The Results from Our Thanksgiving Survey Are In
When we asked 1,283 Bon Appétit Super Fans about their Thanksgiving rituals, we had no idea what to expect. What if most of America was actually eating pork for dinner? Could it be that mashed potatoes had fallen forever out of fashion? And suppose the nation had given up on cooking completely and was just having pizza delivered on the Big Day—what then?
Our nail-biting days are done. The results of our Thanksgiving survey are in, and we're proud to present our reassuring, unpredicted, and bizarre findings. Did you know that the average Thanksgiving dinner begins at exactly 4:47 p.m.? Or that the average reader spends 5.2 hours cooking on the Big Day, with 11 days of prep? You do now.
Who knows? Maybe these fun facts will even help you plan your Thanksgiving. (And then you can download our free Thanksgiving App.) After all, this is hard data, people. There's no arguing with it.
1/13Do you like to drink wine while you cook?
The verdict: YES. In vino veritas. 67.1% of respondents admitted to pouring themselves a glass in the kitchen. Consider it the pleasant counterpart to "clean as you go": drink as you go. Or, if you're really into multitasking, drink as you clean as you go.
2/13Do you serve turkey?
The verdict: YES. This isn't a shocker—it's a small comfort. In these ever-changing times, when uncertainty is the only guarantee and each new day threatens to land you in a strange, unforgiving world, tradition still reigns supreme on Thanksgiving.
3/13Have you experimented with non-traditional rubs and brines for your turkey?
The verdict: YES. Forget what we said about traditionalism. 63.03% of you are happy to try new things. This Mexican, chile-rubbed turkey is good enough to go from "experiment" to "tradition" in one meal flat.
4/13Do you brine your turkey?
The verdict: NO. 59.33% of you are making brine-free birds. This left us crestfallen. We tried to tell you, we really did: wet or dry, brines are divine. We even made a video to show you how. And this is how you thank us? Harrumph. You're lucky this is a season of forgiveness.
5/13Do you ever cook the turkey in parts?
The verdict: NO. 86.13% of you are missing out, people! Cooking the turkey in parts guarantees that the whole bird stays moist, and it lets you experiment with different flavors. Get started with these braised turkey legs or a brined roast turkey breast with confit legs.
6/13What's your favorite side?
The verdict: STUFFING. The average Thanksgiving meal comes with 5.3 sides, and a whopping 56.89% of respondents declared that stuffing trumps all others—so make a bunch of it! We have more than a dozen recipes to help you get stuffed.
7/13Are there any recipes you hate to make but end up cooking anyway, for tradition's sake?
The verdict: YES. A number of you enjoy Thanksgiving from soup to nuts, but others were more than happy to air their grievances. Here are some of the best responses. "Another family member makes green bean casserole but I won't eat it or stoop to making it." "Candied sweet potatoes. Such a shame to ruin a lovely potato that way." "I HATE BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND MADE THEM ONLY ONCE." (Give them another try!) "My pea salad that I've been making for nearly 27 years. I don't really hate it, but I wish someone else would do it." "The cheese-sauce-covered canned asparagus for my mother-in-law. UGH! You make a Velveeta sauce, like for kids' mac-n-cheese. Drain 2 cans of Green Giant asparagus pieces, then dump them into the sauce. Stir, then top with Italian style bread crumbs, and serve. Oh, yum. I can hardly wait." "We make a 'white gravy' with giblets for my sister's in-laws. It's absolutely DISGUSTING, but it's not Thanksgiving without it for them."
8/13How many pies do you make or have other guests bring?
Statistics have spoken: the average Thanksgiving dinner includes precisely 2.3 pies. Intriguingly, the average American family has 2.06 children—meaning that, in theory, there's a pie for every child in the nation.
Marcus Nilsson9/13Do you prep breakfast for the next morning in advance?
The verdict: NO. 60.65% of respondents are too busy with dinner to think about tomorrow's breakfast. But that can change. These yeasted brown-butter waffles are an easy, tasty way to greet the morning after—and you can prep them in advance.
10/13Do you send guests home with an edible gift?
The verdict: SOMETIMES. We all try our best. 49.06% of you have been known to give a little something on occasion. Up your Thanks-gifting with this easy-to-make-ahead pumpkin seed brittle—the crunchy way to say goodbye.
SuperStock/Corbis11/13Ever had an unexpected guest/Thanksgiving crasher? What about a guest who drinks too much?
52.62% of respondents have faced a gatecrasher or two; 45.49% have had a guest get a little too tipsy. The lesson here may be to hire a bouncer and serve only water, but where's the fun in that? Better to roll with the punches—and keep an eye on how much punch you pour.
12/13If you dropped the turkey on the floor, what did you do with it?
78 of our readers confessed to having dropped the turkey on the floor, and of these, 98.73% said they rinsed off the turkey and served it anyway. It's the ultimate moment to invoke the 5-second rule.
13/13What's your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
Let's go to the write-ins on this one, which reflect an impressive, uh, variety of experience. First there's modesty: "I will make something that someone else has made before but of course it is improved upon." Then some tipsy irreverence: "Having a Manhattan (or three) with my mom as we ceremoniously place the dollar store pilgrim candlesticks that look exactly like my father on the table." A feat of derring-do: "Going for a fall dip in the pool (fortified with some bourbon)!" Another family prefers to compete; their 13-year-old's traditional triathlon "includes darts, putting, laser tag, basketball dunks and poker. We have a both a adult and child winner. The children play old maid." Last but not least, one reader likes to ward off calorie guilt before it can start: "I take a 'Pilgrim Pedal' spin class every year at 9:00—then come home and cook all day."
