Turkey Cooking Times Turkey Size Cooking Time Unstuffed Cooking Time Stuffed 8 – 12 lbs 2 hrs 45 mins – 3 hrs 3 hrs – 3 hrs 30 mins 12 – 14 lbs 3 hrs – 3 hrs 45 mins 3 hrs 30 mins – 4 hrs 14 – 18 lbs 3 hrs 45 mins – 4 hrs 15 mins 4 hrs – 4 hrs 15 mins 18 – 20 lbs 4 hrs 15 mins – 4 hrs 30 mins 4 hrs 15 mins – 4 hrs 45 mins 20 – 24 lbs 4 hrs 30 mins – 5 hrs 45 mins – 5 hrs 15 mins Photographer – Alison Miksch / Prop Stylist – Kay E. Clarke / Food Stylist – Mary Claire Britto
We’re here to answer all your turkey questions
When it comes to a large bird, there are a lot of questions to consider: What size turkey should I buy? How long should I cook it? What temperature should I choose? Should I stuff it, sauce it, let it rest… and more. If you have any questions about turkey, you’ll find the answers below.
What size turkey should I buy?
It depends on how many people you’re feeding. On average, plan on 1 to 1.5 pounds per Thanksgiving guest. For 10 people, you’ll need a 10 to 15 pound turkey. If you want leftovers, get a larger size.
How much do you cook your turkey per pound?
The standard rule for roasting time for a turkey is 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey and 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
What temperature should I cook my turkey to?
There are many different ways to prepare a turkey. Some cooks swear by starting at 450°F to get crispy skin. We like to keep the temperature consistent throughout and think 325°F is the ideal temperature for roasting a turkey. You can also find more information at FoodSafety.gov.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s more than one way to roast a turkey, but if you already have plenty to cook (and it’s Thanksgiving, and you probably do), stick to the trusty 325°F.
How do you know if your turkey is done?
Get a meat thermometer and insert the probe into the thickest part of the turkey thigh – when it reads 165°F, the turkey is done.
Should I let the turkey rest before carving it?
Resting the turkey before carving is essential to prevent any delicious moisture from escaping, so be sure to let your turkey rest for at least 15 minutes after removing it from the oven.
Do I have to smear sauce on the turkey?
Sauce your turkey may seem as close to Thanksgiving instruction as a Norman Rockwell painting, but it’s not as necessary or helpful as you might think. Read more of our take on sauce. The bottom line is that the more times you have to open the oven door to sauce your turkey, the longer it will take to roast evenly. And when you have a bunch of Thanksgiving side dishes waiting to be golden and bubbly, that’s precious time you don’t want to waste. So keep the oven door closed as much as possible.
Is it dangerous to stuff a turkey?
There’s a lot of food safety debate when it comes to stuffing a turkey (we all know it’s a dressing, right?), so we won’t get into that here, but it would be rude not to point out that baking a stuffed turkey takes longer than baking an unstuffed turkey.
Whether you stuff it or not is up to you, just know that it will take a little longer to bake – and don’t worry, we’ve got that covered in our handy chart above.
Is a bigger turkey better?
If you haven’t already purchased your turkey, we recommend buying a 12-15 pound turkey; anything larger may result in uneven cooking. If you need to buy a 24 pound turkey, we’ll still provide you with a range of cooking times, but we recommend buying two smaller turkeys instead.
What is the best temperature to roast a turkey?
If you want to keep it simple, set your oven temperature to 325°F and enjoy a slow and steady roast. Preheat your oven to 325°F and follow the schedule above.
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch, Food Stylist: Cat Steele
How to tell if your turkey is done
Bottom line: Remove the turkey from the oven when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey thigh registers 165°F.
A little more: When it comes to cooking time for your bird, focus on the temperature of the meat, not the actual time. The times listed below are guidelines to help you plan the approximate time it will take to cook your Thanksgiving turkey to the right temperature, but we highly recommend using a meat thermometer to determine doneness.
Turkey Cooking Time (Per Pound)
Cook time for 8-12 pound turkey:
2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours (no filling)
3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes (crammed)
Cook time for a 12-14 pound turkey:
3 hours to 3 hours 45 minutes (no filling)
3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours (full)
Cook time for 14-18 pound turkey:
3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (no filling)
4 hours to 4 hours 15 minutes (crammed)
Cook time for 18-20 pound turkey:
4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes (no filling)
4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes (full)
Cook time for a 20-24 pound turkey:
4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours (no filling)
4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes (full)
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