When cooking a turkey that has not been stuffed, the conventional rule of thumb is 15 to 20 minutes per pound of bird. It is recommended to adhere to this procedure and bake one of these crowd-pleasing stuffing recipes in a separate dish as roasting a stuffed turkey is no longer regarded safe for food preparation (not to mention that doing so dries up the bird flesh).
How long do you cook a fresh turkey per pound?
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.
How many minutes per pound do you cook a 12 pound turkey?
How long a turkey should be cooked for. I like to roast my unstuffed, room-temperature turkey at 350°F—and if you must know for how long, it’s roughly 13 minutes to 15 minutes per pound. That indicates that it should take around two and a half hours to roast a turkey that weighs twelve pounds.
How much faster does a fresh turkey cook?
Note that fresh turkeys from the farm require less time in the oven than frozen or store-bought birds do. This is due to the high moisture content of the meat, which facilitates a more rapid transmission of heat during the cooking process. Fresh turkeys should be cooked at a temperature of 325 degrees for 15 minutes per pound.
Which temperature is better for a turkey: 325 or 350?
Do I Cook a Turkey at 325 or 350 Degrees? 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.
Is cooking a fresh turkey different than a frozen turkey?
Turkeys that have been frozen are prepared differently from fresh ones.
Cooking a fresh turkey is very different than cooking a bird that has been frozen. Roasting a fresh turkey is often significantly quicker than roasting one that has been frozen and then thawed. Before the approximate amount of time has passed, take the temperature of the thigh using a meat thermometer. When the thermometer in the thigh flesh reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, the turkey is ready.
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 cook a 10 lb turkey at 325 or 350?
At cook a turkey that weighs between 10 and 13 pounds (including the giblets), place it in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 hours. Bake at 325 degrees for two to three hours for a turkey weighing between 14 and 23 pounds (including the giblets).
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.
At 325 degrees, how long does a 14-pound turkey take to cook?
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. 12-14 lb.
Do fresh turkeys take less time to cook?
It is recommended that you allot at least 1 pound of turkey for each guest. If you want to have leftovers (and who doesn’t! ), we recommend ordering 1.5 pounds of meat per person. Turkeys that have been freshly harvested from a farm take less time to cook than frozen or store-bought birds. This is due to the high moisture content of the meat, which facilitates a more rapid transmission of heat during the cooking process.
How long does it take to cook a 17 lb fresh turkey?
Unstuffed
- 4 to 8 pounds: 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours (breast only).
- 2 3/4 to 3 hours for 8 to 12 pounds.
- 3 to 3 3/4 hours for 12 to 14 pounds.
- 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours for 14 to 18 pounds.
- 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours for 18 to 20 pounds.
- 4 1/2 to 5 hours for 20 to 24 pounds.
What is the cooking time for a 10 pound turkey?
Until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit when using a regular oven, you will need to cook a 10 pound turkey for two and a half to three and a half hours and twenty minutes.
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.
Do you cook a 12 pound turkey at 325 or 350?
According to the guidelines provided by the USDA, a fresh or frozen unstuffed turkey should spend around 15 minutes per pound in a normal oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Should a turkey be rinsed before cooking?
Should You Rinse a Turkey Before Cooking It? To put it simply, no. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that rinsing a raw turkey in the kitchen sink can lead to the spread of bacteria on countertops, neighboring food, and other surfaces, which can cause cross-contamination. This can occur when the turkey is exposed to water at high temperatures.
Does a fresh turkey need to be thawed?
The cold water needs to be changed every 30 minutes. Thaw the turkey until the bag feels soft. For a fresh turkey that feels hard, thaw between 1 and 4 hours. For a fully frozen turkey allow approximately 30 minutes per pound.
DO NOT THAW IN MICROWAVE.
| 8 – 12 Pounds | 4 – 6 Hours |
|---|---|
| 20 – 24 Pounds | 10 – 12 Hours |
Which is best fresh or frozen turkey?
