# Thanksgiving: How many pounds of turkey per person do you have? (I have lots.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802 "2010-11-24T17:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/1 "2010-11-24T17:54:54Z")
I’m hosting my second Thanksgiving ever. I posted [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=396690) begging for help the first time. It turned out well. Hence, I was confident I could do it again. We’ll see if I was right. I’m not feeling it right now, I must admit. Part of it is the turkey. Like last time, I ordered it from a good fellow at the local farmers’ market. Unlike last time, we had a lot of folks say they were coming, [so we ordered a big turkey.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13064587&postcount=96) Many have since changed their mind. Many. We’re down to two guests. Four people total. Our farmer’s turkeys grew a bit bigger than expected. So we got the smallest turkey he had left when we arrived to pick up this morning. It’s 22.51 lbs. That’s just over 5.5 lbs/person. I’ve been told the buying recommendation is 1.5 lbs/person. So a 15 - 20 lb turkey (what we ordered) was great for the 10 people we thought we’d have. For four? It’s, perhaps, a bit much. Still, I can’t help but laugh about the situation. And worry that I’m not going to cook this enormous thing well. But, no matter what, it will be an adventure. So, what do you guys have? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/2 "2010-11-24T17:56:43Z")
I have a 24.5 lb turkey for a family of five. It’s all about the sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/3 "2010-11-24T18:07:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I have a 24.5 lb turkey for a family of five. It’s all about the sandwiches. That’s what my guy & I keep telling ourselves. Leftovers! Assuming, of course, I don’t overcook this thing. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/4 "2010-11-24T18:08:05Z")
I’m in a similar situation – I ordered a “small” 10-15 lb turkey from a local farmer, and yesterday I picked up a 16 lb turkey. Three guests are joining my fiancee and I for thanksgiving dinner, so that’s 3.2 lbs/person. But they’re only here for the day, so we’ll probably have 10 lbs of leftover turkey to eat over the next month… ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/5 "2010-11-24T18:12:11Z")
I was told that 1.5 lbs per person is what to shoot for. But I have a 19 lb turkey for the 6 of us, 'cause I love me some turkey tetrazinni! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/6 "2010-11-24T19:48:48Z")
Six people, twenty one pounds. The only thing better than turkey is left over turkey. bwahahahaha… Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/7 "2010-11-24T20:22:31Z")
We’ll have 1.5-2 pounds per person - and then my mother will go home and cook another 10-15 pound turkey the next day to pass out to people so we’ll have more meat for sandwiches and snacking over the next week. I love Thanksgiving. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/8 "2010-11-24T22:39:23Z")
Man! I wish I were doing your Thanksgiving, **Kiros**! That sounds brilliant. Welp, my turkey is brining now, and there’s an apple pie in the oven. Things could be worse. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/9 "2010-11-24T23:18:47Z")
We always buy way more turkey than we can eat at the table because the overage goes into the gumbo pot for SWMBO to work her magic on. MMMMMMMM…gumbo…mmmmm ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/10 "2010-11-24T23:23:50Z")
I just brought home a 16 pound turkey, and it’s just the two of us. We grind it and freeze it in 1 pound Ziplock bags. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/11 "2010-11-24T23:44:00Z")
I have a 21 pound turkey for just the three of us. My husband and daughter love to have leftovers for sandwiches, and I like to put the remains of what they don’t eat into the freezer for future use in soups, etc. I must keep the carcass for making stock. It looks like I’ll have a nice stockpile of turkey goodness in the freezer! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/12 "2010-11-24T23:53:11Z")
I only got a 17 pounder this year for five people. I’m pushing mashed potatoes and horsey doovers. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/13 "2010-11-25T00:03:42Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > We always buy way more turkey than we can eat at the table because the overage goes into the gumbo pot for SWMBO to work her magic on. > > MMMMMMMM…gumbo…mmmmm I always make a gumbo with the turkey carcass too. They’re great for that. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/14 "2010-11-25T01:02:38Z")
I’ve got a 15 lb turkey and. 14 lb turkey for 8-10 of us to eat worst case senario that works out to 3 lbs per person worst case senario. I want to make sure I have tons of leftovers. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/15 "2010-11-25T01:13:55Z")
> [@nonacetone](#): > > I have a 21 pound turkey for just the three of us. > (snip) > It looks like I’ll have a nice stockpile of turkey goodness in the freezer! Same ratio here. 2 of us/14 lbs. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/16 "2010-11-25T02:15:51Z")
I have a 6 pound ham and a turkey breast (that’s what, about 3 pounds?) for five people. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/17 "2010-11-25T02:57:14Z")
Go to the NY Times dining section: > **[Food](https://www.nytimes.com/section/food)** > > Find food stories, wine news and reviews on restaurants, recipes, cooking, desserts, chefs, fine dining, cuisine, New York restaurants, four star restaurants and more. And search for “Carving a Thanksgiving Turkey.” This is so you get the most from your turkey. Then, freeze half of it for sandwiches later. It’s what I do, and it works beautifully. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/18 "2010-11-25T03:16:59Z")
18 lbs for 3 people–but the turkey was free (I get one from work every year) and I’m perfectly fine with leftovers. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/19 "2010-11-25T03:53:05Z")
14 pounds for 4 people. I must have turkey sandwiches on good white bread with mayo, salt and lettuce. Must! ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802/20 "2010-11-25T04:46:19Z")
11 lbs and change for 4 people, at least 1 of which will eat like a bird. I’m looking forward to turkey stock and sandwiches. Omnom. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-how-many-pounds-of-turkey-per-person-do-you-have-i-have-lots/561802.md?page=2)