Your household is hosting Thanksgiving Day! Let's plan ahead and talk turkey! This post explains the safest ways to prevent bacteria from growing and causing a food safety risk on Thanksgiving day.
How many people will you serve? Most turkeys will come frozen, so knowing about how many pounds of turkey you will cook helps you know how you want to thaw a turkey.
Plan on having about 1 pound of turkey per person. You can go up to 1.5 pounds per person if you want leftovers. If you have 8 people, you will need an 8-12 pound turkey.
When to thaw? Thaw your Turkey in the refrigerator at 40 °F or below.
Allow approximately 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. Example scenarios are provided below.
- 12 to 16 pounds: 3 to 4 days
- 16 to 20 pounds: 4 to 5 days
- 20 to 24 pounds: 5 to 6 days
Remember to plan for the space it takes to thaw a frozen turkey in your refrigerator.
Other ways to safely thaw a turkey: You can also safely thaw your turkey in the microwave or under cold water. To learn how to safely use these methods, visit this webpage from USDA.
Want to talk to a specialist Thanksgiving Day?
The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is open on Thanksgiving Day from 8 AM–2 PM ET to answer questions about meat, poultry, and egg products.
The hotline's toll-free number is 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).
You can also chat live with a food safety specialist at ask.usda.gov from 10 AM–6 PM ET, Monday through Friday. Chat does accommodate Spanish speakers.
