How to Pick the Perfect Turkey for Your Holiday Gathering
Choosing the right turkey size is key to making sure everyone at your holiday table is well-fed (and maybe even has some leftovers!). Here’s a quick guide on how much turkey to plan for each guest, along with options for fresh and frozen turkeys that support local farms.
How Much Turkey Do You Need?
A general rule for turkey size is about 1 to 1.5 pounds per person. This ensures a generous serving and a bit extra for leftovers. However, if you’re catering to smaller appetites, you might consider a slightly smaller serving size of 0.5 pounds per person.
Here’s a quick guide to help you choose:
- Small Appetites (0.5 pounds per person)
- Example: 8 guests = 4 pounds of turkey
- Average Appetites (1 pound per person)
- Example: 8 guests = 8 pounds of turkey
- Generous Servings (1.5 pounds per person)
- Example: 8 guests = 12 pounds of turkey
Fresh or Frozen?
Once you’ve determined the right size, consider whether you want a fresh or frozen turkey. Here’s what we currently offer:
- Fresh Turkeys: $2.59/lb
- Source: Ferndale Market | Cannon Falls, Minn.
- Fresh turkeys are convenient if you want to avoid the thawing process and ensure your turkey is ready to season and cook right away. Fresh turkeys may have a thin ice shell to keep them extra cold, but they only need a brief thaw.
- Frozen Organic Turkeys: $3.59/lb
- Source: Schultz Organic Farm | Owatonna, Minn.
- Frozen turkeys are a great option if you’re shopping in advance. They’ll need a few days to thaw (check out our thawing guide), but they can be more flexible for early planners.
Whether you go fresh or frozen, using this guide will make it easy to pick the perfect bird for your gathering size and holiday needs.