Talking turkey: The “fowl” Thanksgiving centerpiece

Food and family is the main component of any Thanksgiving gathering, no matter the size. And though the gatherings may look different this year due to current health concerns, Thanksgiving is still all about the turkey.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released some fun facts about Thanksgiving’s main ingredient, as well as suggestions for meals for different size gatherings.

FOWL FACTS

Did you know that over 229 million turkeys are raised every year, by 2,500 American turkey farmers? The majority of American turkeys are raised on family farms in Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Indiana.

Did you know that 24 million pounds of frozen and 10 million pounds of fresh turkey were purchased in November of 2019? The average American eats about 16 pounds of turkey every year, and most whole turkeys are sold during the holidays.

TABLE TALK

The turkey is considered by many to be the centerpiece of many holiday meals, especially Thanksgiving. Everyone wants to provide the best meal possible for their Thanksgiving dinner. Checking your turkey for the USDA Grade A shield will help ensure the bird is certified free of defects like bruises, broken bones, or tears which detract from its appearance or the ease of preparation. While all turkey is produced under USDA’s mandatory food safety inspection, USDA quality grading is a voluntary service. You’ll find the USDA Grade A shield on a variety of trusted turkey labels at stores and online.

As previously stated, Thanksgiving gatherings may look different this year due to COVID-19 concerns. No matter the size of your party, there is turkey tailored to your needs. If your will be serving a smaller group of four or less, then a ready-to-cook turkey breast or a smaller turkey hen may be the route to go. Just because your crowd is small doesn’t mean your turkey should be. Fun Fact: Whole hen turkeys typically weight 8-16 pounds, whereas toms weigh in at 16-24 pounds. While the typical rule of thumb is to purchase one pound of turkey per person, a larger bird can be prepared any way a smaller one can. And, with more people cooking at home these days, 2020 is the year to up your leftovers game. It would be a shame to run out before you try turkey eggs Benedict or TLT sandwiches. Each pound of uncooked whole turkey typically yields 0.71 pounds of edible meat after roasting.

Whether Thanksgiving means turkey for two, a feast for four, or an evening with eight, don’t skimp out on a beautiful American-grown centerpiece for your holiday meal – you’ll be thankful you took our advice. Happy Thanksgiving!