How early is too early to prep for Thanksgiving?

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, AND NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS YOU SHOULD SOON GET YOUR APRON ON.

A RECENT SURVEY OF 100 AMERICANS FROM EACH STATE SUGGESTS THAT YOU SHOULD START YOUR THANKSGIVING PREPARATIONS MORE THAN FOUR WEEKS IN ADVANCE.

CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH ON BEHALF OF THE JENNIE-O BRAND, RESULTS FOUND BOTH THE GUEST LIST AND THE MENU TAKE UPWARDS OF TWO WEEKS OF PLANNING AND COOKING PREPARATIONS ADD ON ANOTHER THREE DAYS. 

IT ALSO INVOLVES AN ADDITIONAL FIVE HOURS OF ACTUAL COOKING AND PREPARING ON THE DAY OF THE FEAST.

THE LONGEST PREP TIME AWARD GOES TO DELAWARE, AVERAGING 17 DAYS OF GUEST LIST-PLANNING AND ANOTHER 19 DAYS OF MENU-BUILDING. 

NEXT IS VIRGINIA, WHERE AMERICANS SPEND ALMOST 16 DAYS PICKING GUESTS (15.7) AND NEARLY 17 DAYS (16.6) ON THE MENU, THIRD ONLY TO NORTH CAROLINA, WHO AVERAGES A LITTLE MORE THAN 17 DAYS (17.4) ON THEIR MENU. 

AMERICA’S FAVORITE THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES

• Stuffing - 77%
• Rolls/biscuits - 66%
• Classic mashed potatoes - 60%
• Cranberry sauce - 55%
• Green bean casserole - 38%
• Sweet potato casserole - 30%
• Mac and cheese 28%
• Loaded mashed potatoes - 14%

BEST WAYS TO COOK A THANKSGIVING HAM

• Bake - 68%
• Smoke - 18%
• Slow cook - 18%
• Fry - 5%

BEST WAYS TO COOK A THANKSGIVING TURKEY

• Bake - 66%
• Smoke - 9%
• Slow cooker - 7%
• Fry - 5%

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 5,000 Americans (100 in each state); the survey was commissioned by Jennie-O and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between July 26 and August 7, 2024.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:

• Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
• Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:

• Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
• Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
• Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
• Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.