- Prepare the bird – Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cooking the bird – For platters, estimate 12-15 minutes per pound.
- Test for doneness – Can be tested by checking temperature or by checking the color of the juices.
- Finish – Remove bird from oven.
Can I cook a turkey at 375 degrees?
Test kitchen agrees that the temperature is optimal for cooking a turkey. This is because it is not too hot, not too cold, and cooks fast enough to assure a juicy, flavorful bird that is ready for dinner.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Do you cook your turkey at 325 degrees or 350 degrees? While “low and slow” is a good rule for cooking a bird all the way through without burning it, there are no hard and fast rules. All of our temperature guides assume you are cooking at 325, but you can cook it about the same, a little warmer, or a little shorter.
What is the best temperature to cook a turkey and how long?
10. calculate the cooking time and temperature for your turkey. The easiest way to figure out roasting time for turkey is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (about 3 hours for a turkey) and 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
How long do you cook a turkey at 400 degrees?
400°F (204°C) is the optimal temperature for cooking a whole bird. It will produce a crispy skin without sacrificing tenderness. Depending on the size of the bird, it should take 2-6 hours to roast at 400°F (204°C).
How long does it take to cook a 15lb turkey?
How long does it take to cook a turkey?
| Weight of turkey | Cooking time | Air temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 lbs breast | 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes | 165°F |
| 8-12 lbs. | 2 hr 45 min to 3 hr | 170-175°F |
| 12-14 lbs. | 3 hours – 3 hours 45 min. | 170-175°F |
| 14-18 lbs. | 3 hrs. 45 min. – 4 hrs. 15 min. | 170-175°F |
At what temperature do I cook turkey?
What temperature should I cook the turkey at? Preheat oven to 450°F, place turkey in oven, then lower temperature to 350°F. What temperature should the turkey be at? The turkey is done when the thickest part of the thigh registers at least 165°.
How long should a 20lb turkey cook?
If baking at 325°F (the USDA recommended minimum temperature), a 20 lb. turkey in the oven should bake in 4¼ to 5¼ hours if not stuffed and 4½ to 5¼ hours if Stuffed.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Classic Pan Stuffing Recipe
- Choose fresh turkey instead of frozen turkey.
- Roast two small turkeys instead of one large turkey.
- Brine the turkey.
- Rub soft butter under skin.
- Truss loosely or not at all.
- Roast the turkey upside down at first.
- Do not overcook.
- Allow the turkey to rest before carving.
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?
We have found that covering the turkey with foil produces more marsh results than roasting without foil. We only prefer to cover the breast to even out the cooking time.
What is the lowest safe temperature to cook a turkey?
Be Safe – The U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) recommends a temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when cooking meat and poultry. Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?
Place in the bottom of a roasting pan. Place turkey breast side up on top of vegetables. Add about 0.5 inch of liquid (water or stock) to the roasting pan. This will keep the oven moist and the turkey juicy.
How long does it take to cook a 16 lb turkey at 350 degrees?
For a turkey without stuffing, we recommend roasting the turkey at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 13 minutes per pound. Time to cook turkey .
| Weight of turkey | Serving | Cooking time |
|---|---|---|
| 15-18 lbs. | 10 to 12 | 3 1/2 to 4 hours |
| 18 to 20 lbs. | 12 to 14 | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| 20 to 22 lbs. | 14 to 16 | 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours |
| 23 to 24 lbs. | 16 to 20 | 5 to 5 1/2 hrs. |
Should I start my turkey at a higher temperature?
Remove turkey from refrigerator 1 hour before roasting, as turkey cooks more evenly and faster when started at room temperature. If stuffing the turkey, wait until ready to put in the oven before adding stuffing to the turkey.
What temperature do I cook a 15 pound turkey at?
For a 15 lb. turkey, start cooking at 400°F for the first 20 minutes to brown. Then lower the temperature to 325°F for the next hour or two until the internal temperature of the breast reaches about 140°F to 145°F. Then reduce heat further to 225°F for 30 minutes to 1 hour more.
Should you take turkey out of fridge before cooking?
Remove the turkey from the refrigerator before cooking (1 hour for whole turkey, 30 minutes for fillets), as it needs to come to room temperature before placing in the oven. Cover and store in a cool place.
Can you cook a turkey at 350 degrees?
Roast the turkey at 325°F to 350°F. This is preferable because higher temperatures may dry out the meat, while too low a temperature may not cook the interior of the turkey to a safe temperature.
How many minutes per pound do you cook a turkey at 400 degrees?
According to the Simply Recipes website, it takes 15 minutes per pound. Begin cooking the turkey at 400 degrees for the first 30 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees for the next two hours. For the next hour and a half, lower the heat to 225.
Should you flip a turkey when cooking?
Cook the bird upside down, i.e., breast side down, and turn it over halfway through cooking based on your estimation. If you are using a kettle and have all the coals on one side of the grill, you can also rotate the turkey as you turn it over to prevent one side from burning.
What do I put in the bottom of the pan when cooking a turkey?
Place the chopped onion, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. Pick a few herbs off the stems and add them to the vegetables.
How often should I baste my turkey?
