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cooking time for 20 lb turkey

by Stacy Ritchie Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

4 1/4 to 5 hours

How long does it take to cook a 24 pound turkey?

While the best temperature to cook a turkey is always 325 degrees F, how much time your bird will need in the oven will depend on its weight. An unstuffed 8-pound turkey can take less than 3 hours, while a stuffed 24-pound turkey can take over 5 hours.

What is the best way to cook a fully cooked turkey?

See how to truss a turkey. Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan, and into a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven and follow the cooking times above based on the weight of your bird. Roast until the skin is a light golden color, then cover the breast loosely with a foil tent to prevent further browning.

How long do you leave a Turkey in the oven?

Unsure how long you’re supposed to leave the bird in the oven? If you’re baking it at 325°F (the lowest temperature the USDA recommends), you’ll need to bake a 20-lb turkey in the oven for 4 to 5 hours if it’s unstuffed, and 4 ¼ to 5 ¼ hours if it’s stuffed.

How long does it take to cook a frozen turkey?

These times all based on roasting a turkey at 325 F. It's safe to cook a completely frozen turkey but it will take at least 50 percent longer than a fully thawed bird. If cooking from frozen, remove the giblet packet with tongs about halfway through. Cook until the deepest part of the thigh registers 165 F with an instant read thermometer.

How long should I cook a 20 pound turkey?

If you're baking it at 325°F (the lowest temperature the USDA recommends), you'll need to bake a 20-lb turkey in the oven for 4 to 5 hours if it's unstuffed, and 4 ¼ to 5 ¼ hours if it's stuffed.Nov 20, 2017

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature ranging from 325°F to 350°F. Higher temperatures may cause the meat to dry out, but this is preferable to temperatures that are too low which may not allow the interior of the turkey to cook to a safe temperature.

How long should a 20 lb turkey cook at 350?

4 to 4¼ hoursIf your turkey weighs 18 to 20 pounds, roast it at: 350°F for 4 to 4¼ hours. 325°F for 4¼ to 4½ hours.Oct 20, 2021

How long to cook a 20 lb turkey covered or uncovered?

Tips And Tricks. Always cook your turkey until the skin is a light golden color. Cover your roasting pan with a lid or foil and cook covered for 2 hours (depending on size of your bird) and uncovered for the remaining time. Baste your turkey every half hour or so.

How long do I cook a 22 pound Butterball turkey?

For an unstuffed turkey, Butterball recommended:6-10 pounds: 1½ -2 hours.10-18 pounds: 2-2½ hours.18-22 pounds: 2½-3 hours.22-24 pounds: 3-3½ hours.Nov 21, 2018

Do you cover a turkey while cooking?

To achieve that balance, the ideal is to let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered: We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out, then removing the cover for the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp.

How long to cook a 20 lb turkey in a Reynolds bag?

For whole, unstuffed turkeys in oven cooking bags, cook at 350 °F for the following approximate times:8-12 lb turkey: 1 1/2 to 2 hours;12 to 16 lb turkey: 2 to 2 1/2 hours;16-20 lb turkey: 2 1/2 to 3 hours;20-24 lb turkey: 3 to 3 1/2 hours.Jul 17, 2019

What is the best temperature to bake a turkey?

Put the turkey in the oven at 400°F, uncovered. For the 15 lb turkey, start the cooking at 400°F for the first 20 minutes to brown it. Then reduce the heat to 325°F for the next 1 to 2 hours, until the internal temperature of the breast reaches about 140°F to 145°F or so.

Do you put butter on a turkey before cooking?

Impart rich flavor and add moisture to your Thanksgiving turkey by adding a layer of butter under the skin before roasting.

Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?

Add water to the roasting pan to keep the turkey from drying out. Grandma always added water or chicken broth to the bottom of the roasting pan, at the start of the cooking. This keeps the bird from drying out.

How Long to Cook a Turkey

Follow this chart for turkey cooking times based on the size of your bird. All cook times are based on placing a whole unstuffed turkey on a rack in a roasting pan and into a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven.

How Much Turkey to Buy

The general rule is 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person, depending on how much you love leftovers! If you're not going to make turkey soup or sandwiches, 1 pound per person is all you will need. If you look forward to leftovers almost as much as the main event, definitely go for 1 1/2 pounds per person. See our Turkey Buying Guide for more tips.

How to Thaw Turkey

Keep in mind a whole turkey can take several days to thaw and the above cooking times are for a completely defrosted bird.

How Long to Cook a Stuffed Turkey

A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey. Roast a stuffed turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F. It is important to check the temperature of the stuffing; it should be 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) when you insert the thermometer into the center of the stuffing.