Because fresh turkeys are able to retain their moisture for a longer period of time than frozen turkeys, cooking a fresh turkey will result in a more flavorful meal. Farmers and butchers alike are likely to urge that consumers purchase fresh birds rather than frozen turkeys.
How far in advance should I buy a fresh turkey?
The USDA suggests that, for best safety, you should buy a fresh turkey within one or two days of when you expect to serve it. Fresh turkeys, like other fresh meat and poultry, are very perishable.
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 can I do to 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: Fold a huge square piece of foil into a triangle. 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.
Before carving a turkey, how long should it rest?
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 temperature do I cook a 15 pound turkey at?
Brown the turkey that weighs 15 pounds by beginning the cooking process at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for the first 20 minutes. After that, turn the heat down to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and continue cooking for another hour to two, until the breast achieves an internal temperature of around 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking time, which can range from half an hour to an hour or longer, should be completed once the temperature is lowered to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
What temperature should a 14 lb turkey be?
How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey?
| Turkey Weight | Cooking Time | Doneness Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 14-18 lbs. | 3 hrs 45 mins–4 hrs 15 mins | 170-175°F |
When is a 14-pound turkey done cooking?
When the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, it is considered cooked.
How long should a turkey be cooked at 325 degrees?
This data comes from the USDA, and it assumes that you are using an oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and either a fresh or fully defrosted chicken. (We’re talking about around 15 minutes per pound for a chicken that has not been stuffed.) If you wish to cook a turkey that has been frozen, it will take at least fifty percent more time than the durations that are indicated. A convection oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit helps speed up the cooking of your turkey.
How long should a freshly killed turkey be cooked?
Adjust the temperature of the oven to 325 degrees and plan on cooking the bird for 8-10 minutes per pound if it is not filled, and 12-15 minutes per pound if it is stuffed. Don’t be concerned; it WILL become brown! But keep in mind that the temperatures in the oven and the birds themselves will constantly fluctuate. Make sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked by employing the use of an internal meat thermometer.
How long will a freshly slaughtered turkey last in the refrigerator?
Fresh turkeys may be kept safe in the refrigerator for up to two days at temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, or they can be frozen at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for an endless amount of time. When the meat is going to be frozen, it should be carefully wrapped in freezer-grade bags or heavy-duty aluminum foil and put in airtight containers.
How long should a 16-pound turkey be cooked?
When it comes to cooking a turkey, the general rule of thumb is 13 minutes per pound. It was predicted that it would take around three and a half hours to roast our 16-pound turkey. However, there are various preparation methods, such as brining the bird, cooking it with an empty (un-stuffed) cavity, and without trussing the legs, that will contribute to a significantly faster cooking time.
How long should an 18-pound, unstuffed turkey be cooked?
Traditional Roast Turkey (unstuffed)
| Unstuffed | |
|---|---|
| 8 to 12 pounds | 2 3/4 to 3 hours |
| 12 to 14 pounds | 3 1/2 to 4 hours |
| 14 to 18 pounds | 4 to 4 1/4 hours |
| 18 to 20 pounds | 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours |
How long should you cook a 20-pound turkey?
You will need to bake a turkey that weighs 20 pounds in the oven for 4 to 5 hours if it is unstuffed, and for 4 14 to 5 14 hours if it is stuffed, if you bake it at the lowest temperature that the USDA advises, which is 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long should a turkey be cooked?
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 an oven to bake a turkey?
Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Drizzle the exterior of the turkey with a few tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. The turkey should be roasted for approximately three hours, or until a thermometer placed in the thickest portion of the thigh reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long should a stuffed 12 1/2 pound turkey cook for?
These stuffed turkey cooking times have been tested and proven to work well by our Test Kitchen team:
- Roast a 10- to 12-pound turkey for 3 14 to 3 12 hours.
- Roast for 3 12 to 4 hours for a 12- to 14-pound turkey.
- Roast for 4 to 414 hours for a 14 to 18 pound turkey.
- Roast for 414 to 434 hours for an 18 to 20 pound turkey.
Is a fresh turkey washed?
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.
When cooking, do you cover the turkey?
