Determine how long to cook the turkey for and at what temperature. The easiest approach to determine how long to roast a turkey is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an unstuffed turkey (which is around 3 hours for a bird weighing 12 to 14 pounds), or 15 minutes per pound for a turkey that has been stuffed.
A 12-pound turkey should be cooked at 325°F or 350°F.
What temperature to cook a turkey: 325°F or 350°F?
- If your turkey weighs less than 14 pounds, bake it at 350 degrees (5.9kg)
- For larger turkeys over 14 pounds, bake at 325°F.
A 12-pound turkey should be cooked at what temperature?
How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey?
| Turkey Weight | Cooking Time | Doneness Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 4-6 lb. breast | 1 hr 30 mins–2 hrs 15 mins | 165°F |
| 6-8 lb. breast | 2 hrs 15 mins–3 hrs 15 mins | 165°F |
| 8-12 lbs. | 2 hrs 45 mins–3 hrs | 170-175°F |
| 12-14 lbs. | 3 hrs–3 hrs 45 mins | 170-175°F |
Does it take to cook a 12-pound turkey?
Cheat Sheet for Cooking Turkey Recipes
This technique works well with a bird weighing between 12 and 16 pounds. (You should buy one and a half to two pounds of turkey for each person.) How long do you recommend cooking the turkey for? If you are roasting the turkey without any stuffing, it will take 13 minutes each pound to cook, but if you are stuffing it, it will take 15 minutes per pound.
How long does it take to cook a 10 12 lb turkey?
We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.
How Long to Cook a Turkey.
| Turkey Weight | Servings | Cooking Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 12 lb | 6 to 8 | 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours |
| 12 to 14 lb | 8 to 10 | 2 3/4 to 3 hours |
| 15 to 18 lb | 10 to 12 | 3 1/4 to 4 hours |
| 18 to 20 lb | 12 to 14 | 4 to 4 1/4 hours |
Is it better to cook a turkey at 350 or 325?
Which temperature, 325 or 350 degrees, should I cook a turkey at? Although cooking a chicken “low and slow” is a good rule to follow, there is no one tried-and-true method for doing so without risking the bird’s skin being burned. You can cook it a little warmer for about the same amount of time, or just a little less time overall, but all of our temperature instructions make the assumption that you are cooking at 325.
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?
We have discovered that roasting a turkey with the breast covered in foil produces much more moist results than roasting the turkey without any foil. Because of this, we prefer to just wrap the breast in foil to ensure that the cooking time is distributed evenly.
How long do I cook a 12 lb turkey at 325 degrees?
How Long to Roast a Turkey
- 8–12 lb. turkey: 2 34–3 hours.
- 3 to 3 34 hours for a 12- to 14-pound turkey.
- 14- to 18-pound turkey: 3¾ to 4¼ hours.
- 4 14 to 4 12 hours for an 18 to 20 pound turkey.
- 40 to 60 minutes for a 20 to 24 pound turkey.
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?
Arrange in a single layer on the bottom of the roasting pan. On top of the veggies, place the turkey with the breast side facing up. The roasting pan should have about a half an inch of liquid (either water or stock) added to it. This will prevent the oven from drying out and will also ensure that the turkey stays juicy.
What is the best temperature to bake a turkey?
Our Best Turkey Tips
- If you’re feeding a large group, purchase two smaller birds (or a whole turkey and a turkey breast).
- The Test Kitchen has determined that 375°F is the ideal temperature for roasting a turkey because it is neither too hot nor too cold and cooks the bird quickly enough to ensure that it is ready for dinner.
Should you cook a turkey upside down?
There are two distinct advantages to cooking a turkey with the breast-side down: When the dark meat is placed closer to the heat source, it will cook more quickly, and the breast flesh will be extra-moist because the fluids will drip down. What a remarkable turnaround for the better!
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
Even though some recipes call for the turkey to be cooked to an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the bird can be consumed without risk once it reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. It is possible to end up with dry flesh if you cook the breasts past 165 degrees, but the dark meat may be cooked to 180 degrees.
How long should a turkey rest for?
