temperature to cook turkey

What is the lowest safe temperature to cook a Turkey?

What is the lowest safe temperature to cook a turkey? Make it safe – The United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) recommends temperatures no lower than 325 degrees Fahrenheit for cooking meat and poultry. Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. There are two kinds of turduckens.

What is the lowest temp you can cook a Turkey?

• The wet and dry ingredients for the stuffing should be prepared separately and refrigerated until they're ready to be used.
• Stuff the turkey loosely (about a 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound of turkey).
• Immediately place the stuffed, raw turkey in an oven set no lower than 325 degrees (Fahrenheit).

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What is the Recommended cooking temperature for Turkey?

• Prepare a wet brine: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil with 1/2 cup each of kosher salt and granulated sugar. ...
• Preheat the oven to 375°F for the glaze: Toss 4 garlic heads (lightly smashed) with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and roast covered for about 1 hour, until the garlic ...
• Adjust the oven to 250°F.

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What is the ideal temperature for Turkey?

What is the best roasting temperature for turkey? Roast in a 325° or 350° (depending on size of bird; see below) oven until thermometer registers 160°. If turkey is unstuffed, tip slightly to drain juices from body cavity into pan.

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Do you cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

If you're determined to stuff the turkey, you'll want to leave it in the oven at 325°F for 20-25 minutes per pound, and cover the turkey (especially the wings and drumsticks) with a loose tent of aluminum foil to keep them from drying out or burning.

What is the best temperature for cooking turkey?

Begin by roasting your turkey at 425°F for 40 to 45 minutes before lowering the temperature of the oven to 350°F for the rest of the cook time. Like the other method, it's a good idea to brush the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with butter or olive oil to help the surface brown and keep the meat moist.

Is turkey done at 165 or 180?

While some recipes state that turkey should be cooked to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the meat is safe to consume once it reaches the 165-degree mark. Cooking the breasts past 165 can result in dry meat, but the dark meat can be cooked to 180.

How long does a 14 lb turkey take to cook at 325?

Assuming you are roasting your turkey in a 325°F oven, plan on 15 to 17 minutes of cooking time for each pound of an unstuffed turkey. Plan on 20 to 22 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey. 8-12 lb. 12-14 lb.

What temperature do I cook a 12 pound turkey?

How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey?Turkey WeightCooking TimeDoneness Temperature4-6 lb. breast1 hr 30 mins–2 hrs 15 mins165°F6-8 lb. breast2 hrs 15 mins–3 hrs 15 mins165°F8-12 lbs.2 hrs 45 mins–3 hrs170-175°F12-14 lbs.3 hrs–3 hrs 45 mins170-175°F3 more rows•Nov 9, 2020

How long should a 15lb turkey cook?

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. Then reduce the heat further to 225°F until done, anywhere from a half hour to an hour or more.

Is turkey safe in 160?

According to the Department of Agriculture, a turkey must reach 165 degrees F to be safe, but you can take it out of the oven as low as 160 degrees F because the temperature will rise at it rests.

Is 170 safe for turkey?

You'll need a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Insert it close to, but not touching, the thigh bone. If it reads 180 degrees F in the thigh and 170 degrees F in the breast, it's done and ready to serve.

Can you eat turkey at 145 degrees?

The range of doneness for all proteins--from eggs to fish to meat and Thanksgiving turkey--begins at 125 degrees, where rare starts; at 145 degrees the medium range begins, and at 165 degrees well-done starts; 185 degrees is the very top of the range.

How long does it take to cook a 14 lb turkey at 350 degrees?

Cooking time for different sizesTurkey weightUnstuffed turkey cooking timeOven temperature10 to 14 lb2-1/4 to 3 hours350°F15 to 22 lb3 to 4 hours325°F23 to 25 lb4 to 4 1/2hours325°F26 to 29 lb4-1/2 to 5 hours325°FOct 15, 2019

Is it safe to cook a turkey at 325 degrees?

(325 °F oven temperature) A whole turkey is safe cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the bird. Always use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of your turkey and stuffing. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook turkey to higher temperatures.

Should I cover my turkey with foil?

We've found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out cooking time.

Turkey Doneness Temperature

Turkey Doneness Temp: 157°F (69°C) in the breast— not 165°F!, and 175°F (79°C) in the thigh for moist turkey. ( USDA charts here or read more below to see why this is safe.)

