When you’re portioning out servings, it can be helpful to know how many pieces of meat you should dole out to keep things even. About how many slices of turkey is 2 ounces? Is this considered an adequate serving size? Read on to find out the answers.
How Many Slices of Turkey is 2 OZ?
It’s impossible to provide a clear answer to this question, as the weight of each slice depends on thickness. As a guideline, expect a single slice of deli turkey to weigh 1 to 2 ounces unless it’s sliced paper-thin. If you would prefer to be more accurate, use a kitchen scale to help you portion out the slices.
How Much Turkey Should You Serve Per Person?
The standard recommended serving size is 4 ounces (or 1/4 pound) of cooked meat per person. Since we prefer to round up—and also because turkey is commonly served at festive occasions—we think a per-person estimate of 1/2 pound per person is more appropriate.
Taking this into account, you should multiply your 2-ounce portions by 4 for every person on your guest list. If you’re making sandwiches out of deli turkey, you’ll need to follow a different set of guidelines, as we’ll discuss later on.
Remember that with bone-in poultry like whole turkey, you can expect a yield of about 50 percent. So if you want to ensure that there’s at least 1/2 pound of meat for each person, you would need 1 pound of raw turkey per guest.
Again, we find that this isn’t a generous estimate if you plan on having leftovers. We usually estimate 1-1/2 pounds of raw turkey for each person on the guest list, just to err on the side of caution.
How Many Slices of Turkey is 2 OZ?
First, the bad news: There’s no hard and fast rule regarding the proper thickness of turkey slices. So the number of slices in a 2-ounce portion can vary quite a bit.
If the turkey is sliced thick enough, a single slice could weigh in at 2 ounces or more. 2 ounces of very thinly sliced deli turkey, meanwhile, could consist of 10 to 12 slices.
In general, you can assume that a single slice of turkey will weigh about 1 to 2 ounces. The only way to be sure is to invest in a kitchen scale and measure each slice as you dole out your portions.
Deli Turkey vs. Homemade Smoked or Roasted Turkey
With deli turkey, it’s easier to estimate how much a slice will weigh. That’s why the people who are slicing the meat are able to gauge when to stop and measure their yield.
The larger piece of processed meat from which the slices are taken usually measures 6 inches long by 5 inches wide, more or less. So a standard slice should weigh in at 1 to 2 ounces.
If you want a more accurate estimate, ask the butcher or whoever is manning the deli counter to tell you how much each slice of turkey weighs. They’ll usually have a pretty good idea, but they can always weigh an individual slice for you by way of demonstration.
When you’ve prepared a whole turkey—or even just the turkey breast—at home, there’s a solid chance that your slices will be much thicker than what you would get at the deli counter. We aim for an average thickness of about 1/2 inch.
How Many Slices Do You Need To Make a Sandwich?
Although we aim for 1/2 pound of cooked meat per person when serving smoked or roasted turkey, you certainly don’t need that much deli turkey if you’re serving the meat in sandwiches.
2 ounces of sliced turkey should be sufficient to make a sandwich, especially if you’re topping the meat with cheese and veggies. As we mentioned, that’s usually 1 to 2 slices, but it depends on how thinly the meat was sliced.
Is Deli Turkey Healthy?
Since turkey is leaner than other deli staples like ham and roast beef, many people assume that it’s a healthier option. While it may be lower in fat and calories than those selections, you should still consume deli turkey only occasionally.
The actual nutritional value of deli turkey depends on the brand. On average, 2 ounces contains about 70 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 11 grams of protein, and 620 milligrams of sodium.
That’s good news in terms of calorie count, fat content, and protein intake. It’s the sodium you need to watch out for.
Health experts recommend a daily sodium intake of 1,500 to 2,300 milligrams for adults. That means 2 ounces of deli turkey would provide 27 percent of the maximum amount that’s recommended for a single day.
Don’t forget that deli turkey is often served on bread. Two slices of white bread can contain over 300 milligrams of sodium, thereby tacking a significant amount onto your total for just one meal. And that’s before adding cheese, condiments, or other sodium-laden ingredients like pickles and olives.
Our advice would be to consume deli turkey only on occasion. Try to limit your processed meat consumption to one or two servings per week. This doesn’t seem to pose a serious health risk, as long as it’s part of an otherwise healthy and well-balanced diet.
To reduce sodium intake, consider buying a raw unprocessed turkey breast and cooking it off yourself. Regular turkey breast is much lower in sodium on its own, and you can adjust the amount of seasoning you use according to preference.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve carved the turkey into slices yourself, a single slice might end up weighing much more than 2 ounces. It’s easier to estimate the weight of a slice of deli turkey, but even that can vary based on thickness.
Anyone who’s concerned about portion control should purchase a kitchen scale that’s designed for home use. That way, you’ll know exactly how much meat you’re getting with each serving.
Happy grilling!