Thanksgiving Help Line
As soon as the temperature reaches 165 degrees or even a slightly lower level, remove it from the oven. The length of time spent resting will vary according to the size of the bird, but it will be a minimum of twenty minutes. Depending on how warm the atmosphere is, a big bird could be able to hold its breath for up to forty minutes at a time.
How long do you cook a 10 pound turkey at 325?
Wrap the turkey with foil in a loose manner. Roast in an oven preheated to 325 degrees for two and a half hours.
What if my turkey isn’t fully thawed?
In the Event That There Is No Time to Thaw
If time is of the essence and you do not even have enough time for the “quick” cold-water thaw, then you should just boil the turkey without any additional preparation. It is totally okay to cook a turkey that is frozen or partially frozen; you simply need to give some additional time for the cooking process.
How long do you cook a stuffed turkey at 350?
Approximate Timetable for Roasting a Turkey at 350°F (177°C)*
| Weight | Stuffed |
|---|---|
| 11 – 13 lbs (5.0 – 5.9 kg) | 3 h 40 min – 4 h 20 min |
| 14 – 16 lbs (6.4 – 7.3 kg) | 4 h 40 min – 5 h 20 min |
| 17 – 19 lbs (7.7 – 8.6 kg) | 5 h 40 min – 6 h 20 min |
| 20 – 22 lbs (9.1 – 10.0 kg) | 6 h 40 min – 7 h 20 min |
How often do you baste a turkey while cooking?
The vast majority of turkey recipes will instruct you to baste it every thirty minutes. However, our general rule of thumb is to check in every forty minutes, and the reason for this is as follows: It is important to avoid opening the oven door too frequently since doing so may cause the entire chicken to take considerably longer to cook, which is a very inconvenient outcome.
Is it necessary to baste a turkey?
The meat may be seasoned without the need to baste the surface of the meat. You’ll add flavor to the skin, but every time you open the oven to baste the chicken, you’ll also let some of the heat escape. Brown explains that this will result in a greater degree of dryness in the chicken since it will be cooked for a longer period of time inside the oven.
How long do you cook a turkey at 325 degrees?
Assuming that you will be roasting your turkey in an oven preheated to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, you should count on 15 to 17 minutes of cooking time for each pound of an unstuffed turkey. When cooking a stuffed turkey, plan on spending 20 to 22 minutes per pound of bird. 8-12 lb.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Here is a useful piece of advice: to prevent the turkey breast from drying up and to ensure that it remains juicy: Make a triangle out of a huge square sheet of foil by folding it. After you have rubbed olive oil on one side of the triangle and formed the foil (with the oiled side facing down) over the turkey breast, you can then remove the foil; this will protect your turkey breast and prevent it from becoming dry.
How do you make turkey skin crispy?
The fat should be rubbed into the skin.
The next step you can do to assure that the skin of your turkey will turn out wonderfully crispy is to massage it with a fat, such as butter or oil, after you have properly dried off the surface. Because oil does not include any water, it will produce a skin that is more crisp than butter, which has at least 20 percent water by weight.
How long should a turkey rest before you carve it?
Allow the turkey to rest for at least half an hour before you begin slicing it to prevent the fluids from the bird from dripping onto the cutting board.
What is the lowest safe temperature to cook a turkey?
Ensure food safety by following the guidelines provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which states that the minimum temperature for cooking meat and poultry should not go below 325 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure that the turkey is well cooked, it should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
What temperature should an unstuffed turkey be?
When using a food thermometer, ensure that the interior temperature of the turkey is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consuming the whole bird or any of its portions. Check the temperature of the deepest region of the thigh and wing, as well as the thickest section of the breast, to get an accurate reading of the internal temperature.
Should you wash turkey?
You should wash your hands, but you shouldn’t touch the turkey! There is a widespread misconception among customers that washing their turkey would eliminate pathogens and render it safer. However, it is quite difficult to remove germs from the bird by washing. Instead, fluids that splash about during cleaning can spread bacteria not just onto the surfaces of your kitchen but also onto other meals and utensils.
Do you cook turkey breast side up or down?
Cooking a whole turkey with the breast side up for the duration of the cooking period is recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture. It can be risky to turn over a large bird while it is still hot, and it is quite simple to break the skin in the process, which will make the completed product less appealing.
