How this calculator works
A turkey dinner is planned one dish at a time. The turkey is the largest purchase and the least precise: about 450 g of raw bone-in bird per adult covers the bone, skin and carving loss, with more if leftovers are wanted. The sides are planned by cooked weight, so the stuffing, potatoes and vegetables are added to the plate rather than to the bird. Cranberry sauce and butter are small amounts that are easy to forget, and wine is planned as two 150 mL glasses per adult. The calorie figure is a rough plate total from the same amounts and typical energy values, so it shows why the meal is so large rather than offering a precise count.
Formula
each dish = (adults x the adult amount + children x the child amount) x 1.5 if leftovers are wanted. Turkey is 450 g per adult and 225 g per child raw; stuffing 150 g and 100 g; mashed potatoes 250 g and 150 g; vegetables 150 g and 100 g; cranberry sauce 60 mL and 40 mL; rolls 2 and 1; butter 20 g and 10 g; wine 300 mL per adult. A wine bottle is 750 mL.
Worked example
Eight adults and two children without leftovers need 8 x 450 + 2 x 225 = 4050 g, or 4.05 kg of turkey. Stuffing is 8 x 150 + 2 x 100 = 1400 g, potatoes 8 x 250 + 2 x 150 = 2300 g, vegetables 8 x 150 + 2 x 100 = 1400 g, cranberry sauce 8 x 60 + 2 x 40 = 560 mL, rolls 8 x 2 + 2 x 1 = 18, butter 8 x 20 + 2 x 10 = 180 g and wine 8 x 300 = 2400 mL, or 3.2 bottles. With leftovers wanted, every figure is multiplied by 1.5, so the turkey becomes 6.1 kg.
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Frequently asked questions
How much turkey per person at Thanksgiving?
About 450 g of raw bone-in turkey per adult and 225 g per child, with 50 percent more if you want leftovers. The weight includes the bone and the skin, so the cooked meat on the plate is much less than the raw weight suggests.
Do I need all these sides?
The list is a full traditional table. A smaller meal can drop the stuffing or the rolls, but keep the vegetable sides and a starch. Canada's Food Guide suggests filling half the plate with vegetables and fruit, which is a useful check on a table that is mostly meat, potatoes and bread.
How much wine should I buy?
About two 150 mL glasses per adult who drinks wine, which is 0.4 of a 750 mL bottle each. The calculator assumes every adult drinks, so reduce the total if some guests do not. Always offer water and a non-alcoholic option.
What is the safe cooking temperature?
Health Canada lists 82 C (180 F) for a whole bird, and the USDA lists 165 F (74 C) in the thigh, breast and stuffing. The stuffing must reach a safe temperature too, which is easier if it is baked separately. Rest the turkey for 20 minutes before carving.