How big of a turkey....

[kacaju]

would you buy to feed 16 people? I just found out my BIL and his family are coming to us for Thanksgiving this year!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Here is the Butterball conversion site. Pretty cool.
http://www.butterball.com/tips-how-tos/tips/calculators-and-conversions

Generally you would say 1 1/2lb person but the Butterball site has a twist to it with leftovers, kids, light eaters...pretty awesome.

With 16 adults it says 33lbs. I would not ever make a turkey that big. 30 is the highest I would go. I am sure you would be fine with something in the 25lb range.

 

[golfgal]

I would make 2 15-18 lb ones depending on how much you want for leftovers and how many of the people are little kids. The bigger turkeys aren't as good and they dry out. The smaller ones are more juicy. You can get one of those roaster ovens and make one in there and one in the oven (or get two and make them both in there so you have oven space for other things).

 

[petchie]

I have at least 16 every year and do a minumum of 2 20 pound birds.

I cook one on Wednesday and use it to make the gravy and for leftovers mainly. I package it up with everyones name so they all have some to take home. I leave one package as "extra" for Thanksgiving Day in case we look like we are running short. With all the sides we have we usually do not run short though.

The year I had 35 people I cooked 2 on Wednesday (started at 5am) slicing one and putting it in a large chafing dish with gravy to keep it moist, then packaging the other. Since most of the kids prefer it drowning in gravy, they loved it.

 

[Cinerbelle]

I would do a 25lb. turkey and a 10lb. ham in the crock pot..yummy!!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Wow- you guys make a lot of turkey. I do 1 pound per person. I have 19 people this year and I have a 10 pound and a 9 pound turkey. We will do one in the oven and one on the grill.

I have never gone wrong with the 1 pound per person formula. It doesn't give enough leftovers to send home with everyone though.

We are also having our thanksgiving with family this weekend since we will be in disney on thanksgiving day.

 

[monkeybug]

I have at least 16 every year and do a minumum of 2 20 pound birds.

I cook one on Wednesday and use it to make the gravy and for leftovers mainly. I package it up with everyones name so they all have some to take home. I leave one package as "extra" for Thanksgiving Day in case we look like we are running short. With all the sides we have we usually do not run short though.

The year I had 35 people I cooked 2 on Wednesday (started at 5am) slicing one and putting it in a large chafing dish with gravy to keep it moist, then packaging the other. Since most of the kids prefer it drowning in gravy, they loved it.

I think this is an awesome idea!!! Turkey is always best if you let it rest for a while anyways before slicing it, and after you pour hot gravy over it I bet you can't tell the difference anyways.

 

[mjkacmom]

My mom hosts a similar crowd on thanksgiving, and does a 23 pound turkey, and I cook a large turkey breast (since most like white meat).

 

[geffric]

Wow- you guys make a lot of turkey. I do 1 pound per person. I have 19 people this year and I have a 10 pound and a 9 pound turkey. We will do one in the oven and one on the grill.

I have never gone wrong with the 1 pound per person formula. It doesn't give enough leftovers to send home with everyone though.

.

yep 1 lb per person is our way too..