How Long to Roast a Turkey:
- 4 to 8 pounds (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours.
- 8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
- 12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
- 14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours.
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours.
- 20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
7.09.2021
How long will an 8 pound turkey take to cook?
Roast in a 325°F oven for 2-1/4 hours. Remove foil; cut band of skin or string between drumsticks so thighs cook evenly. Continue roasting for 30 to 45 minutes more (1 to 1-1/4 hours if stuffed), or until the thermometer registers 180°F; and the center of the stuffing (if using) is 165°F.
How long do you cook an 8 pound turkey at 350 degrees?
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.
How long do you cook an 8 pound unstuffed turkey?
Traditional Roast Turkey (unstuffed)
| Unstuffed | |
|---|---|
| 8 to 12 pounds | 2 3/4 to 3 hours |
| 8 to 12 pounds | 3 to 3 1/2 hours |
| 12 to 14 pounds | 3 1/2 to 4 hours |
| 14 to 18 pounds | 4 to 4 1/4 hours |
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.
Should I cover my turkey with foil?
We’ve found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out cooking time.
How long do you cook a 9 lb turkey?
Unstuffed
- 4 to 8 pounds (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours.
- 8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
- 12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
- 14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours.
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours.
- 20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
Should a turkey be rinsed before cooking?
Should You Rinse a Turkey? In short, no. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), rinsing a raw turkey in the kitchen sink can lead to the spread of bacteria on countertops, nearby food, and other surfaces, which can cause cross-contamination.
What temperature should the oven be to cook a turkey?
Roast in a 325° or 350° (depending on size of bird; see below) oven until thermometer registers 160°. If turkey is unstuffed, tip slightly to drain juices from body cavity into pan. Transfer turkey to a platter. Let stand in a warm place, uncovered, for 15 to 30 minutes, then carve.
Should you take turkey out of fridge before cooking?
Before it goes in the oven, the turkey should be at room temperature, so take it out of the fridge (1 hr for a whole turkey, or 30 mins for a cut) before cooking. Keep it covered in a cool place.
How many minutes per pound do you cook turkey?
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.
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
While some recipes state that turkey should be cooked to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the meat is safe to consume once it reaches the 165-degree mark. Cooking the breasts past 165 can result in dry meat, but the dark meat can be cooked to 180.
How long should a turkey rest for?
Thanksgiving Help Line
Pull it out as soon as the temperature hits 165, or even a little lower. The amount of resting time depends on the size of the bird, but at least 20 minutes is needed. A large bird can wait up to 40 minutes or longer, depending on the temperature of the room.
How long do you cook a turkey at 325 degrees?
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.
Is it necessary to baste a turkey?
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 often do you baste a turkey while cooking?
Most recipes will tell you to baste your turkey every thirty minutes. But our rule of thumb is actually every forty minutes, and here’s why. You don’t want to open the oven too many times, or else the whole bird will take much long to cook, and that’s a huge inconvenience.
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?
Place on the bottom of your roasting pan. Place the turkey, breast-side up on top of the vegetables. Add about a half-inch of liquid (water or stock) to the roasting pan. This will keep the oven moist, and the turkey juicy.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Here is a fantastic tip: to protect the turkey breast and keep it juicy: Fold a large square sheet of foil into a triangle. Rub one side of your triangle with olive oil and shape the foil (oil-side-down) over the turkey breast, then remove foil; it will shield your turkey breast and keep it from getting dry.
How do you make turkey skin crispy?
Rub the skin with fat.
Once you’ve carefully dried off the skin, the next step you can take to guarantee perfectly crispy turkey skin is to rub it with a fat, like butter or oil. Oil will yield a crispier skin than butter because butter is at least 20 percent water, while oil contains no water.
How long does a 10 lbs turkey take to cook?
How long to cook a 10 lb turkey? Using a conventional oven you will need to cook a 10 lb turkey for 2.5 hours to 3 hours and 20 minutes at 325°F until the internal temp reaches 165°F.
How long do you roast a 9 pound turkey breast?
This obviously means that roasting a 9-pound turkey breast requires a longer cooking time than usual. You’re likely looking at a minimum cooking time of three and a half hours. This amount of time can easily increase to four hours if you’ve decided to stuff your turkey breast.
