Countdown for 10 guests, dinner at 3 pm
A frozen turkey at 1.25 lb a person (the dinner calculator's standard appetite) and Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Times in bold are on the day; amounts come from the Thanksgiving dinner calculator.
| When | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, November 21 | Frozen turkey into the refrigerator | 4 days for 13 lb at about 24 hours per 4 to 5 lb, plus a spare day. |
| Wednesday, November 25 | Pies, cranberry sauce, chopping | 3 pies, 2.5 cups of cranberry sauce, the onions and celery for 8 cups of stuffing. |
| 10:25 am | Oven on to 325°F | Giblets out; pat the bird dry. |
| 10:45 am | Turkey in, unstuffed | Allows the full 3 h to 3 h 45 min. |
| 1:45 pm | First temperature check | 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and breast. |
| 2:15 pm | Potatoes on to boil | 5 lb for mashing. |
| 2:30 pm | Turkey out to rest | 30 minutes under foil; stuffing and casseroles into the oven. |
| 2:40 pm | Gravy and rolls | 4 cups of gravy, 15 rolls. |
| 3:00 pm | Carve and serve |
The 13 lb turkey at other dinner times
Each time uses the long end of the USDA range at 325°F and a 30 minute rest, so a fast bird just rests longer.
| Dinner at | Oven on | Turkey in | First check | Out to rest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 pm | 8:25 am | 8:45 am | 11:45 am | 12:30 pm |
| 2:00 pm | 9:25 am | 9:45 am | 12:45 pm | 1:30 pm |
| 3:00 pm | 10:25 am | 10:45 am | 1:45 pm | 2:30 pm |
| 4:00 pm | 11:25 am | 11:45 am | 2:45 pm | 3:30 pm |
| 5:00 pm | 12:25 pm | 12:45 pm | 3:45 pm | 4:30 pm |
Forgot to thaw it? The cold-water rescue for ten
A 13 lb turkey needs 4 days in the refrigerator, so it should go in by Saturday, November 21. If it is still frozen on Thanksgiving morning, thaw it in cold water at 30 minutes a pound: 6.5 hours, changing the water every 30 minutes, about 13 changes.
USDA says a turkey thawed in cold water should be cooked straight away, so work back from the oven: for it to go in at 10:45 am for a 3 pm dinner, the cold-water thaw starts at 4:15 am. If that is too early, start it on Wednesday evening and roast it then; a cooked turkey keeps in the refrigerator and reheats to 165°F.
How much turkey a person? The USDA's consumer guide allows about 1 lb of whole turkey a person for a fresh or frozen bird and 1¼ lb for a pre-stuffed one; this page uses 1.25 lb. See how big a turkey for 10 people, how much food for 10 and the one-oven Thanksgiving cooking schedule.
Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Turkey Size Calculator: How Big a Turkey for Thanksgiving?: edit any number and the results update instantly.
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Thanksgiving timeline for 10 people?
Move a frozen 13 lb turkey to the refrigerator by Saturday, November 21, make the pies and cranberry sauce on Wednesday, November 25, and for a 3 pm dinner put the turkey in at 10:45 am with the oven on at 10:25 am.
My turkey for 10 is still frozen on Thanksgiving morning. What now?
Thaw it in cold water: 6.5 hours for 13 lb, changing the water every 30 minutes, then cook it at once. Starting at 4:15 am gets it into the oven at 10:45 am for 3 pm.
When should the turkey for 10 come out of the freezer?
By Saturday, November 21: 4 days for 13 lb in the refrigerator, plus a spare day.
Related sizes and guides
Related sizes
Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.