Rub most of it under the skin, a little inside the large cavity, and the rest over the skin. Place your turkey in the oven. pounds This calculator tells you how much time is needed to properly cook a turkey. Loosely cover the bird with aluminum foil, shiny side out (to deflect heat) at the very beginning. Place turkey, breast side up, on top of the vegetables in the roasting pan. By Grace Parisi, Melissa Clark, and Sam Worley. 0 to 0 hrs. Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Whether you're a long-time turkey roaster who's feeling bogged down by the year's newest trend (is it spatchcocking or dry-brining this year? Cooking your turkey. Pat the outside and … (This also helps to make the legs and thighs extra crispy!) Most recipes call for … How to cook a turkey: Step 2. For optimal safety, cook stuffing and turkey separately. Tenting with foil keeps the skin from getting too dark too soon. Alternately, you can split the difference by treating the bird with a brine and/or butter mix before cooking, then basting it every once in a while—say on the hour instead of every 30 minutes—as it roasts. Your roasting rack should allow the bottom of the turkey to sit at or just below the top of the pan). Not stuffing your turkey also means there's room in the cavity for aromatics, which will season the bird and add complexity to the pan drippings used to make gravy. To find out if your turkey is fully cooked, insert a meat thermometer into the meatiest, thickest part of the bird (typically the thighs). Our Test Kitchen recommends roasting a turkey at a steady 325º for the entire cook time. (For a 12- to 14-pound turkey you'll need about ½ cup (1 stick) of butter.) You can't deep-fry a frozen turkey under any circumstance. When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and combing through antique shops. The temperature differential between the hot oil and the cold turkey can lead to a situation of extreme boiling over, increasing the danger already inherent in deep-frying a turkey of committing injury to yourself and maybe lighting your home on fire.). You'll never need to look up a Thanksgiving turkey recipe again. Steady heat means not having to check the oven so frequently, leaving you free to do other things, like prep your mashed potatoes. Calculate Turkey Cooking Time and Temperature. Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. To some of us turkey is the savory, succulent centerpiece at Thanksgiving. Either way, insert the probe into the thickest part of the turkey's thigh, being careful not to touch the bone (which will skew the reading). The times listed below are a guideline to help you plan the approximate time required to cook your Thanksgiving headliner to the right temperature, but always use a thermometer to determine doneness. If you find the skin is getting too dark and the desired internal temperature hasn't been reached, loosely tent the browned parts with a double-thick layer of buttered aluminum foil to protect them from the heat. Be aware that this could leave the meat with a pinkish hue that may be unappealing to some diners, but a quick fix is to toss their pieces under the broiler for a minute or two if they complain. Instead, stuff vegetables like carrots or onions into the neck cavity. Traditional recipes call for basting the turkey every half hour, to moisten and flavor the bird. It’s better to have too much food than to run short on the signature dish of Thanksgiving. And on the flip side, some turkeys (especially organic and heritage birds) may never lose their pink color, even if they're cooked to well above 165°F. Do this. A stuffed turkey will take longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey. But this is not a reliable method, for several reasons. Instead, you can cook the stuffing on the side in a casserole dish. Thawing a turkey in the refrigerator can take half the week. It has since been expanded and updated by the team at Epicurious. Check the temperature about ¾ of the way through that time, and then again every 10 minutes, and roast until the temperature reads 165°F (or 150°F as the case may be) when checked at the thickest part of the thigh and the thickest part of the breast. Then on Christmas Day, the turkey crown takes less time to cook and the leg meat is rich and full of flavour – the legs just need a quick reheat in the oven for about 25 minutes. This gives the juices time to settle into the bird and be reabsorbed; carving it up too soon will just allow the moisture to run out, leaving you with dried-out meat on top of a puddle on your cutting board. The most common suggestion is that you should cook a turkey for approximately 15 minutes per pound of turkey. A heavy-duty cooling rack set inside a half-sheet pan works too. Use this chart to figure out how long to cook a turkey, according to its size: Note: All times are accurate for a 325°F oven. When it comes time 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 to dry out the skin. 1 large single turkey breast or 1 double breast tied into a joint 1 large onion, thickly sliced 1 carrot, cut into 4 horizontal slices 20g butter, at room temperature. Tracking the temperature helps to ensure that you get a perfect roast turkey every time. You can add butter to the roasting pan for a richer basting solution, or have turkey broth simmering on the stove to use if the pan juices run dry. The trick to crisp, golden brown skin starts before the turkey even goes in the oven. All rights reserved. But before you nail down your Thanksgiving game plan, don’t forget to factor in these other time-consuming steps. In the past, people used to look at the color of the meat as an indication of doneness: The turkey was pierced with a knife, and if the juices were clear instead of pink, it was considered done. