What weight is a medium turkey?

Turkey weights and cooking times

Size	Weight
Small	5kg	11lb
Medium	6kg	13lb
Large	7kg	15lb
Extra large	8 – 9kg	17 – 20lb

In this regard, What is an average size turkey? To meet growing demand, American turkey farmers began to breed birds for their size and speed of growth in the 1950s. Today, the average turkey weighs around 30.5 pounds, almost twice as much as it did in the 1960s.

How many pounds is a medium sized turkey? 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

Hence, What is a good size turkey to buy? In short, if you’re entertaining 10 people, you should opt for a 15-pound turkey, and for five guests and under, opt for a seven- to eight-pound bird. The chef adds that these weight measurements account for the bones inside, too. When in doubt, follow the rule of thumb of 1.5 pounds of turkey per person at your table.

Meanwhile, What size turkey do I need for 5 adults?

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.

How big of a turkey do I need for 10?

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.

How long do you cook a 13 lbs turkey?

Calculate turkey cooking time and temperature. 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. turkey), or 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.

What size turkey should I get for a family of 6?

That’s why, for smaller gatherings, Jessie recommends going all the way to 2 pounds per person to maximize leftovers (more on that later). “For four to six people, 11 to 13 pounds is a good range,” Jessie says.

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

To thaw a 15-pound bird, you’ll need about a day of thawing in the fridge for every four to five pounds. In other words, plan on at least three to four days for defrosting. If the turkey is closer to 16 pounds, give the bird at least four days to be safe.

How big a turkey should I buy for 6 adults?

While 1 pound per person could feel like too little, and 1 1/2 pounds for each guest might be over-doing it, 1 1/4 pounds of turkey per mouth is the perfect balance.

How long do I need to thaw a 20 pound turkey?

Make some room in the bottom of your fridge and have a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan nearby. Here’s the calculation: plan on 24 hours of fridge thawing for every 5 pounds of frozen turkey (for example: budget 4 full days of thawing in the fridge for a 20-pound turkey).

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

If you are cooking a small turkey, it should be cooked at 325 degrees for between 11/2 to 2 hours. If you are cooking a larger Turkey, use 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 4-5 pounds of bird per hour and increase about 20 minutes per pound for larger birds up to 18 pounds.

Do I put water in the bottom of a roaster for turkey?

“Often consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey.”

How long do I cook a 13 lb turkey at 325?

For one 8- to 12-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 2¾ to 3 hours. For one 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 3 to 3¾ hours. For one 14- to 18-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 3¾ to 4¼ hours. For one 18- to 20-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 4¼ to 4½ hours.

How much turkey do I need for 7 guests?

The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds 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.

How much is a whole turkey?

Brands

Brand	Low End	High End
Honeysuckle White Fresh Whole Turkey	$.99/lb	$1.99/lb
Honeysuckle White Frozen Whole Turkey	$.69/lb	$1.49/lb
Butterball Whole Frozen Turkey	$.66/lb	$1.59/lb
Butterball Whole Fresh Turkey	$.99/lb	$1.59/lb

• Oct 26, 2020

How long should a 20lb turkey cook?

If you’re baking it at 325°F (the lowest temperature the USDA recommends), you’ll need to bake a 20-lb turkey in the oven for 4 to 5 hours if it’s unstuffed, and 4 ¼ to 5 ¼ hours if it’s stuffed.

Can I leave my turkey out overnight to thaw?

You shouldn’t. This might be surprising since many of us have defrosted frozen chicken on the counter at least once, but the answer is a hard “no” when it comes to a full turkey.

When should I put my turkey in the refrigerator to thaw?

So, if the turkey weighs 4 to 12 pounds, plan for it to defrost in the fridge for one to three days. If it’s 12 to 16 pounds, make sure it’s placed in the fridge three to four days before the holiday arrives.

When should I take turkey out of fridge?

First, Bring Your Bird to Room Temp

Your turkey will cook more evenly and faster if you start it out at room temperature so remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. If you plan to stuff your turkey, wait until you’re ready to put it in the oven before putting the stuffing in the turkey.

Should a turkey be cooked upside down?

Here are her three keys to cooking a perfect turkey: 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.

When should you thaw out a frozen turkey?

Thaw time in the fridge requires about 24 hours for every 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at about 40 degrees F (5 degrees C).

How Long to Thaw a Frozen Turkey.

Turkey Weight	How Long to Thaw In the Fridge	How Long to Thaw In Cold Water
22 to 24 pounds	4½ to 5 days	11 to 12 hours
24 to 29 pounds	5 to 6 days	12 to 15 hours

• Jun 22, 2021

What if I left my turkey out overnight to thaw?

It could increase the chance of foodborne bacteria

« Even though the center of the package may still be frozen, the outer layer of the food is in the ‘Danger Zone’ between 40 and 140 °F — at a temperature where foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly, » the FSIS explains.

Can I thaw my turkey in the sink overnight?

Thawing turkey in a sink of cold water is faster than thawing in the refrigerator, but it’s not safe to leave it in the sink to thaw overnight.

Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?

Because roasting racks have shallower sides than roasters, more hot air can circulate around the turkey and make for extra-crispy skin. 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.

Do you put butter on turkey before cooking?

Don’t butter your bird

Placing butter under the skin won’t make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before you roast.

Do you cover a turkey while cooking?

Always cook your turkey until the skin is a light golden color. Cover your roasting pan with a lid or foil and cook covered for 2 hours (depending on size of your bird) and uncovered for the remaining time. Baste your turkey every half hour or so.

How often should you baste 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.

Do 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!