How this calculator works
The planning rule is about 450 g (1 lb) of raw bone-in turkey per adult, half that for a child, with more if you want leftovers. That covers the bone, the skin and the carving loss as well as the eaten meat, which is why it looks generous against a 75 g serving of cooked protein. From the weight, the rest follows: thawing in the fridge takes about one day for every 1.8 kg (4 lb), cold water thawing takes about 30 minutes per pound, and roasting at 325 F takes roughly 12 to 15 minutes per pound across the useful size range. The calculator gives a planner; the timetable and the thermometer decide the actual cook.
Formula
raw turkey = (adults x 450 g + children x 225 g) x 1.5 if leftovers are wanted. fridge thaw days = kilograms / 1.8. cold water thaw hours = pounds x 0.5. roasting times come from the USDA timetable band for the weight: 2.75 to 3 hours at 8 to 12 lb, 3 to 3.75 at 12 to 14 lb, 3.75 to 4.25 at 14 to 18 lb, 4.25 to 4.5 at 18 to 20 lb and 4.5 to 5 at 20 to 24 lb. Pounds = kilograms / 0.45359237.
Worked example
Eight adults and two children without leftovers need 8 x 450 + 2 x 225 = 4050 g, or 4.05 kg. A 4.05 kg bird is 8.93 lb, so the fridge thaw is 4.05 / 1.8 = 2.25 days, or about 2 days 6 hours, and the cold water thaw is 8.93 x 0.5 = 4.5 hours. The 8 to 12 lb band gives a roasting time of 2.75 to 3 hours. With leftovers wanted, the same party needs 4.05 x 1.5 = 6.1 kg, or 13.4 lb, which falls in the 12 to 14 lb band at 3 to 3.75 hours.
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Frequently asked questions
How many kilograms of turkey per person?
About 450 g of raw bone-in turkey per adult and 225 g per child. That allows for the bone, skin and carving loss. With leftovers wanted, plan 50 percent more, which is about 675 g per adult.
How long does a turkey take to thaw?
About 24 hours in the fridge for every 1.8 kg (4 lb), so a 6 kg bird needs roughly 3 days 8 hours. In cold water it is about 30 minutes per pound, so a 6 kg bird needs about 6.6 hours, with the water changed every 30 minutes.
What size turkey fits my oven?
Measure the inside of the oven, including the height with the rack in place, and compare it with the bird plus the roasting pan. A 20 lb bird needs a large oven; a 10 to 12 lb bird fits most. If the bird is too big, ask the butcher to spatchcock it or cook two smaller birds.
Is a fresh or frozen turkey better?
Both are safe if handled well. A fresh turkey avoids thawing time but must be bought close to the day and kept cold. A frozen turkey can be bought early, but it needs several days in the fridge to thaw, which the calculator above estimates.