Holiday Cooking Guides
How much to buy, how long to cook it, and when to start. No guessing.
Thanksgiving
How Much Turkey Per Person?
The short answer is 1.5 pounds of whole turkey per person. Here's the chart, the kid math, and when to buy two birds instead of one.
Read guide ThanksgivingHow Long to Thaw a Turkey
One day in the fridge for every 4 to 5 pounds. Here's the chart, the cold water rescue plan, and the exact day to start for Thanksgiving 2026.
Read guide ThanksgivingTurkey Cooking Time Per Pound
About 13 to 15 minutes per pound at 325°F for an unstuffed bird. Here's the full oven chart and a dinner timeline you can copy.
Read guide ThanksgivingThe Best Thanksgiving Sides (and How Much to Make)
The sides people actually fight over, how many to make, and how much of each you need per person. Shopping chart included.
Read guideChristmas
Holidays
Smoking
How Long to Smoke a Turkey
About 20 to 25 minutes per pound at 275°F. Here's the time chart, the done temp, the best wood, and how to keep the skin from going rubbery.
Read guide SmokingHow Much Brisket Per Person?
Brisket shrinks by about half. Here's how much raw brisket to buy for 10 to 50 people, plus how long to smoke it so you're not slicing at midnight.
Read guide SmokingHow Much Pulled Pork Per Person?
Plan 1/3 pound cooked per person, which is about 2/3 pound raw. Here's the chart for 10 to 100 people and how long the butt takes to smoke.
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