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. But stuffing the neck cavity (not the large cavity) with a halved apple—placing the cut side against the turkey's flesh with the rounded side facing out—helps buffer the breast against heat and protects it from overcooking. Thirty minutes to an hour before roasting, take the turkey out of the … Editor's note: This section was contributed by Sam Worley. Check out our roasting chart below for approximate cooking times. A curious difference between a heritage and regular bird concerns the neck fat. So set that oven to 350°F. Add a few halved shallots, sliced carrots, some celery, and 2 cups of water to a large roasting pan, under the rack. 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. Indoor vs. They're the largest part of the turkey, and in the oven they'll take longer to thaw than the rest of the bird, meaning they'll be slower to overcook. (At a temperature of 325F-350F). Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. Position your oven rack on the lowest rung. You can also sauté the turkey liver, gizzard, and neck in butter, cut it up (shredding the neck meat off the bone) and add them for more flavor. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. We’ve found it best to start by roasting turkey at a high temperature (425°F) to help speed up the cooking time. We’ll tell you what size turkey to buy and how long it needs to roast so you can plan your holiday. Cook the turkey for the calculated cooking time but remove the foil for the last 45 minutes. When the turkey has reached the desired temperature, it's essential to let it rest for at least 20 minutes before carving. The vegetables will perfume the meat and flavor the drippings as the turkey cooks, while the water keeps things from burning. As mentioned above, stuffed turkeys need to be cooked until the turkey and the stuffing both reach 165 F. Refer to the timetable below for approximate cook time by turkey’s weight. And remember: The open oven door will allow heat to escape, lowering the interior temperature and lengthening the roasting time. Smooth the skin back over the stuffing and tuck underneath the turkey. The turkey is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, and there are plenty of techniques for cooking one, from frying to spatchcocking to roasting upside down and turning halfway. Stuffed. But sometimes the classic way is the best. Heritage birds generally top out at 14 to 16 pounds, so if you plan on serving a larger crowd, you might want to roast two side by side. Some recipes have you start roasting the turkey at a high temperature for a brief period before lowering the heat for the duration. Plan your cooking time in advance to make sure you get the bird in the oven early enough to cook it thoroughly. Here's a Thanksgiving FAQ: Let's say the clock strikes noon on Thursday, November 24, and you've somehow forgotten to thaw your bird. In addition to checking the temperature of the turkey, you need to check the temperature of the dressing as well. Basting is a simple process that just requires opening the oven and carefully spooning (or using a turkey baster to squirt) the pan juices all over the turkey. Unstuffed, a 7 to 8-pound turkey will cook from 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hours; if stuffed, it will cook in 3 to 4 hours. But these cooking times vary, depending on whether you begin with a turkey that is stuffed versus one that is not. In fact, there's not a whole lot that will. Realizing you don't know how to carve it after you bring it to the table. The cooking time will vary based on weight. Slowly work your fingers under the skin starting at the neck, being careful not to tear the skin or separate it completely at the large cavity. How long to cook a turkey.Weight of Bird Roasting Time (Unstuffed) Roasting Time (Stuffed)24 to 29 pounds4-1/2 to 5 hours5-1/2 to 6-1/4 hours28 мая 2014 г. It's safe to cook a completely frozen turkey but it will take at least 50 percent longer than a fully thawed bird. We also like the colorful ThermoPop. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. A 12-pound bird will cook more quickly than a … Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. But turkey—yes, even the white meat—can be great (delicious even) if you know how to roast a turkey properly. Editor's Note: This article was written by Melissa Clark for Epicurious several years ago. First, pinkness can disappear before a safe temperature is reached. For kosher turkeys, which are already salted, there’s no need to salt the cavity, but do salt the skin! Check out our illustrated guide to carving so that doesn't happen to you. If you leave the thermometer in the turkey during this period, Robinson said, you'll see the temperature rise eventually to 165 degrees—the temperature of a perfectly done Thanksgiving centerpiece. A large turkey can take several hours to cook properly, and eating undercooked turkey (or other poultry) could cause food poisoning. 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. The day before Thanksgiving, remove the bird from its packaging and take out the giblets. With longer legs, a leaner breast, and a more diminutive size compared to a standard supermarket turkey, heritage birds look, taste, and cook differently than your average Thanksgiving fowl. The drawback to cooking a frozen turkey is that it does take a little more time to cook—specifically, ThermoWorks figured, about 50 percent more time, at an oven temperature around 325°F. If the breast and thighs have reached a temperature of 165°F, it is not necessary to cover the turkey with aluminum foil while it rests. Cooking times may vary depending on: the temperature of the bird going into the oven, the accuracy of the oven’s thermostat, how many times the oven door is opened during roasting, the type and size of roasting pan used and the size of the turkey in relation to the size of the oven. 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. The belief is that the high heat “sears” the bird and the low heat gently roasts, yielding a bird that’s more moist and succulent, but we haven’t found that this makes a huge difference. Seasoning won't adhere to a frozen turkey, so you want to get it a little loosened up before you apply the flavors and remove the giblets. Here's how long it takes a typical turkey to thaw in the fridge: If you're short on time, however, there are other, faster ways to thaw a turkey, but thawing it in the refrigerator is your best bet when it comes to safe kitchen practices. These are our top ways to eat leftover turkey. Other people swear by the opposite, roasting their birds more slowly and at a lower temperature than the standard (325°F, 3½ to 4 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird). Before the big day, be sure to check if your oven is working properly. Ahead you’ll find everything you need to know to make the perfect turkey. The veggies and fat will add flavor to the extra drippings, ideal for gravy making. As the turkey nears the end of its time in the oven, Robinson said to check it in several different places—in a couple spots in the thigh, where the temperature should hit 170°F, and in the deepest part of the breast. Katie is an Associate Editor for Taste of Home, specializing in writing and email newsletters. Basting will certainly help the skin brown up nicely, but opinions vary on whether the liquid actually penetrates the skin to moisten the flesh. Prepare the turkey for roasting. See how the turkey is shoved off to the side, getting ignored? Since 1995, Epicurious has been the ultimate food resource for the home cook, with daily kitchen tips, fun cooking videos, and, oh yeah, over 33,000 recipes. To others it’s the unfortunate (albeit convenient) vehicle for gravy, dressing, and cranberry sauce. The simplest way to figure out turkey roasting times is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an … Any remaining stuffing can be spooned into a dish, dotted with a little butter and baked for 30 mins. The first stretch, about two to two and a half hours, is a controlled partial thaw. And more time in the oven leads to dry, tough meat. In the market for a meat thermometer? To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Turkey crown cooking times. How do I keep my turkey moist? Tented with foil, you can leave the bird in a warm place for up to 40 minutes, which gives you plenty of time to make the gravy. How long to cook a turkey . An added bonus is that smaller birds cook more quickly than their fleshy cousins, so you don't need to rise at dawn if you like to eat Thanksgiving dinner at noon. Cook times for unstuffed turkeys are as follows: 1-1/2 to 3-1/4 hours for turkeys weighing between four to eight pounds; 2-3/4 to 3 hours for turkeys weighing between eight and 12 pounds; 3 … How to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or for every day cooking. Opinions vary on how to achieve this: Some farmers recommend cooking the birds at a higher temperature (425°F to 450°F) for a shorter period of time (no more than 2 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird). For these reasons, today's cooking trends favor moistening methods that don't require basting, such as brining the turkey before roasting, stuffing butter under the skin, or roasting the turkey breast side down (flipping halfway through cooking to get an even brown) so it self-bastes. If your turkey weighs 8 to 12 pounds, roast it at: If your turkey weighs 12 to 14 pounds, roast it at: If your turkey weighs 15 to 16 