How to Cook a Turkey In Five Easy Steps

Prep Remove the packet of giblets from the cavity of the bird and save them for gravy or stuffing. Next, use paper towels to pat dry the bird inside and out.

How to Know When Turkey Is Done

The only true test for doneness is the temperature of the meat, not the color of the skin. Turkey is done when the thigh meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (75 degrees C). To get an accurate reading, be sure that your thermometer is not touching the bone.

Make Gravy While the Turkey Rests

Use the 20 to 30 minutes while your turkey is resting to make a delicious gravy. Refer to our step-by-step guide to see how to make turkey gravy from drippings.

How Long Does it Take to Cook a Turkey?

While the best temperature to cook a turkey is always 325 degrees F, how much time your bird will need in the oven will depend on its weight. An unstuffed 8-pound turkey can take less than 3 hours, while a stuffed 24-pound turkey can take over 5 hours. Here's how long it takes to cook a fully thawed turkey.

Can You Cook a Frozen Turkey?

It is safe to cook a turkey from the frozen state, according to the USDA. However, the cooking time will be at least 50 percent longer than what's recommended in the table above.

Cooking a Stuffed Turkey Guidelines

For safety reasons, the USDA recommends cooking Thanksgiving stuffing outside your turkey to guarantee uniform doneness. If you do choose to stuff it, check the temp of the center of the stuffing to make sure it, too, reaches the safe 165 degrees F (otherwise bacteria could contaminate your cooked turkey).

Exact Answer: 4 – 5 Hours

A thanksgiving party is incomplete without a turkey dish. No thanksgiving guest is more important than the turkey itself. The golden brown, perfectly cooked 20-pound turkey is what everyone looks forward to.

Why Does It Take So Long To Cook A 20 lb Turkey?

When one is ready to start cooking, preheating the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit is essential. The turkey should be kept removed from the refrigerator. It should be unwrapped (if previously packed) and the neck and giblets should be removed. One can save the neck for roasting and the giblets for the gravy if one desires.

Conclusion

The only true test for the doneness of the turkey is the temperature of the meat, not the color of the skin. The important point one must remember while cooking is that turkey is entirely cooked at an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit i.e 75 degrees Celsius.

Exact Answer: 4.5-5 Hours

Turkey is a type of meat mostly consumed in North America. They are like poultry chicken but are bigger in size as compared to chickens. Most of the time domesticated turkeys are consumed but some people also consume wild turkey too.

How Long To Cook a 20 Pound Turkey?

Many people consume frozen turkey which is used in slices of sandwich meat that are curved as cold cuts. They are sometimes used as a good substitute for chickens in many places. Many people consume ground beef as an alternative to ground turkey due to some better nutritional values used as food portions in marketplaces.

Why Does A 20 Pound Of Turkey Take That Long To Cook?

The 20 pounds of turkey takes this much time because of its weight. If turkey of low weight is cooked that it takes less time to be cooked. The time is also dependent on the pieces. There are two types of turkey with two types of skin color is a domesticated and wild turkey, with meat color dark and light.

Conclusion

Eating raw meat is the most common reason for food poisoning causing severe diarrhea. If you are suffering from salmonella food poisoning he or she has to be very careful about your food because at this point your digestive system is quite weak.

Having Thanksgiving dinner right on time is easy when you know how long to cook a turkey

Thanksgiving can be a multi-day cooking marathon. All the planning often centers around the main event—that giant, glistening turkey. We’ll tell you what size turkey to buy and how long it needs to roast so you can plan your holiday.

How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey?

Use this chart to figure out how long to cook a turkey, according to its size:

How to Check the Temperature of a Turkey

To find out if your turkey is fully cooked, insert a meat thermometer into the meatiest, thickest part of the bird (typically the thighs). You’re aiming for between 170º and 175ºF for a whole bird and 165º for a turkey breast.

What Size Turkey to Buy

You’ll need one pound of turkey per guest. When you can’t find the magical 12 pound turkey for 12 guests, just round up! It’s better to have too much food than to run short on the signature dish of Thanksgiving.

What Temperature to Cook a Turkey

Our Test Kitchen recommends roasting a turkey at a steady 325º for the entire cook time. This temperature is low enough that you don’t need to worry about moisture evaporating quickly and drying out the turkey, but it’s also warm enough to cook the bird all the way through at a quick pace.

How Long to Cook a Turkey per Pound

The general rule is 15 to 20 minutes per pound of turkey when cooking an unstuffed turkey. Since roasting a stuffed turkey is no longer considered food-safe (not to mention doing so dries out the turkey meat) it’s best to stick to this method and bake one of these crowd-pleasing stuffing recipes in a separate dish.

Tips for Cooking a Turkey

Great—you know your roasting time. But before you nail down your Thanksgiving game plan, don’t forget to factor in these other time-consuming steps.

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