Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and preparing a feast is exciting. Of course, the centerpiece is a traditional roasted turkey. While some people may have their go-to recipes, others might be unsure of how to prepare the ideal turkey.
However, should you cook a turkey at 325 or 350 degrees? read on to find out.
How to roast a turkey
As long as you adhere to the recommended cooking times and don’t overcook the turkey, roasting a turkey is actually quite simple.
At the recommended oven temperature of 350°F, a 12-pound unstuffed turkey will cook in about two and a half hours, or three hours at 325°F. A further 20 to 30 minutes should be added if the turkey is stuffed.
An unstuffed 14-pound turkey will require 3 12 hours at 325°F or 3 hours at 350°F in the oven. A further 20 to 30 minutes should be added if the turkey is stuffed.
At the suggested oven temperature of 325°F, a 15-pound unstuffed turkey will cook in about 3 34 hours. A further 20 to 30 minutes should be added if the turkey is stuffed.
At the suggested oven temperature of 325°F, an unstuffed 18-pound turkey will cook in approximately 4 14 hours. It will take around 4 12 hours if the turkey is stuffed.
At 350°F, a 20-pound unstuffed turkey will cook in about 4 14 hours. It will take 4 12 hours if the turkey is stuffed.
At the suggested oven temperature of 325°F, a 22-pound unstuffed turkey will cook in about 5 hours. It will take between 5 14 and 5 12 hours if the turkey is stuffed.
At the suggested oven temperature of 325°F, a 25-pound unstuffed turkey will cook in approximately 5 14 hours. It will take between 5 12 and 5 34 hours to stuff a turkey.
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Before cooking a turkey, the first thing you should do is purchase an instant-read thermometer. The best and safest way to know when your turkey is done cooking is to use its internal temperature. Make sure not to hit a bone as you insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the bird, which is located between the breast and a portion of the thigh. Its done when the thermometer just reaches 165ºF.
Generally speaking, you should aim to cook a turkey for about 15-20 minutes per pound at 325oF to reach that temperature. The time will vary depending on the precise size of the bird, the size of the oven, the accuracy of your temperature gauge, and whether or not the bird is stuffed. For your safety, we always advise using a thermometer. Heres a quick breakdown of weights and times. At 325°F for an unstuffed turkey:
A 20-pound or larger turkey should be prepared for the afternoon. This could take around 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
One note: We actually dont recommend you cook the stuffing inside the turkey (and the USDA agrees). It increases the chances the turkey will cook unevenly. It also increases the Thanksgiving turkey cook time and will dry the turkey out.
Why would you give that up when we have plenty of mouthwatering stovetop and baked stuffing recipes that will impress? But most importantly: you miss out on the delicious crispy-crunchy bits that you get when the stuffing is cooked in a pan or dish.
How long to cook a stuffed turkey?
It’s always best to stuff the turkey’s neck end because stuffing the body cavity will prevent the airflow needed to cook the bird evenly. Just before cooking, stuff, and tuck the skin in to seal.
Utilizing the weight of the stuffed turkey, adhere to the cooking period above. If you have a scale, you can weigh the stuffed turkey to determine its new weight, or you can estimate it based on how much stuffing you added.