Why you should never wash your turkey?
“Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it’s virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils,” USDA officials warn.
Does a Butterball turkey need to be washed?
Should I wash my turkey? “No, you really shouldn’t. The thing that’s great about Butterball turkeys is that they’re all cleaned out and everything like that. And if you wash your turkey, you’re getting raw juices splashing all over your kitchen.
How do you clean a turkey before cooking?
The turkey should be washed thoroughly inside and out with cold water and then patted dry. Proper food handling practices must be followed during the preparation of the turkey in order to avoid possible problems with food poisoning.
How long do you cook a turkey at 375?
- Preparing the bird – Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cooking the bird – Estimate 12-15 minutes per pound for stuffed turkeys.
- Testing for doneness – You can either test by checking the temperature or checking the color of the juices.
- Finishing off – Remove bird from the oven.
How do I know the turkey is cooked?
You’ll need a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. 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.
What time should you start cooking a turkey?
Season it the night before and pop it in the oven Thanksgiving morning. When you should start cooking: Season the turkey the night before and start cooking it Thanksgiving morning. While it’s best to actually cook your turkey on Thanksgiving day, Holzman recommends seasoning your turkey the night before.
Can I leave my turkey out overnight to thaw?
Can you leave a turkey out to thaw overnight, perhaps? The short answer is no. Here are the wrong ways to thaw your bird and the safest way to thaw a turkey.
Can I unwrap turkey night before?
4. Unwrap your turkey the night before. Leaving your bird uncovered in the fridge for 8-10 hours before cooking dries out the skin, which will give it that beautifully browned, extra-crispy exterior that we all dream about. 5.
How long does it take to cook a 6lb turkey?
Approximate Times for Roasting an Unstuffed Turkey
| Weight | Time |
|---|---|
| 6-8 lbs. | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| 8-12 lbs. | 3 to 4 hours |
| 12-16 lbs. | 4 to 5 hours |
| 16-20 lbs. | 5 to 5 1/2 hours |
How long do you cook a turkey calculator?
Third, different ovens vary slightly in temperature.
| Turkey Size | Cooking Time (unstuffed) | Cooking Time (stuffed) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 – 14 lbs | 3 – 3 ¾ hours | 3 ½ – 4 hours |
| 14 – 18 lbs | 3 ¾ – 4 ¼ hours | 4 – 4 ¼ hours |
| 18 – 20 lbs | 4 ¼ – 4 ½ hours | 4 ¼ – 4 ¾ hours |
| 20 – 24 lbs | 4 ½ – 5 hours | 4 ¾ – 5 ¼ hours |
How long does it take to bake a turkey in the oven?
Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Drizzle the outside of the turkey with a few tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the turkey about 3 hours, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F.
How long should a turkey rest before you carve it?
Before you cut a thing, let your turkey rest — at least 30 minutes — so its juices don’t end up on the cutting board.
Where do you stick thermometer in turkey?
Here are few tips to keep in mind:
- When preparing a whole turkey, insert the thermometer into the thickest portion of the turkey breast, the innermost portion of thigh and the innermost portion of the wing.
- Make sure the thermometer does not touch bone, gristle or the pan.
When should I pull my turkey?
According to the Department of Agriculture, a turkey must reach 165 degrees F to be safe, but you can take it out of the oven as low as 160 degrees F because the temperature will rise at it rests. 1. Use a digital, instant read thermometer for the most-accurate results.
How do I keep my turkey warm while resting?
If it’s done around an hour early, let it rest uncovered for about 20 to 30 minutes. Then cover your turkey with some foil and a thick towel or blanket to keep it warm. By letting it first rest you release the initial heat. That way it won’t overcook once it’s covered.
How long do you cook a turkey at 350?
We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed 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.
How long do you cook a Butterball turkey per pound?
Set the timer and cook the turkey about 3 to 4 minutes per pound. Cook all dark meat to an internal temperature of 175° F to 180° F, and all white meat to an internal temperature of 165° F to 170° F. Here’s some help on how to check your turkey’s temperature for doneness.
Should I put butter on my turkey?
Don’t butter your bird
Placing butter under the skin won’t make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt.