What do you put in a turkey cavity?
The interior of the turkey should be heavily seasoned with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with a sprig of thyme, a lemon cut in half, an onion cut into quarters, and the garlic. The butter mixture should be painted onto the outside of the turkey, and then the turkey should be seasoned with salt and pepper.
Can you prep a turkey the night before?
The Test Kitchen uses this technique when they want the most taste, meat that is more juicy, and skin that is the crispiest possible. The following is the procedure: After covering the turkey with herbs and 2 tablespoons of salt, place it in a plastic bag and place it in the refrigerator. You may season your turkey as early as two days in advance or as early as the night before.
What do you baste turkey with?
You can baste the turkey with melted butter, another type of fat, stock, or the drippings that have collected in the roasting pan.
Do you cook a turkey on its back or stomach?
Put the turkey in the roasting pan with the breast side facing down.
You should pour water into the pan around the chicken but not over it since you don’t want to lose the butter or the seasonings. Turkey should be cooked at 500 degrees for thirty minutes.
How do you tell if a turkey is done without a thermometer?
In the absence of a thermometer, you may determine whether or not your turkey is cooked by inserting a fork into the muscle located in the middle of the thigh, as recommended by Nicole Johnson, co-director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. When the fluids flow clear and no longer have a rosy or crimson tint to them, this is a good indicator that the turkey is ready to be served.
Where do you stick thermometer in turkey?
Here are few tips to keep in mind:
- Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing when cooking a whole turkey.
- Be sure the thermometer doesn’t come in contact with any bone, gristle, or pan.
How do you rest a turkey after cooking?
After it has finished cooking, the turkey should be removed from the tray and placed on a board to rest. While you are cooking the roast potatoes, cover the chicken with aluminum foil in a loose manner for at least an hour.
Should you let a turkey come to room temperature before cooking?
The turkey should be brought to room temperature before being placed in the oven; thus, remove it from the refrigerator at least an hour (for a whole turkey) or thirty minutes (for a cut) before cooking it. Keep it covered and put it somewhere cold.
When should I take turkey out of fridge?
First, Acclimate Your Bird to Normal Room Temperature.
Remove the turkey from the refrigerator an hour before you want to start roasting it so that it may come to room temperature. This will allow the bird to cook more evenly and more quickly. If you intend to stuff your turkey, you should hold off on placing the stuffing into the turkey until you are ready to place the turkey in the oven.
How do I keep my turkey warm while resting?
If it is finished around one hour early, let it rest uncovered for approximately twenty to thirty minutes before serving. Then, in order to maintain its temperature, cover your turkey with aluminum foil and a heavy cloth or blanket. The initial heat is released if you initially let it rest for some time. In this manner, once it is covered, it will not overcook.
How long does it take to thaw out a 13 pound turkey?
If the turkey weighs between 4 and 12 pounds, you should count on letting it thaw in the refrigerator for between one and three days. If it weighs between 12 and 16 pounds, put it in the refrigerator at least three to four days before the holiday is scheduled to begin.
Can I thaw turkey in water and put back in fridge?
Turkey that has been thawed in cold water and then placed back in the refrigerator can be cooked without any concerns.
Can you leave a turkey out to thaw overnight?
Turkey, which, if left out, will not be entirely defrosted for several hours. Raw meat that is allowed to thaw at room temperature for more than two hours is at risk of being contaminated by rapidly growing germs. Is it a good idea to defrost a turkey at room temperature before cooking it? Nope.
How many days before Thanksgiving should I take turkey out of freezer?
According to the guidelines provided by the USDA, the following is a good rule of thumb to follow when deciding whether to transfer your turkey from the freezer to the refrigerator: 1–3 days to lose between 4 and 12 pounds. 12-to-16-pound weight loss in three to four days. 16 to 20 pounds in around 4 to 5 days.
What temperature should stuffing packed into the cavity of a bird reach?
Put a food thermometer into the filling by poking it through the aluminum foil. A minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit must be reached in the middle of the stuffing.
How long do you cook a Butterball turkey?