How to Cook a Turkey at a Glance: Cooking Time and More

Thawing: You need to verify that your turkey is fully thawed before putting it in the oven or smoker or frier to avoid disaster. Best thaw method is in the fridge —1 day per 5 lbs.

HOW LONG TO COOK A TURKEY?

Perhaps the question people ask most about cooking a turkey is “how long it is going to take?” Charts and posts about turkey cooking times abound promising “Turkey Cook Times,” but they all share the same fundamental flaw— no chart can take into account all the variables that can actually affect your particular turkey’s actual cooking time…

WHAT TEMPERATURE IS TURKEY DONE?

Click on almost any other “how to cook a turkey” post and you’ll see the same bad information repeated over and over. But despite what they all say, you absolutely should NOT cook your turkey breast meat to 165°F (74°C) or to—heaven forbid—180°F (82°C)!

PART 1: HOW TO THAW A TURKEY

It’s often overlooked but the first key to delicious turkey is proper thawing. You can actually cook a fully frozen turkey and, of course, you can cook a fully thawed turkey. But cooking a turkey that is partially thawed and partially frozen on Thanksgiving morning is a recipe for disaster.

SPEED THAW METHOD

If you don’t have several days at your disposal, you can try the speed method.

VERIFYING THAT YOUR TURKEY IS THAWED

Whichever method you use, you should ALWAYS verify that the internal temperature of your turkey is above freezing BEFORE putting it in the oven or smoker. Again, you can actually cook a frozen turkey and, of course, you can cook a thawed turkey, but you can’t cook a partially thawed, partially frozen turkey.

The Slow-and-Steady Method: 325°F

If your Thanksgiving preparations include actual running in your kitchen or moderate levels of anxiety, then this is the method for you. It requires the least from the cook, because you throw the turkey in the oven at 325°F and don't adjust the temperature for the duration of the roast.

The Professional Method: 425°F, then 350°F

This method requires a little more attention, but it pays off in the end. Compared to the other method mentioned, this cooking process is faster and creates a crispy golden exterior and a tender meat that naturally retains more of its moisture.

A Few Additional Tips

Over time, most ovens are unable to maintain the same temperature throughout. Therefore, it's important to rotate the turkey's roasting pan every 30 minutes to make sure the bird cooks evenly. Also, it is critical to allow your turkey to rest for 30 minutes to an hour after it's taken out of the oven.

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.

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.

What Temperature Is Turkey Done?

Regardless of the size of your turkey, it's safe to eat once the turkey's internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer. When roasting turkey, here are the turkey temperatures to follow:

Where to Check Turkey Temperature

You can use an oven-going thermometer ($13, Walmart) by inserting it into the center of an inside thigh muscle, being careful not to touch the bone. If you use an instant-read thermometer, insert it into the center of the inside thigh muscle, checking the temperature in several places.

1. Thaw your turkey

The ideal place to thaw a frozen turkey is in the fridge, which can take up to a week depending on the size of the bird. Here’s how long it takes a typical turkey to thaw in the fridge:

2. Air out your turkey

When the time arrives to cook your bird, take the now-thawed turkey out of the fridge and set it on a rack at room temperature for an hour to take the chill off and dry out the skin.

3. Prep your oven

Position your oven rack on the lowest rung and set the oven to 350°F. Some recipes have you start roasting the turkey at a high temperature for a brief period before lowering the heat for the duration.

4. Butter your turkey

Set your turkey breast side up on the roasting rack and rub room-temperature salted butter—or your favorite flavored compound butter —all over it.

5. Season your turkey (if necessary)

For a 12- to 14-pound bird, adding 1½ teaspoons each kosher salt and freshly ground pepper in the large cavity and another 1½ teaspoons each over the skin is plenty.

7. Add some aromatics

Not stuffing your turkey also means there’s room in the cavity for aromatics, which will add flavor and aroma to the bird and add complexity to the pan drippings used to make gravy. Try placing onion quarters, celery stalks, parsley, thyme, salt, and black pepper inside the turkey before roasting.

8. Cover (and then uncover) the turkey

Loosely cover the bird with aluminum foil, shiny side out (to deflect heat) at the very beginning. Tenting with foil keeps the skin from getting too dark too soon. Remove the foil about halfway through cooking to let the skin brown.