How many people does a 5lb turkey feed?

kittycarr

Six adults and three children is what my Thanksgiving dinner will consist of.  I'm thinking 5lbs won't be enough for everyone and to have substantial leftovers.  Some of that poundage is bones, too right?

xbrooklyngrl

No, 5 lbs is not enough!

Mommy2Allie

To give you an idea...we are having 10 people and will have left overs and our bird is 18 lbs

KrisBriMcBunny

nope...you need to get the biggest damn bird you can find if you want leftovers with that many people.  Yes the pounds include the bones.

Wait is there such a thing as a 5 lb turkey???? I thought those suckers were big ?

kjlrs

No, not even close! I'm not an expert but I could swear that I usually buy more like 12-14 lb turkeys and we have had 7 adults, no children.

jessicaclare

For substantial leftovers, you'd probably need at least 15 pounds.

MrsMandaK

Isn't 1-2 pounds per person the general rule of thumb?

kittycarr

There are uncooked and precooked turkeys too, right?  How long would it take to cook each?  WHich is better to get?

KoriBrett

One, if my DH is coming for dinner.  He's a pig.

AnnapolisLari

We buy a 12 lb turkey for 3-4 adults and that never makes for as many leftovers as I want.

I'd say at least 18-20 lbs for a decent amount of leftovers.

I've never seen a 5lb turkey. Maybe a breast-only roast, but most chickens are not much less than 5 lb.

kittycarr

The 5lbs came into play with this post because I have a dish that I know a 5lb turkey or chicken can fit into and I wanted to know if I could use it for that.  I really don't have anything to put a huge turkey in so I'll have to go out and get something I guess.

KoriBrett

all that pampered chef stuff and no turkey roasting pan??  tsk tsk. 

KrisBriMcBunny

just get a foil roasting pan...cheap and you just throw it out afterwards.

shopgirl_07

You just need to get one of those heavy tinfoil baking pans they sell at the grocery stores this time of year, probably will cost less than $5.

And I agree with everyone else, if you want leftovers, go for 18-20 lbs.

kittycarr

That was one of the things I was going to get withthe last party but my totals weren't enough and there were other more pressing (smaller) items I have to get.  I honestly have no cupboard space for the roaster pan anyway - I really do not know where I"d store it.  I am afraid to use one of those flimsy aluminum foil pan things - I've never done this before so I am absolutely clueless.  I've done thanksgiving dinners but MIL has always done the turkey.  I saw at Target yesterday an oblong pan - one like my mom used to have.  It was black or blue with little white things all through it (the design).  I'm not sure how to describe it.  I think I may go back and get it today.  Do need to have a little rack to sit under it or can it sit right in the pan?

KrisBriMcBunny

a rack makes it easier to get out of the pan.  If you do use a foil pan...just put a cookie sheet under it so its easier to get in and out of the oven.

I know exactly what pan you are talking about.  I have 2 different sizes

jessicaclare

I have one of those blue roasters. If you don't have a rack, you can always just put chunks of veggies (celery, onion, etc) under it to keep it out of the juices. It gives the gravy flavor too.

 

You can get pre-cooked turkey breasts, but I love dark meat, so I always do a whole turkey. I recommend brining it the night before. Its really easy and it makes it so juicy. 

kittycarr

So if it's not sitting on a rack, the bottom of the turkey will be dry or too soggy and gross?

AnnapolisLari

Those enamel roasting pans are nice to have, but a cookie sheet under a foil pan works just as well.

kittycarr

As much as I would love to have that Pampered Chef roasting rack - it's $145 and would only get used once a year so I think you're right, if I got a cookie sheet and the foil pan thing, I'd probably be good.  I have an 8x8 size (i think) small rack for cooling cookies, sits very low, that would work, right?  Would it be sturdy enough?

newwifey

I would not use a cookie cooling rack. It may not be oven safe. You can buy them pretty cheaply at Bed Bath or even a supermarket. Some of the racks they make are really good now because they also allow you to lift the bird out of the hot pan while it is resting- b/c it is really hard otherwise to get it out of the pan while it is hot. Otherwise I have seen on cooking shows where they will use large carrots or potatoes underneath roasts to asct as a natural rack. You can either serve the veggies or toss them. Check out how big a 12-18lber is at the supermarket. It is way bigger than a 5lb chicken. It may help you make your decisions. GL! Taking on thaksgiving dinner is a brave undertaking.

Starr_Mom

I just got a roasting pan from Bunco on Saturday that was bought at <gasp> Wal-Mart. It holds up to 30 lbs and has a rack that the turkey sits on. I think it was around $10 or so.

KoriBrett

$145?? oh hellno. 

Yes, the bottom would get all sogged out & gross.  The foil pans do work well but def. put it on a cookie sheet.  I'd either prop it up on veggies or just buy the turkey rack - they make cool carrying ones lemme find a link.

newwifey

This is the kind of thing I am talking about:

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14182900

Can definitely be put in the foil pan but as the others have said, put it on a cookie sheet or you will not be able to get it out of the oven.

 

KoriBrett

same as newwifey but she linked it first.