How a lot turkey per particular person? It is the age-old Thanksgiving dilemma. Nevertheless it does not must be such an ordeal. Simply account for about 1 pound per particular person—until you need leftovers, wherein case you must account for about 1 half kilos per particular person. For extra intel on the topic, learn on beneath.

It’s inevitable. Each Thanksgiving you query the way you’re supposed to decide on the scale of your hen. Was it one pound per particular person? Or two? And what in regards to the mashed potatoes? There needs to be a greater technique than simply dumping bagfuls in a pot and hoping there’s sufficient to go round.

The kilos–per–particular person questions get requested on the Hotline yearly, so it’s time to attract your line on the size:

The Execs Suggest*

• Steven Raichlen plans on 1 half kilos of turkey per particular person: “This may make you’re feeling correctly overfed (as you must at Thanksgiving) and depart you with welcome leftovers. For me, a 12- to 14-pound turkey is good. For big gatherings, I’d moderately prepare dinner two 12-pounders than one 24-pound monster. (It’s simpler to regulate the cooking.)”
• Virginia Willis shares all the numbers you might want to know: “When it comes to turkey, it’s finest to consider 1 half kilos or 24 ounces per particular person of on-the-bone turkey. About half of that weight might be bone, in order that takes it from 24 ounces to 12 ounces, and you’ll lose a couple of quarter of that when cooking, in order that leads to roughly 9 ounces of cooked turkey per particular person—lots for dinner and a bit additional for leftovers and sandwiches the subsequent day. With reference to potatoes, my normal rule of thumb is 1 half medium Yukon gold potatoes per particular person, or since I’m a giant candy potato fan, I estimate 1 candy potato per particular person. When it comes to gravy, I’m a agency believer in there isn’t a such factor as an excessive amount of gravy.”
• Our Head Recipe Tester Stephanie Bourgeois begins with half pound of raw potato per particular person, however thinks so long as you have got area for leftovers, there isn’t a hurt in going over.
• Amanda Hesser makes use of 1/Three pound potatoes per particular person. (Wish to know her proportions for good mashed potatoes? To serve 6 individuals, she cooks 2 kilos of potatoes then mashes in 1 cup of milk, four tablespoons of butter, 1/Three cup of heavy cream, and 1 half teaspoons of salt. )

Potatoes

• For holidays, boulangere often counts 1 half potatoes per particular person: “Everybody will get as a lot as they need, and you’ve got these heavenly leftovers. At a extra sane time, I’m going with 1 per particular person.”
• In response to Reiney: “It actually relies on how giant the potatoes are, and the way a lot mash you wish to serve—in the event you’re speaking the big russets, half to 1 every would in all probability be tremendous, with no leftovers. I often err on the aspect of an excessive amount of as a result of they do appear to go rapidly.”‘

The Fowl

• Nutcakes‘ normal rule is 1 pound per particular person, however argues that bigger birds yield extra, so you can plan for 3/four pound per particular person.
• Darksideofthespoon goes for 1 pound per particular person too, however then provides just a few additional kilos to make sure there’s sufficient turkey for leftovers.
• Vittoria figures on half pound per particular person, but in addition provides extra for the sake of leftovers.

Inform us: What pointers do you observe when deciding how a lot you may want per particular person?

Images by James Ransom

*You have earned your self an additional slice of pie in the event you acknowledge this as an homage to Elizabeth Schneider!

I like esoteric info about greens and suppose ambling by means of a farmers market is a good way to begin the day. My first cookbook, obtainable now, is known as Cooking with Scraps.