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..
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How long should a 15lb turkey cook?
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.
If your turkey weighs 15 to 16 pounds, roast it at:
- 425°F for 3 to 3¼ hours.
- 400°F for 3¼ to 3½ hours.
- 350°F for 3½ to 3¾ hours.
- 325°F for 3¾ to 4 hours.
Should you 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.
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
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. (If it’s stuffed, check the center of the stuffing to make sure it’s 165 degrees F as well.)
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 should a turkey rest before carving?
Before you cut a thing, let your turkey rest — at least 30 minutes — so its juices don’t end up on the cutting board.
Can you eat turkey at 160 degrees?
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.
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.
Can I let my turkey rest for 2 hours? And don’t forget to leave time for your turkey to rest when it comes out of the oven. Turkeys between 4-6kg should be rested for 1½ hours, and ones from 6-10kg can rest for two hours. Get your turkey out of the fridge 30 minutes before you cook it.
How long should a 20lb turkey cook?
If you’re baking it at 325°F (the lowest temperature the USDA recommends), you’ll need to bake a 20-lb turkey in the oven for 4 to 5 hours if it’s unstuffed, and 4 ¼ to 5 ¼ hours if it’s stuffed.
How do you cook a 17 pound turkey?
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Remove turkey neck and giblets.
- Place turkey, breast-side up, on a rack in a roasting pan.
- Pour 2 cups of turkey stock into the roasting pan.
- Roast turkey for 2 1/2 hours, basting with pan juices every 30 minutes.
How long should a turkey rest?
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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.
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.
Can you leave cooked turkey out overnight?
Cooked turkey that has been left out for longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour above 90° F) should be discarded. The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when cooked turkey is kept at temperatures between 40° F and 140° F. To prevent foodborne illness, try to refrigerate the cooked turkey as soon as you can.
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil? Roasting your Thanksgiving turkey is a great way to keep it flavorful and delicious. Cooking the turkey in Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil locks in moisture to prevent drying out while in the oven.
Do you rub turkey with butter or oil? 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.
Should I put olive oil on my turkey? Olive oil is a nice, healthy alternative to butter and it won’t compromise the taste at all. For added flavor you can try basting a turkey with olive oil infused with herbs. Just make sure you do baste your turkey with butter or oil so you get that crispy turkey skin.
How long does a 14 lb turkey take to cook at 325?
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. 12-14 lb.
At what temperature is a 14 lb turkey done?
Turkey is done at an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
How long does it take to cook a 20 pound turkey at 350?
How long you cook your turkey can vary, depending on the temperature of the oven and whether or not your turkey recipe calls for a stuffed or unstuffed bird. We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.
What is the best temperature to cook a turkey at?
Begin by roasting your turkey at 425°F for 40 to 45 minutes before lowering the temperature of the oven to 350°F for the rest of the cook time. Like the other method, it’s a good idea to brush the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with butter or olive oil to help the surface brown and keep the meat moist.
How can you tell if a turkey is done without a thermometer?
To find out if your turkey is done without a thermometer, pierce it with a fork in the mid-thigh muscle, explains Nicole Johnson, the co-director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. “When the juices run clear, and no longer reddish or pink in color, it’s a good indication that your turkey is done.”
How long do you cook a 12 pound turkey?
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 |
• Nov 9, 2020
How long does an 18 lb turkey take to cook?
For 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast 3½ to 4 hours. For 14- to 18-pound turkey, roast 4 to 4¼ hours. For 18- to 20-pound turkey, roast 4¼ to 4¾ hours. For 20- to 24-pound turkey, roast 4¾ to 5¼ hours.
How long does it take to cook a 20-pound turkey at 350? How long you cook your turkey can vary, depending on the temperature of the oven and whether or not your turkey recipe calls for a stuffed or unstuffed bird. We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.
