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National study reveals new data about Thanksgiving prep, trends and preferences

The makers of the JENNIE-O® turkey brand - a trusted brand for turkey products around the world - announced their 2024 Thanksgiving survey results, where each state was polled on their preparation methods, turkey preferences, preferred sides and much more.

Posted on Sep 20 ,00:25

The survey, conducted by Talker Research for the JENNIE-O^® brand, polled 5,000 consumers across the U.S.

Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday, and 70% of Americans polled said they have celebrated their traditions for more than 20 years. The three most cherished traditions are sharing meals together (65%), spending time with extended family or old friends (52%) and cooking together (27%).

Preparation

• Most people take up to two weeks to plan and cook their Thanksgiving meal. Actual food preparation for this monumental eating occasion adds another three days, and five hours of actual cooking on the day of.
• The longest prep-time awards go to the following states:
• Delaware: Averages 17 days of guest-list planning and another 19 days of menu building.
• Virginia: Spends almost 16 days picking guests (15.7) and nearly 17 days (16.6) on the menu.
• North Carolina: Averages more than 17 days (17.4) on menu alone.

The Star of the Thanksgiving Table: Turkey (and a Surprise Guest)

• 66% of respondents prefer their turkey baked.
• To brine or not to brine? 63% said NO to brining.
• Oklahomans would rather their turkey be smoked more than any other state.
• While most Americans prepare their turkey the same every year, keeping with their traditions, more than 30% of Americans change it up every holiday season.
• In addition to a turkey, nearly 40% of Americans also like to have ham on the table with preferences being baked (68%), smoked (18%) and slow cooked (18%).

The Thanksgiving Table: Let’s Talk About Sides

• 61% of Americans believe that turkey is the star of the meal, while a little more than two in five respondents in Idaho (43%) and Kansas (41%) believe that the side dishes are the unsung heroes.
• The most popular sides: stuffing (77%), rolls/biscuits (66%), classic mashed potatoes (60%) and cranberry sauce (55%).
• Americans from the southeast also enjoy mac and cheese — Georgia at 62%, Mississippi at 58% and South Carolina at 55%.

Thanksgiving and Beyond

• Almost every American surveyed (96%) enjoys Thanksgiving leftovers:
• 44% use turkey in a sandwich.
• 41% incorporate turkey into other meals.
• 32% go on to recreate the actual Thanksgiving meal.
• More than one in five (22%) would rather keep their leftovers for themselves than send some home with their guests.

"Thanksgiving continues to be one of America’s most cherished holidays, bringing families and friends together to share meaningful moments and meals,” said Kim Anderson, senior brand manager for the JENNIE-O^® brand. “We’re committed to helping ensure your holiday meal is a success with our quality turkeys and our wide range of services and resources. From expert advice on turkey preparation to tools for every step of the process, we’re here to support you with any turkey-related challenge".

Starting Nov. 1, consumer engagement experts for the JENNIE-O^® brand will be on hand to help alleviate stress around holiday meal planning at the company’s 1-800-TURKEYS hotline. Consumers can also live chat with experts on the brand’s website. They can even text “Turkey” to 73876 for helpful tips. Real-time support is available through Nov. 28 via any of these methods. From advice on how to prep and cook a turkey, to recipes for side dishes and how to use leftovers, Jennie-O specialists are available around the clock in the days and weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

Consumers can also find helpful tips on the brand’s website, including a calculator that tells hosts how much turkey to buy, full menus for Thanksgiving dinner and inspiring suggestions for preparing tasty leftovers. Jennie-O offers easy solutions for any holiday meal and is here to help make this year’s Thanksgiving the best yet.

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