Most recipes will instruct you to roast the turkey every 30 minutes. However, our rule of thumb is actually every 40 minutes. The reasons for this are as follows. It takes longer to cook an entire bird if you don’t want to open the oven multiple times, which is very inconvenient.
How long should a turkey rest for?
Thanksgiving Helpline Remove the bird as soon as the temperature reaches 165 degrees or slightly lower. Rest time depends on the size of the bird, but should be at least 20 minutes. Larger birds can wait up to 40 minutes or more, depending on room temperature.
How do you flip a turkey in the oven?
Move a spatula or table knife between the two racks to keep the turkey from sticking to the roasting racks. Protecting your hands, grasp the neck and tail end of the turkey and quickly and carefully turn it over. Try to keep the turkey horizontal to avoid spilling any juices or ingredients in the cavity.
How do you know when turkey is done without thermometer?
To find out if your turkey is done without a thermometer, stick a fork into the mid-thigh muscle, explains Nicole Johnson, co-director of Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. When the juices turn clear and there is no longer any redness or pinkness, the turkey is done.”
How do I know when the turkey is done?
To cook a turkey at the proper temperature, you’ll need a meat thermometer. Insert it near the thigh bone, but do not touch it. If it reads 180 degrees Fahrenheit for the thigh and 170 degrees Fahrenheit for the breast, it is ready.
How do you keep a turkey warm for 4 hours?
Place a kitchen towel over the foil to keep the meat warm and moist until you are ready to carve and serve. Another option is to cover the bird with foil and return it to the 200F oven at a low temperature. Place a pan of water under the turkey to generate steam and contribute to the moisture.
What temperature do I cook a 20 pound turkey at?
You will find recipes that suggest cooking the turkey at 325°F to 375°F or higher. We have found that higher temperatures cook the bird faster, but also increase the risk of overcooking, drying, or burning the turkey. For this reason, we recommend 325°F.
How long do I cook a 22 pound Butterball turkey?
For unstuffed birds, Butterball recommends the following cooking times
- 6 to 7 pounds: 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
- 7 to 10 pounds: 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- 10-18 lbs: 3-3 1/2 hours.
- 18 to 22 lbs: 3 ½ to 4 hours.
- 22 to 24 lbs: 4 to 4 ½ hours. 24 to 30 lbs: 4 to 4 ½ hours.
- 24 to 30 lbs: 4 ½ to 5 hours.
How long do I cook a 21 pound turkey?
If turkey is not stuffed, expect 4.5 to 5 hours to cook a 21.5 lb. turkey at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Add at least 15 minutes to the total cooking time if you are filling it to your liking.
Should I put butter or oil on my turkey?
Don’t Butter the Bird Butter under the skin will not make the meat juicier, but it may help the skin brown faster. However, about 17% of the butter is moisture, which will cause the bird to speckle, says Lopez-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before roasting.
How do you keep a turkey from drying out in the oven?
When roasting a whole bird,” Tommy says, “the key is to cook the legs longer than the breast. The breast will dry out.”
Do you put an apple in a turkey?
Apples. Consider cutting an apple or two into quarters to stuff the turkey. They give the turkey a little extra moisture during cooking and give it a very subtle flavor reminiscent of fall.
Do Butterball turkeys have butter in them?
In fact, there is no actual butter in or on the butterball turkey. The fresh turkey is infused with a brine and a brine made from “common household spices,” a brand representative told me. Butterball does not share the ingredients of the secret broiling formula.
Is it better to cook a turkey covered or uncovered?
Q: When you roast a bird, do you cover it or uncover it? A: The Butterball folks recommend cooking the turkey uncovered in a roasting pan. According to Butterball, when two-thirds of the way through cooking, foil can be placed over the breast to prevent the breast from drying out.
How do you prepare a turkey the night before?
Place the turkey in a good-sized shallow dish and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1-2 days. The day before you plan to roast the turkey, remove the plastic wrap and place the turkey in the refrigerator. The skin will dry out and become slightly translucent.
Can you cook a turkey at a lower temperature for longer?
Increase the oven temperature to 50°. This will raise the heat, but roast at a lower temperature of 350° to 300°, so the turkey will be moist and juicy.
What is the danger zone for turkey?
Leaving the turkey at room temperature for more than two hours, even if the center is still frozen, makes the temperature unsafe. Bacteria can multiply rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.
Is it safe to slow cook a turkey overnight?
Slow roasting a turkey overnight results in the juiciest, most tender turkey you’ve ever had! Slow cooking a turkey at low temperatures allows the meat to cook completely without skipping any moisture.
Should I put butter under the skin of my turkey?
Adding a layer of butter under the skin before roasting adds rich flavor and moisture to your Thanksgiving turkey.
Is it OK to cook a turkey in an aluminum pan?
If you do not have a suitable roaster, you can use a disposable aluminum foil roasting pan to cook the turkey.
Does turkey need roasting rack?
You don’t need a rack specifically designed for the roasting pan, but you do need something to lift the bird off the bottom of the pan. Aluminum foil balls work perfectly. An upside-down ramekin can also be used.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 350 or 325?
