U.S. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. Plan on about 1 pound of turkey per person, thaw a frozen bird in the refrigerator (about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds), roast at no lower than 325°F, and cook the turkey to 165°F in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost thigh and the innermost wing. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use them within 3 to 4 days. Those figures come from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Quick reference
| Task | USDA guidance |
|---|---|
| Thaw in the fridge | About 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds, on a pan, in the original wrapper |
| Oven temperature | No lower than 325°F |
| Doneness | 165°F in the breast, innermost thigh and innermost wing (and in stuffing, if you stuff the bird) |
| Rest before carving | 20 minutes, so the juices set |
| Leftovers | Refrigerate within 2 hours; use within 3 to 4 days, or freeze for best quality within 2 to 6 months |
Start the thaw now
A 16- to 20-pound frozen turkey needs 4 to 5 days in a refrigerator at 40°F or below. For dinner on Thursday, November 26, that means the bird should go into the fridge around Saturday or Sunday, November 21 or 22. A 12- to 16-pound turkey needs 3 to 4 days. Keep it in its wrapper, set it on a tray or pan to catch drips, and never thaw it on the counter. Cold-water thawing takes about 30 minutes per pound if you change the water every 30 minutes; cook the turkey immediately after that method. See also how to order a turkey online and bone-in versus boneless.
Roast, rest and leftovers
Place the turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Times on a 325°F chart are only a guide: an unstuffed 12- to 14-pound bird often takes about 3 to 3¾ hours, but a food thermometer is the test. USDA recommends cooking stuffing in a casserole for more even heating; if you stuff the turkey, fill it loosely, cook it right away, and confirm the center of the stuffing also reaches 165°F. After it is done, let the turkey stand 20 minutes, then refrigerate leftover meat, stuffing and gravy in shallow containers within 2 hours. Reheat leftovers to 165°F; bring gravy to a rolling boil. A full roast walk-through is in how to roast a Thanksgiving turkey and handle stuffing safely. For other methods, see roast, spatchcock, smoke or fry and deep-frying fire safety.
Sides, pies and the table
Build the rest of the menu around oven space. Many sides and pies can be made a day ahead so the turkey has the oven on Thursday. Start with what to serve with turkey, plus a shopping plan, then how to make gravy. If you want a different main, see what to serve instead of turkey. For the table itself, try Thanksgiving dinner games.
Topic guides
For a narrower starting point, use these topic guides: how to host Thanksgiving, turkey techniques and food safety, Thanksgiving side dishes, Thanksgiving desserts, Thanksgiving mains, diets and leftovers, and Thanksgiving table, drinks and activities.
More Thanksgiving guides
New how-tos: how long to cook a turkey, how much turkey per person, how long to thaw a turkey, how to brine a turkey, turkey internal temperature, how to make Thanksgiving stuffing, how to make pumpkin pie, how to carve a turkey, how long Thanksgiving leftovers last, how to spatchcock a turkey, how to make green bean casserole, how to make sweet potato casserole, how to make cranberry sauce, how to cook a turkey breast, how to keep turkey from drying out, how to make pecan pie, how to reheat leftover turkey, how to make turkey stock from the carcass, should you rinse a turkey, how long a turkey should rest, what size roasting pan for a turkey, stuffing vs dressing, a Thanksgiving cooking timeline, how to keep pie crust from getting soggy, and how to host Thanksgiving in a small kitchen. Other guides already on Wondelique: when is Thanksgiving, why we celebrate, how to roast a turkey and handle stuffing, turkey cooking methods, deep-frying turkey safety, sides and shopping plan, how to make gravy, how to make apple pie, Thanksgiving party games, alternatives to turkey, bone-in vs boneless turkey, how to order a turkey online, and Thanksgiving NFL games 2026., plus newly published: what to make ahead for Thanksgiving, how long to cook a turkey breast, how to make mashed potatoes for a crowd, why we eat turkey on Thanksgiving, what to do with leftover turkey, can you cook a turkey from frozen, how to cook a turkey in an oven bag, how to season a turkey, how much Thanksgiving sides per person, how long pumpkin pie lasts, and why Thanksgiving is on a Thursday, and how to set a Thanksgiving table, and what restaurants are open on Thanksgiving.
Frequently asked questions
When is Thanksgiving in 2026?
U.S. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. It falls on the fourth Thursday in November.
What temperature should turkey be when it is done?
A whole turkey is safe at a minimum internal temperature of 165°F, checked in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost thigh and the innermost wing. If you stuff the bird, the stuffing must also reach 165°F.
How long do Thanksgiving leftovers last?
Use refrigerated turkey, stuffing and gravy within 3 to 4 days. Freeze leftovers for best quality within about 2 to 6 months, and reheat them to 165°F.
Helpful kitchen tools
- Cuisinart Stainless 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Rack and Deluxe Basting Set — A 16-inch stainless roaster with a rack, sized for a holiday turkey.
- OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer — A pivoting-head instant-read thermometer for checking 165°F in the breast, thigh and wing.
- Reynolds Kitchens Turkey Oven Roasting Bags, Holds Up to 24 lbs, 2ct — Turkey-size oven bags (19 x 23.5 inches) that can also be used for brining.
- OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Digital Kitchen Food Scale — A scale for portioning leftover meat or weighing sides.
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