30 million turkeys enjoyed across the U.S. this Thanksgiving

By Isabella Escobar

As the semester winds down and the aroma of turkey fills the kitchen, students are packing up for a festive break filled with home-cooked meals, quality time with loved ones, and the chance to unwind from the daily challenges of school. According to research conducted by the National Turkey Federation, roughly 94% of Americans plan to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, with nearly 30 million turkeys being enjoyed across the U.S.

When it comes down to how the big bird is prepared, tradition is still the king of the kitchen with 65% of Americans roasting their turkeys in the oven, while others prefer to smoke (10%), grill (7%), fry (7%), or air fry (7%) their dinner’s centerpiece.

Senior Mass Communication student Frank LaPinta is part of the 65% of people who stand by the classic method. “I would say the traditional way is in the oven, it just tastes good, and if you add a little bit of gravy to it, it makes it taste a lot better.”

When it comes down to preparing the Thanksgiving feast, most people leave the heavy lifting to family members. A recent survey by YouGov showed that 27% of people helped but let others do the bulk of the cooking, while 13% had the entire cooking responsibilities handled by someone else.

For many students, having a designated cook can be a game-changer.  “My family cooks it, my uncle’s a chef, so he really seasons it up, and we get a really fancy turkey every year now. So God bless him because we have top-tier turkey,” said Live Entertainment Media Production major, Olivia Collado.

The culinary genius doesn’t stop at turkey; side dishes are where many people get creative, with stuffing being the most popular at the dinner table (61%) and Brussels sprouts the least (8%).

Music Education Major Sofia Haintz is among the 41% who prefer sweet potatoes as their side dish. “I’m not a big meat person, but I like sweet potatoes, specifically with marshmallows. It has to be with marshmallows, because it’s just nice and sweet and soft, and it brings me into the Thanksgiving mood, because I only have it once a year.”

With so many flavors at the feast, whether it’s the perfectly roasted turkey, a delicious homemade stuffing, or that once-a-year delight of marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes. Thanksgiving remains a moment for students and families alike to slow down and savor what they appreciate the most.