Day: 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.) 8 to 10 people = 14- to 16-lb.

Then, How long should a 15lb turkey cook?

The simplest way to figure out turkey roasting times is to calculate

13 minutes per pound

at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (that’s about 3 hours for a 12- to 14-lb.

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If your turkey weighs 15 to 16 pounds, roast it at:

425°F for 3 to 3¼ hours.
400°F for 3¼ to 3½ hours.
350°F for 3½ to 3¾ hours.
325°F for 3¾ to 4 hours.

Similarly, What size turkey do I need to feed 10 adults?

Choosing the Right Size Turkey

When choosing a turkey to serve on Thanksgiving, figure 1 1/2 pounds per person. If you are serving 10 people on Thanksgiving, choose a bird that is 15 to 20 pounds. Smaller birds that weigh less than 12 pounds have a smaller meat-to-bone ratio, so figure two pounds per person.

In this regard How big of a turkey do I need for 8? For turkeys smaller than 16 pounds, estimate 1 pound per serving (this accounts for bone weight). For larger birds, a bit less is fine; they have a higher meat-to-bone ratio. But if your goal is to have ample leftovers, aim for 1½ pounds per person whatever the turkey’s size. For 8 people, buy a 12-pound turkey.

How long does a 16 lb turkey take to cook?

The rule of thumb for cooking a turkey is 13 minutes per pound. So our 16-pound turkey was estimated to cook in about 3 1/2 hours. However, some factors like brining the bird, cooking with an empty (un-stuffed) cavity, and leaving the legs un-trussed will contribute to much faster cooking.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature ranging from 325°F to 350°F. Higher temperatures may cause the meat to dry out, but this is preferable to temperatures that are too low which may not allow the interior of the turkey to cook to a safe temperature.

15 Related Questions and Answers Found

Should you cook a turkey upside down?

The benefits of roasting a turkey breast-side down are twofold: The dark meat cooks faster when it’s closer to the heat source, and the juices trickle down for extra-moist breast meat. … Talk about a turn for the better!

Should I cover turkey with foil when cooking?

Just make sure you uncover the lid about 30 minutes before the turkey’s done roasting so the skin has a chance to get crispy. … Covering the bird with foil mimics what a roaster lid would do — it traps steam and moistness so the turkey doesn’t dry out — all the while allowing the skin to crisp up.

Is a 20 lb turkey Big?

If the result is less than 12 pounds, then multiply by 1.5 since there will be a little less meat. If the result is larger than 15 or 20 pounds then consider getting more than one turkey for the meal.

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What Size Turkey Should you Buy?

People	Turkey Size
14	14-21 lbs
16	16-24 lbs
18	18-27 lbs
20	20-30 lbs

How long does it take for a 15 lb turkey to thaw?

Slow: Thaw in the Refrigerator

How long it takes: Allow approximately 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey. A 15-pound bird will take about 3 days to thaw completely.

How tall is a female turkey?

Male turkeys (“gobblers”) are between 2 ½ and 3 feet tall and weigh on average 16 pounds (with some individuals weighing in considerably larger!). Female turkeys (“hens”) are on average 2 feet tall with average weights of 9 to 10 pounds.

How much meat do you get off a turkey?

Uncooked whole unstuffed turkey

Think of about two pounds of the entire turkey per person for a small gathering (4 to 8 people), and about 1.5 pounds of the entire, larger turkey per person for a larger group (10 to 16). Remember: The larger the bird, the higher the meat-to-bone ratio.

Should you cover a turkey with aluminum foil?

Just make sure you uncover the lid about 30 minutes before the turkey’s done roasting so the skin has a chance to get crispy. … We’ve found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out cooking time.

Should you wash your turkey?

Wash Hands and Surfaces; not the Turkey

According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces.

Is turkey done at 165 or 180?

While some recipes state that turkey should be cooked to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the meat is safe to consume once it reaches the 165-degree mark. Cooking the breasts past 165 can result in dry meat, but the dark meat can be cooked to 180.

How often should you baste your turkey?

Most recipes will tell you to baste your turkey every thirty minutes. But our rule of thumb is actually every forty minutes, and here’s why. You don’t want to open the oven too many times, or else the whole bird will take much long to cook, and that’s a huge inconvenience.

Should I smoke my turkey breast up or down?

Place the turkey, breast side down, directly on the smoker grate. Smoke for 1 hour, maintaining the proper temperature in the smoker. If using a gas grill, wrap a handful of unsoaked wood chips in foil, poke a few holes in the foil, and toss it on one side of the grill grate.

Which side is the turkey breast?

Cook the turkey breast side down.

While the turkey roasts, the juices fall down towards the breast, resulting in the most succulent meat. The breast is also more protected from the heat, which helps keep it from getting too dried out. Use a meat thermometer to take out any guess work of when the turkey is done.

Should you rinse turkey?

According to a study by the food safety experts at the USDA, washing or rinsing raw turkey can put you at risk of foodborne illness. There’s only one time you should wash a raw turkey, and that is after brining. Otherwise, do not wash a turkey before cooking.

How often should I baste my turkey?

When should I tent my turkey?

Tenting the Turkey – In the beginning, a tent of aluminum foil may be place loosely over the breast of the turkey for the first 1 to 1-1/2 hours, then removed for browning. Or, a tent of foil may be placed over the turkey after the turkey has reached the desired golden brown.

When should I buy my Thanksgiving turkey?

Q: WHEN SHOULD I BUY A FRESH THANKSGIVING TURKEY? If you want a fresh turkey, Ray says you should still buy it ahead. He suggests purchasing a fresh turkey the weekend before Thanksgiving. « Before it gets handled and all thrown around, » he says.

How do you tell a hen from a Tom?

Head: A Tom’s head is usually featherless and can change colors from red, white or blue. A Hen will have a blue head. Both sexes will have the bumpy growths on their heads known as caruncles and both also have a snood – a long fleshy growth that will hang over their bill.