Roasting a whole turkey can be a little intimidating, whether you’re preparing your first Thanksgiving meal or trying to put on a spectacular Christmas feast. We advise beginning with a straightforward traditional turkey recipe that will probably turn out well even if you make a few minor errors. Before you start, make sure your turkey is defrosted, and make sure the giblets are taken out of the cavity. Then, arm yourself with some information regarding the ideal time and temperature to cook your turkey at, and you’ll be prepared to make a memorable meal!
How long to cook a turkey?
We’ll show you how to consistently produce a whole turkey that is juicy and tender, full of flavor, and has crispy skin. No more dried-out turkey!.
How long to cook a turkey depends mainly on its size but also on the oven temperature. You need to cook the bird to a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) measured using an instant-read thermometer. Also you’ll need to budget enough time to rest your turkey so the juices can redistribute through the meat to keep it extra moist.
Advice: Place an oven-safe food thermometer inside the turkey while it is roasting. By doing this, you’ll be able to check the internal temperature of the oven without opening it.
Should I Put Water in My Turkey Roasting Pan?
To prevent them from scorching when adding vegetables to the bottom of the roasting pan (which will help flavor your gravy), add 1/2 cup water. For more flavor, you can use 1/2 cup dry white wine. You can skip putting liquid in your roasting pan if you don’t have any vegetables.
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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.