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how long to cook a 20 pound turkey

by Lynn Cartwright Published 4 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Cooking time will vary. For example, a 20 pound turkey will take 4 1/4 to 5 hours to cook, check the temperature on the thermometer after 4 1/4 hours.

How many hours do you bake a 20 pound turkey?

We can't help you ... turkey: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours 18- to 20-pound turkey: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours 20- to 24-pound turkey: 4 1/2 to 5 hours Convection ovens require some heating and timing adjustments. Either reduce the recipe temperature by 25 degrees ...

How to roast a 20 pound turkey in the oven?

whole turkey, thawed up to 20 lbs 1 ⁄ 4 cup olive oil or 1/4 cup butter 1 teaspoon seasoning salt 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon pepper DIRECTIONS Take the insert pan out of the roaster and pre-heat the roaster to its highest setting. On mine it's 450, but use 500 if your oven goes that high. Do not wash the turkey!

How many minutes per pound to cook a Turkey?

To roast turkey, the general calculation for cooking time is 13 minutes per pound for unstuffed and 15 minutes per pound for stuffed, at 350°F. By size, you can roast a turkey with these suggestions; 8 to 12 pounders: 3 hours at 325°F.

How long do you roast a 20 lb. Turkey?

How long do you cook a 20lb turkey at 375? Roast the turkey for 1 hour. Rotate the pan, reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh (dont touch the bone) registers 155 degrees, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

How long does it take to cook a 20 pound turkey 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.

How long do you roast a 20 lb turkey?

Place the bird, breast-side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan. Cover the whole pan, tenting the bird, with heavy-duty foil so that it's well sealed. Place in the oven and roast the turkey for about 10 minutes per pound. (So, for a 20-pound turkey, about 3 1/2 hours; for a 15-pound turkey, about 2 1/2 hours.)

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

Do I Cook a Turkey at 325 or 350 Degrees? Though "low and slow" is a good rule for cooking a bird all the way through without burning it, there's no hard-and-fast rule. All of our temperature guides assume you're cooking at 325, but you can cook it a little warmer for roughly the same, or just a little less time.

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

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 do you cook a 20 pound turkey at 375?

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. ... Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. ... Place the turkey neck, carrots, celery and the remaining onions in a large roasting pan. ... Roast the turkey until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.More items...•

Should you cover a turkey when roasting?

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. However, basting will not make your turkey moister, but it promotes even browning of the skin.

Should a turkey be rinsed before cooking?

Should You Rinse a Turkey? In short, no. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), rinsing a raw turkey in the kitchen sink can lead to the spread of bacteria on countertops, nearby food, and other surfaces, which can cause cross-contamination.

Should you take turkey out of fridge before cooking?

Your turkey will cook more evenly and faster if you start it out at room temperature so remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. If you plan to stuff your turkey, wait until you're ready to put it in the oven before putting the stuffing in the turkey.

What is the best temperature to bake a turkey?

Our Best Turkey TipsBuy two smaller birds (or one whole turkey and one turkey breast) if you're feeding a crowd. ... The Test Kitchen agrees that 375℉ is the best temperature to cook a turkey, because it's not too hot, not too cold, and cooks quickly enough to ensure that a juicy, flavorful bird is ready by dinnertime.More items...•

Should you cover your turkey with aluminum foil?

Butterball suggests that after the turkey has been cooking for 2/3 of the amount of time needed (depending on the size of the bird), that you cover the breasts with a small tent made of aluminum foil. This will slow down the cooking process of the turkey breasts.

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

Place on the bottom of your roasting pan. Place the turkey, breast-side up on top of the vegetables. Add about a half-inch of liquid (water or stock) to the roasting pan. This will keep the oven moist, and the turkey juicy.

Should I tent my turkey with foil?

Removing the Turkey From the Oven – Once you remove the turkey from the oven, tent it with aluminum foil and allow it to rest for 20 to 30 minutes, so the meat can firm up and hold the juices, making it easier to carve.

How long to cook a turkey in the oven?

Slide the roasting pan into the oven, close the door, and wait! After about 3 hours, take a peek.

How to cook a turkey breast side up?

Place the turkey on the rack, breast side up, and fold the wings under; this makes for a nicer presentation. Loosen the skin over the breast meat and rub the butter between the skin and meat. Season the large cavity with plenty of salt and pepper; stuff with the remaining aromatics.