Do you cook your turkey at 325 degrees or 350 degrees? While “low and slow” is a good rule for cooking a bird all the way through without burning it, there are no hard and fast rules. All of our temperature guides assume you are cooking at 325, but you can cook it about the same, a little warmer, or a little shorter.
How long do you cook an 18 pound unstuffed turkey?
Traditional Roast Turkey (No Stuffing)
| No Stuffing | |
|---|---|
| 8 to 12 lbs. | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| 12 to 14 lbs. | 3 1/2 to 4 hours |
| 14 to 18 lbs. | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| 18 to 20 lbs. | 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours |
How long do you cook a 17 lb turkey?
Time to roast turkey:.
- 4 to 8 lbs (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hrs.
- 8 to 12 lbs: 2 3/4 to 3 hrs.
- 12 to 14 lbs: 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
- 14 to 18 lbs: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hrs.
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.
- 20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
Is it better to cook a turkey on low heat or high heat?
It is best to start the turkey at a fairly high temperature (400°F) and roast it for about 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350°F for the remaining cooking time.
When should I tent my turkey?
TENTING THE TURKEY – First, place the aluminum foil tent loosely over the turkey breast for the first hour to hour and a half, then remove to brown. Alternatively, you can place the foil tent over the turkey after the turkey has reached the desired golden color.
How do you get crispy turkey skin?
Rub the skin with fat. Once the skin is carefully dried, the next step to assure perfectly crispy turkey skin is to rub it with a fat such as butter or oil. Butter contains at least 20% moisture, while oil contains no moisture, so oil will result in a crispier skin than butter.
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?
We have found that covering the turkey with foil produces more marsh results than roasting without foil. We only prefer to cover the breast to even out the cooking time.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Classic Pan Stuffing Recipe
- Choose fresh turkey instead of frozen turkey.
- Roast two small turkeys instead of one large turkey.
- Brine the turkey.
- Rub soft butter under skin.
- Truss loosely or not at all.
- Roast the turkey upside down at first.
- Do not overcook.
- Allow the turkey to rest before carving.
How long does it take to cook a 14 lb turkey at 350 degrees?
10. calculate the cooking time and temperature for your turkey. The easiest way to figure out roasting time for turkey is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (about 3 hours for a turkey) and 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
What if I left my turkey out overnight to thaw?
Thawing raw meat at room temperature for more than two hours will allow bacteria to multiply rapidly. Is it a good idea to thaw turkey at room temperature? No. If you make it through it and get through it, it is a good idea. If you make it through it and get past it, you are lucky.
Should you put water in turkey roasting pan?
Add about 0.5 inch of liquid (water or stock) to the roasting pan. This will keep the oven moist and the turkey juicy.
How long should turkey rest before carving?
Let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before you cut things. That way, its juices are not on the cutting board.
How long does it take to cook a 16 lb turkey at 350 degrees?
For a turkey without stuffing, we recommend roasting the turkey at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 13 minutes per pound. Time to cook turkey .
| Weight of turkey | Serving | Cooking time |
|---|---|---|
| 15-18 lbs. | 10 to 12 | 3 1/2 to 4 hours |
| 18 to 20 lbs. | 12 to 14 | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| 20 to 22 lbs. | 14 to 16 | 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours |
| 23 to 24 lbs. | 16 to 20 | 5 to 5 1/2 hrs. |
What is the lowest safe temperature to cook a turkey?
Be Safe – The U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) recommends a temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when cooking meat and poultry. Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long do you cook a turkey for at 350?
Cook time of 13 minutes per pound of turkey when empty, 15 minutes per pound of stuffing. What temperature should I cook my turkey at? Preheat oven to 450°F, place turkey in oven, then lower temperature to 350°F.
Is 375 a good temperature to cook a turkey?
Test kitchen agrees that the temperature is optimal for cooking a turkey. This is because it is not too hot, not too cold, and cooks fast enough to assure a juicy, flavorful bird that is ready for dinner.
What happens if you cook a turkey at 400 degrees?
400°F (204°C) is the optimal temperature for cooking a whole bird. It will produce a crispy skin without sacrificing tenderness. Depending on the size of the bird, it should take 2-6 hours to roast at 400°F (204°C).
Which Way Should turkey face in oven?
Turn the turkey upside down to take away from the presentation. We have found that if the turkey is cooked upside down, the roasting rack can leave unsightly marks and indentations on the turkey breast. Even worse, trying to flip it over can tear the skin. For the most beautiful birds, stick to roasting on the right side.
How long before cooking should I take turkey out of fridge?
Remove the turkey from the refrigerator before cooking (1 hour for whole turkey, 30 minutes for fillets), as it needs to come to room temperature before placing in the oven. Cover and store in a cool place.
Should you put broth in bottom of turkey pan?
I also like to add 1 cup of chicken broth/stock to the bottom of the turkey pan before starting to cook. This creates a steam room type environment in the oven and will moisten the breast but will not prevent the skin from browning.
What can you put in the cavity of a turkey for flavor?
Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with a bunch of thyme, half a lemon, a quarter onion, and garlic. Brush the butter mixture over the outside of the turkey and sprinkle with salt and pepper.