According to the latest Butterball Togetherness Report, families and friends are gearing up for the largest Thanksgiving Day gatherings since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, survey participants anticipate hosting an average of nine guests, an increase from seven last year and the highest percentage since 2020, when an average of five guests attended.

“It’s great to see larger groups reuniting in the post-COVID era, and hopefully, we won’t refer to it as post-COVID for too long. We’ll just say, ‘This is how things are now,'” Butterball CEO Jay Jandrain shared with YSL News. “There’s a real enthusiasm to reconnect.”

An impressive 87% of respondents plan to serve turkey this Thanksgiving.

Most people, 74%, will roast their turkey in the oven, while 8% opted for a smoker, 5% will use an electric roaster, 3% are going for a deep fryer, and 2% are grilling their turkey. Only 1% are air-frying theirs, and 7% mentioned using another cooking method according to the survey results.

A Good Supply of Turkeys

The size of the turkey will depend on the gathering, but Jandrain assures that Butterball has a robust supply available.

“We have a strong supply for both smaller and larger turkeys,” he stated.

Turkeys usually weigh between 12 to 16 pounds and 16 to 22 pounds, he explained.

“Many consumers are purchasing a whole turkey along with either a bone-in breast or a boneless breast for larger gatherings,” he added.

Concerns About Rising Costs

A staggering 98% of consumers believe inflation will impact their Thanksgiving plans, a rise from 79% the previous year.

About 53% of those participating in Thanksgiving said they expect inflation to affect their celebrations the same as last year, while 44% predict it will have a greater impact than in 2022.

Even so, 52% stated they won’t modify their Thanksgiving plans to save money. Among those who will, 18% will cut back on non-food items like paper goods and decorations, while 17% intend to spend less on side dishes.

Jandrain mentioned that although Butterball doesn’t dictate retail prices, many grocery stores are providing substantial discounts and promotions to help ease Thanksgiving expenses for shoppers.

Food prices in the U.S. are anticipated to continue dropping in 2024 compared to prior years, as reported by the Economic Research Service, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The agency’s Food Price Outlook for 2024 and 2025 predicts a 2.3% rise in prices for all food, with food-at-home prices projected to increase by 1.2% and eating-out prices expected to rise by 4.1%.

Wholesale poultry prices climbed by 9.1% in September and were 6.3% higher that month compared to the previous year. It’s estimated that wholesale poultry prices will increase by 3.3% in 2024.

Retail Thanksgiving Offers

Walmart is providing an “inflation-free Thanksgiving Meal” for $53, averaging $7 per person. Sam’s Club claims their Thanksgiving meal can serve up to 10 for under $100.

Target’s meal for four costs $20, which is $5 less than last year. Aldi’s $47 Thanksgiving meal serves 10 and is the lowest price seen in five years. Dollar General is running a buy-two-get-one-free offer as part of their Thanksgiving deals.

What is the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line?

For 43 years, Butterball has managed its Turkey Talk-Line, where experts are available by phone to assist with any turkey preparation questions. You can call 1-800-BUTTERBALL, text 844-877-3456, or reach out via social media for help.

The hotline, which opened on November 1 and runs through December 24, offers various hours and extends its availability as Thanksgiving approaches.

Common Inquiries to the Turkey Talk-Line

The most frequent question Turkey Talk-Line agents receive revolves around how to thaw a turkey, according to Jandrain.

As for some of the more unusual inquiries?

“We’ve had people try to thaw their turkeys in the shower overnight with hot water because they forgot to do it earlier. We’ve also seen cases where individuals used a chainsaw to cut their turkeys and wanted to know if it was safe to eat afterward. (We advise against it; it’s better to get a new turkey),” Jandrain noted.

“Most questions relate to thawing,” he emphasized. “It’s fascinating to witness how tricky this can be.” By the way, According to Jandrain, the most effective method to defrost a turkey is to place it in the fridge about a week prior to cooking.

This year, Butterball is introducing a limited-time product called “Cook to Frozen.” This turkey has been specially brined, making it possible to cook directly from the freezer without thawing first, Jandrain noted.