What do you put in the bottom of a turkey pan?
Place chopped onions, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. Pick a few herbs off the stalks and add to the vegetables.
Do you add broth when roasting a turkey?
When roasting a turkey without water, the turkey will produce its own flavorful juices. After cooking, you can extend the turkey’s juices with broth or wine, then add it to your gravy for extra flavor.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 350 or 325?
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.
Should I season turkey the night before?
How should the bird be prepared for roasting? The night before your turkey goes in the oven, season it with a blend. Maybe fresh herbs, garlic, shallots and/or onions, with some olive or whatever your tradition.
Should I butter my turkey the night before?
Absolutely! In fact, buttering your turkey the night before not only saves you time the day your roast, but many believe allowing the butter to sit overnight on and under the skin infuses even more flavor into the turkey.
Is it better to 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.
Should I cover my turkey with foil?
Turkey is known to some as a dry, bland meat, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Many people think covering the bird in foil after cooking it is a way to keep moisture in. However, according to turkey farmer Paul Kelly, this is actually the worst thing you can do.
Should you wash turkey?
Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it’s virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.
What is the best temperature to cook a turkey?
Stick with a temperature of 325°F, which ensures the turkey gets cooked all the way without becoming overdone.
Is it better to cook a turkey on a rack?
The main reason is that a rack literally lifts the turkey off the bottom of the pan. This ensures that hot air circulates around the bird as it’s roasting, producing a more even cook by allowing heat to reach every surface of the skin.
What do you put in a turkey cavity?
Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, quartered onion, and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Why is my turkey skin not crispy?
How to save a turkey that isn’t crisping up. If your turkey is nearly done and the skin isn’t as crisp as you’d like, you can brush it with a little oil and turn the heat up high for 5-10 minutes, says Goldstein. Just don’t leave it in too long, as you’ll end up with dry meat.
What do you baste a turkey with?
Basting is periodically drizzling some liquid over roasting meat to moisten and flavor it during the long cooking time. You can baste turkey with melted butter or other fat, stock, or drippings from the roasting pan.
How long do you cook a 7 lb turkey?
The general rule is to roast the turkey breast for 20 minutes per pound. So, if my turkey breast weighs 7 lbs, I will cook it for 140 minutes (2 hours and 20 minutes). When the time is up, check the breast in the meatiest place to make sure it reads 165 degrees F.
How long do you cook a 9 lb turkey?
Unstuffed
- 4 to 8 pounds (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours.
- 8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
- 12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
- 14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours.
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours.
- 20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
How long do you cook a 9 lb stuffed turkey?
Roast in a 325°F oven for 2-1/4 hours. Remove foil; cut band of skin or string between drumsticks so thighs cook evenly. Continue roasting for 30 to 45 minutes more (1 to 1-1/4 hours if stuffed), or until the thermometer registers 180°F; and the center of the stuffing (if using) is 165°F.
How long does it take to cook an 8 pound turkey breast at 350?
How Long Does it Take to Cook a Turkey Breast per Pound at 350? In the oven, you’ll need to bake your turkey breast for 20 to 23 minutes, using a temperature of 350°F.
How long should you cook an 8 pound turkey breast?
An 8-pound turkey breast should roast for about 2.5 to 3 hours in a 400 degree F. oven. For the first 2 hours, cover the baking dish with foil, and remove the foil for the last 30 minutes to an hour of baking time.
Do you cook a turkey breast side up or down?
The United States Department of Agriculture advises to cook a whole turkey breast side up during the entire cooking time. Turning over a large, hot bird can be dangerous and it’s very easy to tear the skin, making the finished product less attractive.
Should my turkey be room temperature before cooking?
Before it goes in the oven, the turkey should be at room temperature, so take it out of the fridge (1 hr for a whole turkey, or 30 mins for a cut) before cooking. Keep it covered in a cool place.
How long can I keep a fresh Butterball turkey in the refrigerator?
If you are not confident about the temperature of your refrigerator, cook or freeze the turkey within 4 days of sell-by date. Storage of Leftovers: Carve leftover turkey into pieces before refrigerating to speed cooling. Refrigerate carved leftovers within 2 hours of eating.