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.
| Set oven temperature to 325 °F. Minimum internal temperature = 165 °F | ||
|---|---|---|
| Turkey Size | Unstuffed | Stuffed |
| 8 to 12 lbs. | 2 ¾ to 3 hours | 3 to 3 ½ hours |
| 12 to 14 lbs. | 3 to 3 ¾ hours | 3 ½ to 4 hours |
| 14 to 18 lbs. | 3 ¾ to 4 ¼ hours | 4 to 4 ¼ hours |
What is the best temp to cook a Turkey?
When preparing to roast a turkey, it’s helpful to have the following pieces of equipment:
- A roasting pan with handles will make it easier to move your turkey in and out of the oven. ...
- An ovenproof meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer, because temperature is the most reliable way to tell if the turkey is done cooking.
- Aluminum foil to help keep your turkey warm while it rests after roasting and to tent while cooking—if needed.
What temp do you smoke a Turkey at?
What temperature should you smoke a turkey?
- At 235 F/115 C, your turkey will take 30 to 35 minutes per pound.
- At 250 F/120 C, your turkey will take 25 to 30 minutes per pound.
- At 275 F/135 C, your turkey will take 20 to 25 minutes per pound.
How long and what temp to roast a Turkey?
Roasting a Whole Turkey
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- If stuffing the turkey, do so while the oven is preheating. ...
- Place turkey breast-up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
- Roast uncovered, or loosely covered with foil. ...
- Turkey is cooked when the meat thermometer reads 170°F (77°C) for an unstuffed turkey, or 180°F (82°C) for a stuffed turkey and the juices run clear. ...
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.
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What is the best time and temperature to cook a turkey?
10. Calculate turkey cooking time and temperature. The simplest way to figure out turkey roasting times is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (that's about 3 hours for a 12- to 14-lb. turkey), or 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
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 do I 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.
What Tenp to cook a turkey?
The USDA says to cook your turkey to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. (If you stuffed the turkey, the stuffing, not just the meat, should be 165°F). That's their recommendation for all turkey that starts out raw.
Do you cook a 10 lb turkey at 325 or 350?
For a 10-13 lb. turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 350° oven for 1 1/2-2 1/4 hr. For a 14-23 lb. turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 2-3 hr.
Should you cook a 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 10 pound turkey at 325?
Cover turkey loosely with foil. Roast in a 325°F oven for 2-1/4 hours.
How long should a 15lb turkey cook?
13 minutes of cooking time for each pound of turkey if roasting empty and 15 minutes per pound if stuffed. What temperature to cook the turkey? Preheat the oven to 450°F then drop the temperature to 350°F after putting the turkey into the oven.
How long should you cook a turkey 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.
How long does it take to cook a 16 lb turkey at 350 degrees?
We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey....How Long to Cook a Turkey.Turkey WeightServingsCooking Time15 to 18 lb10 to 123 1/4 to 4 hours18 to 20 lb12 to 144 to 4 1/4 hours20 to 22 lb14 to 164 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours23 to 24 lb16 to 205 to 5 1/4 hours2 more rows•Jul 9, 2021
How long does it take to cook a 20 pound turkey at 350?
How Long To Cook A 20 Lb Turkey At 350?WeightStuffedUnstuffed17 – 19 lbs (7.7 – 8.6 kg)5 h 40 min – 6 h 20 min4 h 15 min – 4 h 45 min20 – 22 lbs (9.1 – 10.0 kg)6 h 40 min – 7 h 20 min5 h – 5 h 30 min23 – 24 lbs (10.4 – 10.9 kg)7 h 40 min – 8 h5 h 45 min to 6 hMar 31, 2022
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
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. (If it's stuffed, check the center of the stuffing to make sure it's 165 degrees F as well.)
What temperature do you cook a turkey at 325 and 350?
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
How long does it take to cook a 14 lb turkey at 350 degrees?
We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.
Can you cook a turkey lower than 325?
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.
Do you really need to baste a turkey?
Do Not Baste. Basting the skin is not necessary to flavor the meat. You'll flavor the skin, but you'll also let heat out of the oven each time you open it to baste. "That means the bird is going to be in there for a longer time cooking, which means it's going to dry out more," Brown says.
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).
Turkey Oven Roasted at 325°F
Note: Start with turkey at refrigerator temperature. Remove the turkey from the oven when the meat thermometer reads 175°- 180°F; the temperature will continue to rise as the turkey stands.
Turkey Cooked at 350°F in an Oven Bag
Oven Bag Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350 ° F. Add 1 tablespoon flour to the oven bag and distribute evenly on the inside of the bag prior to inserting the turkey. Brush the turkey with vegetable oil or butter. Remove the turkey from the oven when the meat thermometer reaches 175°- 180 ° F.
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.
Should You Smoke Turkey?
Before jumping in the smoking times and temperatures, first let's explain why smoking a turkey is just as easy as cooking any other poultry or red meat.
How Long Does it Take to Smoke a Turkey?
We've all heard the old saying...slow and low. The rule of thumb for smoking most meats is about 1-1.5 hours per pound at a consistent temperature of 225°F. This holds true for turkey too.
Smoked Turkey Cooking Times When Using a Smoker
For smoking a full turkey, set the smoker at 240°F. It is recommended to cook it for 30-40 Minutes per pound. A 8 pound turkey will take in average 4 hours while a larger, 12 pound turkey will take about 6 hours.
Smoked Turkey Cooking Times When Using a Grill
For grilling the complete turkey, preheat the grill to medium-high heat (or about 325°F) and set up to cook with indirect heat. It is recommended to cook for about 15 minutes per pound, or 3 hours for the average turkey.
How to Speed Up the Cooking Time?
If you are in a hurry and don't have all day to dedicate to cooking the turkey, then there is one cooking method which will make it to cook faster.
How Much Smoked Turkey per Person?
As a general rule, I plan 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person. I am taking in consideration that your turkey will weight less than 15 pounds, so it will easily feed around 10-12 people.
What Equipment and Wood Type to Use?
Before determining what wood type to use when making this smoked turkey recipe, first you have to decide what type of smoker you are going to use.
Considering the Weight
When you are planning to deep fry a turkey, you should consider two main, very important factors. The first is the weight of the turkey and the second is the temperature at which you are deep-frying the bird.
The Time Chart
This section features a turkey frying time chart that will help you to quickly identify the amount of time you should take to deep fry a certain size of the turkey.
Considering the Temperature
Now, let us look at the different temperatures at which you can cook the turkey.
Safety
You need to be safe when you are cooking your turkey. That means avoiding any fire or oil spilling.
Conclusion
A turkey is a great meal to serve your family and friends regardless of the size of the group, especially during the holidays. Deep frying is a great way of making sure that the juicy flavors are maintained. If it is your first time deep-frying the turkey, ensure that you follow the recipe properly and you use adequate time.