Always cook your turkey until the skin is a light golden brown. The first two hours of cooking should be done with the lid or foil on the roasting pan. After that, uncover the pan and continue cooking the bird for the remaining amount of time. Make sure to baste your turkey about every half an hour.
Before cooking, should turkey be at room temperature?
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.
Can I store a fresh turkey for a week in the refrigerator?
The recommended storage method for fresh turkey is in the refrigerator for one to two days. If you wait much longer, the meat may start to exhibit indications of deterioration and become unfit for consumption. Keep the bird in the portion of the refrigerator that is the coolest, and if you aren’t going to be able to cook it within the next 48 hours, you should freeze it.
Why is there ice inside of my fresh turkey?
After being packaged, fresh turkeys are refrigerated to a temperature of around 26 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the highest possible level of quality, as well as safety and freshness. Because the fluid in the turkey froze at 26 degrees Fahrenheit, it will feel hard to the touch, and there may be ice detected in the cavity. This is because water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but protein does not freeze until 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
A thawed turkey can be kept in the fridge for four days.
There is a one- to two-day window during which a turkey that has been thawed can be stored in the refrigerator. It is possible to re-freeze a turkey that has been thoroughly defrosted in the refrigerator if this becomes required.
How much is a fresh turkey worth?
Either fresh or frozen
There is no qualitative difference between a fresh turkey and a bird that has been frozen. According to the National Turkey Federation, the primary distinction is in the manner in which the birds exit the processing plant.
How does a fresh turkey taste after being frozen?
The cell structure of the meat is changed when it is frozen, which leads to a loss of moisture and, as a result, a change in flavor, as some specialists will tell you that freezing has an effect on the flavor of the meat.
Is the turkey from Butterball fresh brined?
The vast majority of turkeys have previously been brined. Butterball turkeys include a solution that actually helps to keep them moist, juicy, and tender for a much longer period of time. We do recommend that you reduce the amount of salt that you use if you are going to brine it.
How long can a fresh Butterball turkey be stored in the refrigerator?
If you are unsure about the temperature that is maintained in your refrigerator, you should either cook the turkey or freeze it within the first four days after it has been purchased. When storing leftover turkey, it is best to cut it into pieces before placing it in the refrigerator so that it may chill more quickly. Refrigerate any carved leftovers as soon as possible, preferably within two hours.
Should I use aluminum foil to cover my turkey while it cooks?
Cover the turkey with the lid that came with the roaster if you discover that it is browning too quickly while it is being cooked. If you don’t have a lid for your roaster, you may use aluminum foil to make a makeshift lid for the turkey. If you cover the turkey with foil while it’s cooking, the foil will trap steam and moisture, preventing the bird from drying out.
Should I put broth in the turkey pan’s bottom?
Before I start cooking the turkey, I also like to pour one cup of chicken broth or stock into the bottom of the pan it will be cooking in. This will produce a climate in the oven similar to a steam chamber, which will assist maintain the breast’s moisture but will not prevent the skin from browning.
How is crispy turkey skin made?
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.
Which temperature is better for a turkey: 325 or 350?
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 cook my turkey with butter or oil?
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 you flip the turkey over?
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!
How long does it take a turkey to warm up from being in the refrigerator?
First, Acclimate Your Bird to Normal Room Temperature.
Your turkey will cook more evenly and faster if you start it out at room temperature so take the bird from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. If you plan to stuff your turkey, wait until you’re ready to put it in the oven before placing the stuffing in the turkey.
How long does it take to cook a 12 lb. turkey?
Determine how long to cook the turkey for and at what temperature. The simplest approach to figure out turkey roasting timings is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (that’s around 3 hours for a 12- to 14-lb. bird), or 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
Is carving a turkey better done hot or cold?
Your Meat Should Be Served on a Cold Platter
As a rule of thumb, you should serve hot food on a hot plate and cold food on cold plates; this is only one of the fundamental restaurant secrets that every home cook should be aware of. A platter that is at room temperature or cooler will chill down your meal that much faster.