Common Cuts of Turkey

Turkey may be most famous for its starring role in the Thanksgiving feast, but there are good reasons to give it a place on the dinner table more often: It’s low in fat and high in protein.

Whole Turkey

When your relatives are coming over for Thanksgiving, you’ll probably want a whole bird, which typically weighs from 14 to 16 pounds for a hen, 16 pounds and up for a tom. (There’s no taste difference—it’s just a matter of size.) With this you get white and dark meat, the legs, and the giblets for gravy.

Not sure where to start? Print out our simple turkey recipe, then watch these quick videos to learn how to tuck turkey wings and how to take your turkey's temperature.