When it comes to a traditional Thanksgiving meal, there’s no question that turkey is the centerpiece. Even if you’re not a fan of the large bird, which can be dry and lacking in flavor if you’re not careful, turkey is what the day is all about. With that said, have you ever stopped to ask yourself how many turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-many-thanksgiving-turkey-GettyImages-143219173-107dd6e08a86492c9a040f5fcc9b79ab.jpg "How Many Turkeys Are Eaten on Thanksgiving, and How Much Can You Expect to Spend on a Bird? (1)")
Unsurprisingly, the number of turkeys consumed on the fourth Thursday in November is high, and has even risen in recent years despite increased interest in turkey alternatives and plant-based foods. According to the National Turkey Federation, an estimated 88 percent of Americans consume Thanksgiving turkey each year. Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), this translates to more than 46 million turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving. That’s a lot of birds.
The USDA also notes that the United States produced more than 5 billion pounds of turkey last year, with more than 4.8 billion pounds of that meat being consumed domestically. This was in spite of the 2022 turkey shortage, which was caused by a combination of factors, including an outbreak of the avian flu and related supply chain issues. Additionally, and likely because of the shortage coupled with inflation, wholesale prices for frozen whole turkey hens rose to an average of $1.55 per pound—a whopping 32 cents per pound higher than 2021.
So, what can you expect when shopping for a turkey this year? According to a recent report from the American Farm Bureau Federation, turkey is expected to cost less this year than it did in 2022. This is because turkey production is on the rise, which means each individual bird won’t be as expensive as it was roughly a year ago. AFBF data shows that the average price of an 8- to 16-pound turkey was $1.27 per pound in August 2023, down a whopping 22 percent from the $1.63 per pound during the same month in 2022.
Once you’ve purchased your Thanksgiving turkey, it’s all about the thawing and cooking process. For a primer on the best ways to cook a turkey, check out our comprehensive turkey-cooking guide, including tips on how to buy the right turkey for you and what to do if your bird is still frozen.