Roast in the middle of the oven. Give the bag enough area that it may expand without coming into contact with the oven racks or walls. The roasting process should take around three to four and a half hours. The roasting time will differ depending on the oven.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 350 or 325?
Which temperature, 325 or 350 degrees, should I cook a turkey at? Although cooking a chicken “low and slow” is a good rule to follow, there is no one tried-and-true method for doing so without risking the bird’s skin being burned. You can cook it a little warmer for about the same amount of time, or just a little less time overall, but all of our temperature instructions make the assumption that you are cooking at 325.
Should I rub butter on my turkey?
Don’t butter your bird
Although inserting butter beneath the skin may hasten the process of the skin browning, it will not make the meat any more juicy. However, butter contains around 17 percent water, and according to López-Alt, this will cause your bird to have a blotchy appearance. Instead, apply some vegetable oil all over the surface of the meat before roasting it.
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?
We have discovered that roasting a turkey with the breast covered in foil produces much more moist results than roasting the turkey without any foil. Because of this, we prefer to just wrap the breast in foil to ensure that the cooking time is distributed evenly.
Do you put water in the bottom of the pan when cooking a turkey?
Arrange in a single layer on the bottom of the roasting pan. On top of the veggies, place the turkey with the breast side facing up. The roasting pan should have about a half an inch of liquid (either water or stock) added to it. This will prevent the oven from drying out and will also ensure that the turkey stays juicy.
What do you put in the bottom of a turkey pan?
Onions, celery, and carrots should be diced and placed in the bottom of the roasting pan. Remove a few leaves of the herbs from their stems and mix them in with the veggies.
Do you add broth when roasting a turkey?
If you roast a turkey without adding any water, the turkey will develop its own tasty juices during the roasting process. After the cooking process is complete, you may enhance the flavor of the gravy by thinning the fluids left over from the turkey with some broth or wine.
How long does it take to cook a 12 lb turkey at 325?
Roast your turkey at these temperatures if it weighs between 12 and 14 pounds:
325 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 3 14 hours.
What is the best temperature to cook turkey?
After you have roasted the turkey at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 to 45 minutes, reduce the temperature of the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for the remainder of the cooking time. It is recommended, similar to the other approach, to baste the turkey with butter or olive oil every 15 to 20 minutes while it is cooking in order to assist the surface brown and to keep the flesh moist.
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
Even though some recipes call for the turkey to be cooked to an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the bird can be consumed without risk once it reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. It is possible to end up with dry flesh if you cook the breasts past 165 degrees, but the dark meat may be cooked to 180 degrees.
Do you put an apple in a turkey?
Apples. When stuffing your turkey, you might want to consider cutting an apple or two into quarters. During the cooking process, they will impart a very mild taste that will bring to mind the season of autumn and provide the turkey with a little bit of additional moisture.
What size turkey is the most tender?
Birds that are less than four months old and weigh less than eight pounds are considered fryer/roaster turkeys. The meat on these turkeys is said to be the most delicate of any turkeys available.
How do you not dry out a turkey?
When it comes to roasting an entire turkey, Tommy advises that the legs should be cooked for a longer period of time than the breast. “When the breast is done, take the bird out of the oven, remove the legs, and then put them back in,” the recipe instructs. ” This prevents the breasts from becoming dry.
How do I get my turkey to brown?
Simply massage the skin of the turkey dry before placing it in the oven, which should be quite hot. The hotter the oven, the quicker the skin will dry out completely and the browning process can begin. After you’ve gotten the browning process started, you may reduce the temperature of the oven for the remaining portion of the cooking time.
How do you make turkey skin crispy?
The fat should be rubbed into the skin.
The next step you can do to assure that the skin of your turkey will turn out wonderfully crispy is to massage it with a fat, such as butter or oil, after you have properly dried off the surface. Because oil does not include any water, it will produce a skin that is more crisp than butter, which has at least 20 percent water by weight.
Should I tent my turkey?
After the turkey has been cooking for approximately two thirds of the total length of time required (the exact amount of time may vary depending on the size of the bird), Butterball recommends covering the breasts with a tiny tent made of aluminum foil. The turkey breasts’ cooking time will be lengthened as a result of this change.