Thanksgiving Turkey Timeline & Hosting Planner (Spreadsheet + PDF)

Plan Thanksgiving backward from "we eat at 3". Type in four things: dinner date and time, turkey weight (4 to 24 lb), how you'll thaw it (fridge, cold water or fresh) and stuffed or unstuffed. You get:

• When to start thawing. Fridge: about 24 hours per 4 to 5 lb. Cold water: about 30 minutes per lb, changing the water every 30 minutes (USDA FSIS)
• Preheat, into-the-oven and start-checking times from the USDA 325°F roasting timetable, shown as USDA's ranges
• Out-of-the-oven time, the 20-minute rest, carving and dinner
• A sorted day-by-day and hour-by-hour timeline that pulls in your side dishes (up to 15) and prep tasks (up to 30)
• Leftover deadlines: refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), use within 3 to 4 days

HOSTING TABS

• Guests: RSVP and dietary notes, counts and a turkey size guide
• Menu: an oven and stovetop schedule that flags dishes competing with the turkey for the oven
• Shopping list by store section with buy-by dates, a prep checklist by day, and a leftovers safety tab

EVERY FOOD-SAFETY NUMBER IS CITED

Based on USDA FSIS guidance. A Sources tab links the 6 USDA FSIS pages used, and a reference tab quotes the USDA values word for word. The planner's own settings (30-minute preheat, 15-minute carve, cold-water buffer) are labelled "not USDA".

INCLUDES

• .xlsx planner: blank, plus a filled-in demo
• 8-page printable PDF: USDA tables, a backward-timeline worksheet with a worked example, checklists and lists
• The free Turkey Thaw Calculator

WORKS WITH

Tested in LibreOffice; formulas verified after Google Sheets import (print areas don't carry over); opens in Excel (live Excel not tested). No macros.

NOT COVERED

Turkeys under 4 or over 24 lb, frozen pre-stuffed turkeys, cooking from frozen, turkey breasts, and frying, smoking or grilling.

These times are planning estimates. They are not a substitute for a food thermometer: the turkey is done when it reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh and wing, and the center of the stuffing.

Independent planner, made with AI assistance and checked against USDA FSIS pages. Not affiliated with or endorsed by USDA.

Holiday bundle: this planner + the Holiday Gift & Budget Tracker for $12 https://payhip.com/b/yEAhU

Personal-use licence included (LICENSE.txt): no resale or redistribution.

Questions: quietenginecompany@gmail.com

Launch week: code LAUNCH20 for 20% off through Sun Oct 25.