How Long To Cook A Turkey

Thanksgiving can be a multi-day cooking marathon. All the planning often revolves around the main event-that giant, glistening turkey. We’ll tell you what size turkey to buy and how long to roast it so you can plan your vacation.

How Long does it take to cook a turkey well?

Use this chart to find out how long it takes to cook a turkey depending on its size:

Turkey Weight Cooking Time  Doneness Temperature 
4-6 lb. breast1 hr 30 mins–2 hrs 15 mins165°F
6-8 lb. breast2 hrs 15 mins–3 hrs 15 mins165°F
8-12 lbs.2 hrs 45 mins–3 hrs170-175°F
12-14 lbs.3 hrs–3 hrs 45 mins170-175°F
14-18 lbs.3 hrs 45 mins–4 hrs 15 mins170-175°F
18-20 lbs.4 hrs 15 mins–4 hrs 30 mins170-175°F
20-24 lbs.4 hrs 30 mins–5 hrs170-175°F

NB: All times are accurate for a 325°f oven.

Checking the Temperature of a Turkey

To find out if your turkey is fully cooked, insert a meat thermometer into the meatiest and thickest part of the bird (usually the thighs). They Aim for between 170º and 175ºF for a whole bird and 165º for a turkey breast.

When taking a temperature reading, make sure the thermometer doesn’t touch any bone, as this can result in a falsely high reading and leave you with undercooked (read: unsafe) meat. And if the meat is not up to temperature, be sure to wash the thermometer probe in hot, soapy water before retesting the turkey.

In the market for a meat thermometer? Our test kitchen recommends the top-of-the-line Thermapen Mk4 thermometer for its accuracy and easy-to-read display. We also like the colorful ThermoPop. Whatever you do, don’t rely on your phone’s pop-up timer. Often you pop too late-if you pop at all-which results in a dry, overcooked bird.

What size turkey should you buy?

You need one pound of turkey per guest. If you can’t find the magic 12-pound turkey for 12-guests, just round up! It’s better to have too much food than to run short of Thanksgiving’s signature dish.
If you’re serving a hungry bunch or really want to eat leftover truthahn the rest of the week, you can round up to a pound and a half of turkey per person. These are our best ways to eat leftover turkey.

What Is The Right Temperature To Cook A Turkey?

Our test kitchen recommends roasting a turkey at a steady 325º for the entire cooking time. This temperature is low enough that you don’t have to worry about moisture evaporating quickly and drying out the turkey, but it’s also warm enough to cook the bird through quickly. Be sure to check that your oven is working properly before the big day.

How long does it take to cook a turkey per pound?

The General Rule is 15 to 20 minutes per pound of turkey when cooking an unpuffed turkey. Since roasting a stuffed turkey is no longer considered food safe (not to mention the turkey meat dries out), it’s best to stick to this method and bake one of these crowd-pleasing stuffing recipes in a separate dish.

Additional tips

Great-you know your roasting time. But before you nail down your Thanksgiving game plan, don’t forget to consider these other time-consuming steps.

Thawing. Thawing a turkey can take anywhere from three to five days. So if you bought a frozen turkey, make sure to put it in the refrigerator with plenty of time to thaw.
Preheat the oven. Set aside 15 to 20 minutes to allow your oven to thoroughly preheat. Since many home ovens heat unevenly, it’s a good idea to bring your oven up to temperature and then wait another 5 to 10 minutes before putting the turkey in. This will allow the heat to distribute evenly throughout the oven before you open the door. It’s also a good idea to rotate your turkey at least every hour to make sure everything cooks evenly.

Rest. Finally, let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. Resting allows the meat to cool slightly and reabsorbs juices that bubbled to the surface in the hot oven. This reabsorption gives you plump, tender meat. If you carve the turkey right away, you’ll lose all that tenderness in a puddle on your cutting board or plate!

How do I get crispy, brown skin on my turkey?

The trick to crisp, golden brown skin starts before the turkey even goes in the oven. Plus, you already have this secret ingredient in your pantry! The day before Thanksgiving, take the bird out of the package and remove the giblets. Then massage kosher salt all over the turkey. Return the bird to the refrigerator until it’s ready to roast on the big day. This technique not only seasons the meat, but also helps draw excess moisture out of the skin, which will be nice and crispy when baked.

Should I gasp my turkey?

No-and it all has to do with temperature. When baste, you need to open the oven door, which gives off heat and cools the surface of your bird. Every time you gasp, you increase the total cooking time of your turkey. And more time in the oven leads to dry, tough meat.



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