How to season a turkey?

The same goes here. Place the neck and half of the aromatics in the roasting pan; top with the roasting rack. Place the turkey on the rack, breast side up, and fold the wings under; this makes for a nicer presentation. Loosen the skin over the breast meat and rub the butter between the skin and meat. Season the large cavity with plenty of salt and pepper; stuff with the remaining aromatics. Tie the legs together with baker's twine. Season the outside of the turkey with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 cup water in the pan to prevent the vegetables from scouring.

How long does it take for a turkey to defrost?

So to properly defrost a 20-pound turkey, plan for between 5 and 6 days for a fully thawed bird.

How to tell if a turkey is done?

If not, keep roasting. The surest way to tell when the turkey is done is to test the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. It's done when the thermometer reads 165ºF.

How long does it take for a burger to get to 165°F?

It's done when the thermometer reads 165ºF. It should take between 4 to 4 1/2 hours to come to temperature, but you'll want to start testing it at about the 3 1/2 hour mark to be sure that it doesn't get overcooked.

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.

How to tell if a turkey is cooked?

Just remember: Even with this turkey cooking chart, the safest way to know your turkey is cooked is to use a meat thermometer. Your turkey is done when the internal temperature is minimum 165 degrees F.

Is it safe to 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. RELATED: How to Thaw a Frozen Turkey.

Can you cook turkey stuffing outside?

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). Keep wet stuffing ingredients refrigerated ahead of time, and separate from dry ingredients until just before mixing, stuffing loosely and cooking.

How long to cook a 20 lb turkey?

18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours. 20 to 24 pounds: 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours. 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.

How to check the temperature of a turkey?

Use an instant read thermometer to check your turkey's temp: insert the probe in the deepest part of the thigh — it should register 165 F.

How long does it take to cook a stuffed pig?

8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours. 12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours. 14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours. 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours. 20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.

Can you serve a dry turkey on Thanksgiving?

Say goodbye to serving a dry turkey on Thanksgiving. Use these tips to ensure you cook the bird perfectly on the big day.

Is carving a turkey an art?

Carving a turkey is a skill, not an art, which means you can learn it. Follow these easy steps for mastering the technique, then watch the how-to video. Mix-and-Match Turkey. Make the bird the way you like it: This step-by-step guide from Food Network Magazine leads to thousands of possibilities! Top Turkey Tips.

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 long to cook a turkey in the oven?

Preheat the Oven. Set aside 15 to 20 minutes to allow your oven to thoroughly preheat. Since many home ovens heat unevenly, it’s a good idea to let your oven come up to temperature, then wait 5 to 10 more minutes before placing the turkey inside.

How to tell if a turkey is cooked?

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.

How to get a turkey to turn golden brown?

The trick to crisp, golden brown skin starts before the turkey even goes in the oven. Plus, you already have this secret ingredient in your pantry! The day before Thanksgiving, remove the bird from its packaging and take out the giblets. Then, massage kosher salt all over the turkey.

How many pounds of turkey per person?

If you’re serving a hungry bunch or you really want to eat leftover turkey for the rest of the week, you can round up to one and a quarter pounds of turkey per person. These are our top ways to eat leftover turkey.

How many turkeys per guest?

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.

Is Thanksgiving a multi day event?

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 to cook a turkey in the oven at 165°F?

While the turkey is resting, check the temperature again after 10 minutes to ensure the turkey has reached 165 degrees F.

How to cook a turkey in 5 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. Truss & Brush. Tie drumsticks together with string, and brush the skin with melted butter or oil.

How to cook a turkey breast in a preheated oven?

Roast. 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. Tent & Baste. Roast until the skin is a light golden color, then cover the breast loosely with a foil tent to prevent further browning.

How long does it take to thaw a turkey?

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. In general, after placing the turkey in the refrigerator you need 24 hours of thawing time for every 5 pounds of turkey, but if it's Thanksgiving morning and your turkey is still frozen solid -- don't worry, ...

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 tell when turkey is done?

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.

How hot should a turkey be when it's out of the oven?

To prevent your turkey from drying out, factor in carry-over cooking while the turkey is resting: The internal temperature of the turkey will continue to rise 5 to 10 degrees once it is out of the oven.

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