How Much Energy Do Americans Use On Thanksgiving?

Oilprice.com ^ | November 26, 2019 | Julianne Geiger

[Diana in Wisconsin]

This Thanksgiving, Americans will suck up 350 gigawatts of electricity--equivalent to the entire world’s nuclear power capacity in 2012--making turkeys.

So, while we spend time being thankful this Thursday as we gather around the dinner table with family and friends, we should take a moment to extend that thanks to the energy that will be consumed making the turkey and all the trimmings.

But you might be surprised to know that Americans consume far less energy on Thanksgiving than on just any old Thursday—despite the fact that turkeys take nearly all night in the oven to cook.

Thanksgiving by the numbers

Americans aren’t the only ones with a weight problem; turkeys are getting a bit too big for their britches, too. The average Thanksgiving turkey size in 2019 is 30 pounds! That’s one big bird, and more than double from the 13 pound average sold in the 1930s. The fact that turkeys have bulged into enormous proportions means that it takes longer to cook. A 30-pound bird (stuffed, or course, because who doesn’t like in-the-bird stuffing?) can take 6.25 hours to cook in a 350° oven. The unstuffed equivalent takes about 1.25 hours less time to roast.

The Electric Cost of Roasting Tom

We did the math, and the average electric oven (non-convection) of the 2000-2400-watt variety will chew through a little over 12 kWh of electricity to cook that tom for 6 hours. At an average cost of 13.3 cents per kwh for electricity in the United States, turkey cookers will pay about $1.60 for the electricity to cook their birds (a couple of pennies more if you keep peeking at it while its cooking).

All Together Now

Americans will consume a staggering 46,000,000 turkeys this Thanksgiving. At 12 kWh each, that’s 552,000,000 kWh—for a single meal.

[Eddie01]

measured in farts?

[workerbee]

Americans will suck up 350 gigawatts of electricity--equivalent to the entire world’s nuclear power capacity in 2012

I'm supposed to believe that someone "who knows" has actually calculated the electrical value of cooking turkey in order to compare it to...... the world's nuclear power capacity --- 6 years ago?

Read that again slowly.

Who ARE these people?!? And who are the dingbats who worship them?

[dp0622]

2 billion dollars!!!?

Someone’s taking my cut :)

[Tacrolimus1mg]

Sadly, I have. Last year, my Mom insisted on a 29-lb. turkey. We wound up throwing out almost ten pounds, because we didn’t have enough people to consume it and my family got sick of turkey. Our holiday table consists of no more than six people.

I can only make so many different turkey recipes before my family says, “No more, please...!”

[SunkenCiv]

...you might be surprised to know that Americans consume far less energy on Thanksgiving than on just any old Thursday—despite the fact that turkeys take nearly all night in the oven to cook.

Thanks Diana in Wisconsin.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I know it’s against FR Protocol, but, read the article.

It’s all good, Baby! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

AGain, read the article. It’s all good!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Read the article. It’s all good! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Read the rest of the article. It’s all good!

[be-baw]

“I can only make so many different turkey recipes before my family says, “No more, please...!””

Make soup and freeze it.

[leaning conservative]

He is a clown who flies & yachts & has at least one mansion. I’ll listen when he lives in a shotgun shack & lives like a humble person. No respect for his hypocrisy.

[Disambiguator]

Speaking of Mizz Thunberg, where is she right now? Sailing back to Sweden on a balsawood raft?

[mrsmith]

As an American guy the only energy I use is getting to the table to eat, Loosen my belt and try to join in the conversation, then fall asleep in front of the game.
Life is good.

[SunkenCiv]

In Grand Rapids Michigan this has been going on for years, I’m sure the same think is found throughout the US:

http://www.google.com/search?q=mel+trotter+thanksgiving+gathering

[Secret Agent Man]

I sure the vegans and vegetarians do their fair share and offset that. /s

[goodnesswins]

We’re not using much energy ON Thanksgiving. ..I made all but the turkey in past 2 days.

[Huskrrrr]

Yes, this is good considering the “freeloaders”. And leftover turkey is the gift that keeps on giving.

[Exit148]

I stopped with those heavy birds and middle of the night oven roasting. But still had plenty of turkey— as I bought 2 small ones. Less oven time and plenty of legs and thighs to go around at dinner.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m ahead of the curve, too! Yay!

No turkey for us - I’m making a Cider-Braised Pork Roast with Apples. (However, there WILL be stuffing!)

And since they’re cheap right now, I did buy a 10 pound turkey for the freezer. We’ll have that in the dead of February when we’ve given up the will to live after shoveling foot after foot of SNOW! ;)

[4Runner]

I’m having an Angus ribeye grilled on a mesquite fire with fried potatoes and a 2016 Merlot. Wife is with her children/grandchildren/great grandchildren (eek) in freezing chilly Indiana. Sucks to be her. I’m home in seventy degree Florida with our 90-lb Walker Coonhound. Going on a 50-mile bike ride tomorrow. Before dinner. Girlfriend will be over later.