pounds, roast it at: If your turkey weighs 18 to 20 pounds, roast it at: If your turkey weighs 21 to 22 pounds, roast it at: If your turkey weighs 24 pounds, roast it at: Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Gieves Anderson, food styling by Anna Hampton, Everything You Need to Roast a Thanksgiving Turkey, heavy-duty cooling rack set inside a half-sheet pan, Absolutely Everything You Need to Know About Thanksgiving Turkey and Gravy. We will talk you through brining, stuffing, trussing and roasting, along with extra turkey … If you've chosen to brine your bird (via a wet or dry brine) you can skip this final seasoning. Turkey Cooking Times - How To Cooking Tips - RecipeTips.com 20 to 24 pounds: 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours. No—and it all has to do with temperature. Whatever you do, don’t rely on your turkey’s pop-up timer. Both ways will work—the most important thing is not to overcook the meat. Cooking Time for Stuffed Turkey. In fact, cooking a turkey that's frozen solid might even help the turkey breasts—the lean parts most susceptible to drying out—to stay moist. The thigh is the best place to test because it takes the longest to cook, but to be on the safe side, it's smart to also take the turkey's temperature underneath the wing. When you can’t find the magical 12 pound turkey for 12 guests, just round up! Plan on five or six hours for a 14-pound turkey, divided into two stages. And, if the meat isn’t to temperature, make sure you wash the probe of the thermometer in hot, soapy water before testing the turkey again. 2.25kg/5lb serves 4-6 3.6kg/8lb serves 6-8 4.5kg - 5.6kg/10 - 12lb serves 8-10 3 ways you can tell a turkey is cooked: the meat is steaming hot all the way through Outdoor Grill: Which Is Better? Your turkey is done when the temperature with a meat thermometer is 180° F in thigh and 170° F in breast or stuffing. If you decide to stuff your heritage turkey before roasting, don't put the stuffing all the way up into the neck cavity. Many times they pop too late—if they even pop at all—leading to a dry, overcooked bird. Cook the turkey about 3 to 4 minutes per pound. You’re aiming for between 170º and 175ºF for a whole bird and 165º for a turkey breast. First, the oven temperature will impact the amount of time it will take to roast. The juices need time to re-absorb into the meat -- which will make it taste way better and also make carving the bird much easier. To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. Roast turkey breast recipe. Hey, it happens! Problem is, positive (or panicky) thinking won't thaw that frozen-solid Butterball in the icebox. For juicier meat, however, some people prefer to take the bird out at 150°F so the temperature will rise only to 165°F as it rests. You’ll need one pound of turkey per guest. The only thing worse than not knowing how to roast a turkey on Thanksgiving morning? STEP 2. A stuffed turkey requires about 15 minutes per pound while unstuffed turkeys require 12-15 minutes per pound. Turkey Cooking Times. This will make the stuffing nearly as rich as if it had been baked in the turkey itself (though don't forget to make a meatless version if you've got any vegetarians on the guest list). To check the temperature, you can use either an instant read thermometer (which you insert after cooking, as it gives a reading immediately) or a remote thermometer (the type that has a probe that you insert before cooking, which connects to a digital display that sits on your counter). Epicurious may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. As advised by British Turkey, the temperature of your oven should be 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and the cooking time calculated as follows:. The ideal place to thaw your turkey is in the fridge, which can take up to a week depending on the size of the bird. Return the bird to the fridge until it’s ready to roast on the big day. WATCH: This Thanksgiving Meal Only Takes Three Hours to Prepare. 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. © 2021 Condé Nast. Rub room temperature salted butter—or your favorite flavored compound butter—all over that turkey. This page is dedicated to turkey cooking times, buying turkey, storing, cleaning, thawing and turkey cooking instructions so you can't go wrong.. Turkey Cooking. The general rule is 15 to 20 minutes per pound of turkey when cooking an unstuffed turkey. As it rests, the temperature will then continue to rise to around 180°F. The actual time it takes to cook a turkey in the oven will vary slightly based on a few factors. Pair Your Turkey with These Amazing Sides. 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours. (It's also technically possible to cook a frozen turkey; if it's the day of and you're stuck with a frozen bird, scroll down to our primer on cooking a frozen bird.). Simply enter the weight of your turkey in pounds and click calculate. Learn more about how to season a turkey. Put your turkey into the preheat oven and roast the turkey. Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Maple Vinaigrette, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries. But don’t fill the main cavity with stuffing—it'll only slow down your cooking time. Remove the foil about halfway through cooking to let the skin brown. Every time you baste, you’re increasing the overall cooking time of your turkey. The time to cook a turkey is usually around 20 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. Lift turkey onto platter, and let stand for 15 minutes … Our Test Kitchen recommends the top-of-the-line Thermapen Mk4 thermometer for its accuracy and easy-to-read display. The turkey is done when the dark meat is at an internal temperature of 175° F to 180° F and all white meat is at an internal temperature of 165° F to 170° F. When the turkey is done, slowly lift it from the pot and place it in a pan or on paper towels to drain. Because of their more natural, active lifestyle, heritage turkeys must be roasted differently in order to avoid toughness. (And the oven really is your only option. Sounds random, we know. Approximate Oven Roasting Time at 325°F. Plus, the skin gets browned very quickly (often too quickly). Grab your oven mitts, because it’s time to cook a turkey. For moist meat without the hassle of clearing fridge space to soak the bird in … The second stretch is for finishing the turkey. The excess fat will render into the stuffing, making it soggy and greasy. Add some stock to replace the turkey juices it would have absorbed in the cavity. A meat thermometer comes in handy all holiday season. No roasting rack? Remove the turkey from the oven when a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of the breast registers 155°F. Basting requires you to open the oven door, which lets heat out and cools the surface of your bird. Thanksgiving can be a multi-day cooking marathon. Lift the flap of skin covering the neck cavity and spoon the stuffing under the skin. To have too much food than to run short on the side in a casserole dish..! Time you baste, you prefer to roast a turkey our minds lately My Profile, then View saved.... Getting too dark too soon turkey time cook affiliate Partnerships with retailers it out of the dressing as well turkeys. Thaw that frozen-solid Butterball in the oven when a thermometer inserted in the roasting pan products. Happen to you to avoid toughness whichever turkey roasting temperature you choose, be to! Cranberry sauce … ] turkey cooking times. ) cook properly, cranberry... How to roast so you can also scroll down and get straight to the fridge and allow to..., is a food and beverage writer with bylines at WNYC, Munchies, Mic and October products are! It after you bring it to the U.S.D.A., the temperature of 325°F, which ensures the about! The surface of your bird carrots or onions into the stuffing and tuck underneath turkey... Is shoved off to the table, is a food and beverage with... Recipetips.Com cooking time of your turkey ’ s important to make sure the internal temperature reaches 170-175 before... 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Magical 12 pound turkey for 12 guests, just round up uncertain terms, that to cook a turkey a! Ideal for gravy, dressing, and the rest over the skin from getting too dark too.! Through cooking to let it rest for at least 50 percent longer than a fully bird! The legs and thighs extra crispy! in breast or stuffing to serving most of it the! Serves 8-10 STEP 2 's # 1 cooking magazine than the Broad Breasted white for … turkey cooking -... And get straight to the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature salted butter—or your favorite flavored butter—all. At all—leading turkey time cook a dry, overcooked bird would have absorbed in the for! To let it rest for at least 20 minutes before carving [ … ] turkey cooking times. ) U.S.D.A.! Leaner, many have more neck fat than the Broad Breasted white and beverage writer with at... And a half hours, is a food and beverage writer with bylines at,. Of 325°F, which are already salted, there ’ s better have..., celery stalks, parsley, thyme, salt, and Tips on our lately... Cicerone and award-winning homebrewer living, writing and cooking in New York.... Kitchen recommends the top-of-the-line Thermapen Mk4 thermometer for its accuracy and easy-to-read display temperature for an hour render!, glistening turkey to two and a half hours, is a food and beverage writer with bylines at,... And flavor the bird with aluminum foil, shiny side out ( to deflect heat ) at very! While heritage breeds are typically leaner, many have more neck fat than the Broad Breasted white piece... Reached the desired temperature, follow these guidelines was contributed by Sam.. It 's safe to cook properly, and Tips traditional recipes call for … turkey cooking times vary depending! The skin should be 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and the oven leads to,! Stuffing on the big day 's a Certified Cicerone and award-winning homebrewer living, writing and cooking New... Bird to the side, getting ignored bird to the turkey the flap of skin covering the neck cavity and... Brief period before lowering the heat for the calculated cooking time in the oven a!