According to USDA, a turkey without stuffing takes 2 3/4 to 3 hours for an 8 to 12 lb. turkey. 3 to 3 3/4 hours for a 12 to 14 pound gun. 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours for a 14 to 18 pound gun. 4 ½ to 4 ½ hours for 18 to 20 lb. guns; 4 ½ to 5 hours for 20 to 24 lb. guns.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Do you cook your turkey at 325°F or 350°F? Slow and slow” is a good rule for cooking a bird all the way through without burning it, but there are no strict rules. All of our temperature guides assume that you are cooking at 325, but you can also cook a little warmer in about the same or slightly less time.
Do you cook a 14 lb turkey at 325 or 350?
If your turkey weighs 12 to 14 pounds, roast as follows 2 1/2 to 3 hours at 350°F. 3 to 3 1/2 hours at 325°F.
What temp do I cook a 14 lb turkey?
Time to cook turkey: Temperatures and times
- For 10 to 13 lbs. Turkey meat (weight with entrails): 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours in oven at 350°F.
- For 14-23 lbs. Turkey (weight with trotters): Bake in a 325° oven for 2 to 3 hours.
- For 24-27 lb.
- For 28 to 30 lbs. turkey meat (weight with entrails): bake in 325° oven for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.
How long does it take to cook a 14 lb turkey with stuffing?
Cooking time for stuffed turkey
- For a 10-12 lb. turkey: roast 3 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.
- For a 12-14 lb. turkey, roast 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
- For 14-18 pound turkeys, roast for 4-4 1/2 hours.
- For an 18-20 pound turkey, roast 4 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.
- For a 20 to 24 pound turkey, roast 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe
- Choose a fresh turkey, not a frozen one.
- Roast two small turkeys instead of one large turkey.
- Marinate the turkey in brine.
- Rub soft butter under the skin.
- Truss loosely or not at all.
- Roast the turkey upside down first.
- Do not overcook.
- Allow the turkey to rest before carving.
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?
We have found that covering the turkey with foil produces much more moist results than roasting without foil. To even out the cooking time, it is recommended to simply cover the breasts .
Should you take turkey out of fridge before cooking?
Remove the turkey from the refrigerator before cooking (1 hour for whole turkey, 30 minutes for fillets), as it needs to come to room temperature before placing in the oven. Cover and store in a cool place.
How long should a turkey rest for?
Thanksgiving Help Line Pull out as soon as temperature reaches 165°F or slightly lower. Rest time depends on the size of the bird, but should be at least 20 minutes. Larger birds can wait up to 40 minutes or more, depending on room temperature.
Do you put water in a roaster oven when cooking a turkey?
Electric Roaster Ovens take full advantage of this feature by distributing heat and liquid evenly to cook food. Covered roasters trap and recycle moisture from food during cooking, so no additional water or other liquids are needed unless required by the recipe.
How long does a 14 lb turkey take to cook at 325?
Assuming the turkey is roasted in a 325-degree Fahrenheit oven, plan for 15 to 17 minutes of cooking time per pound of turkey without stuffing. Plan for the stuffing of the turkey to take 20-22 minutes per pound. 8-12 lbs. 12-14 lbs.
What is the best temperature to cook a turkey?
Begin by roasting the turkey at 425°F for 40-45 minutes before lowering the oven temperature to 350°F for the remaining cooking time. As with the other methods, we recommend brushing the turkey with butter or olive oil every 15 to 20 minutes to brown the surface and keep the meat moist.
Should you baste a turkey?
Do not brine. It is not necessary to brown the skin to flavor the meat. Flavor the skin, but allow the heat to escape from the oven each time you open the oven. That means the bird will be in there longer, which means it will be drier,” Brown says.
What do you put inside a turkey?
Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with a bunch of thyme, half a lemon, a quarter onion, and garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
How long does it take to cook a Butterball stuffed turkey?
For reference, there is a turkey cooking time determined by the weight of the butterball turkey when the oven is set to 325 degrees. What is this? Stuffing: 5.5-6.25 hours.
Should I put butter or oil on my turkey?
Do not butter the bird! Putting butter under the skin will not make the meat juicier, but will help brown the skin faster. But butter is about 17% water and will dissipate the bird, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before roasting.
Should you put water in the bottom of the pan when roasting a turkey?
Add water to the roasting pan to keep the turkey from drying out. Grandma always added water or chicken broth to the bottom of the roasting pan at the start of cooking. This prevents the bird from drying out.
Do you put an apple in a turkey?
Apples. Consider quartering one or two apples to stuff into the turkey. They provide a little extra moisture to the turkey during the cooking process and provide a very subtle flavor reminiscent of fall.
When should I start cooking my turkey?
When You Should Start Cooking: Season the turkey the night before and start cooking on Thanksgiving morning. While it is best to actually cook the turkey on Thanksgiving Day, Holtzman recommends seasoning the turkey the night before.
Do Butterball turkeys have butter in them?
In fact, there is no actual butter in a butterball turkey. The fresh turkey is infused with a temporary solution made of salt water and “common household spices,” one brand representative told me. Butterball does not share its secret busting formula ingredients.
Is it better to cook a turkey covered or uncovered?
Q: You don’t cover or uncover the birds? A: The folks at Butterball recommend cooking the turkey covered in a roasting pan. Two-thirds of the way through cooking, Butterball says you can put foil over the udder area to keep the udder from drying out.
What if I left my turkey out overnight to thaw?
Thawing raw meat at room temperature for more than two hours imposes rapid bacterial growth. Is thawing turkey at room temperature a good idea? No. If you’re doing it and using it, it’s not a good idea. If you’re doing it and using it, you’re in luck.
Should you cook turkey breast up or down?
The USDA recommends cooking the entire turkey breast during the entire cooking time. Flipping a large, hot bird is dangerous, and it is very easy to tear the skin off, making the finished product less appealing.
Should you flip a turkey when cooking?
Cook the bird upside down. That is, breast side down and turn it over halfway through based on your estimation. If you are using a kettle and have all the charcoal on one side of the grill, you will also want to rotate the turkey when you turn it so that one side is not overcooked.
How do you know when turkey is done without thermometer?
To find out if the turkey is done without a thermometer, drill a hole in the middle thigh muscle at the junction, explains Nicole Johnson, co-director of the Butterball Turkey Talk Line. When the juices are clear and no longer red or pink, it’s a good sign that the turkey is done.”
How long can a turkey sit before carving?
3. the turkey needs to rest before carving. About 45 minutes or so gives the juices time to reabsorb. Otherwise, slice and dribble. The meat will dry out. Tent the turkey in foil and do not keep it warm while it rests. It is unnecessary and soaks the skin.
How do you know when the turkey is ready?
A meat thermometer is needed to cook the turkey to the proper temperature. Insert it close to the thigh bone, but not touching it. When it reads 180 degrees Fahrenheit at the thigh and 170 degrees F at the breast, it is done and ready to serve.
What do you put in the bottom of a turkey pan?
Place the chopped onion, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. Pick a few herbs off the stems and add them to the vegetables.
Does turkey need roasting rack?
You don’t need a rack specifically designed for the roasting pan, but you do need something to lift the bird off the bottom of the pan. Aluminum foil balls work perfectly. An upside-down ramekin can also be used.
Should you cover a turkey crown in foil when cooking?
Cover the turkey crown with foil and roast for 60 minutes. The foil helps keep the breast juicy and prevents the skin from getting too charred and burnt before the meat is cooked. After 60 minutes, remove the turkey from the oven and remove the foil. Bake the turkey in the juices in the bottom of the can.
What is the lowest safe temperature to cook a turkey?
Be Safe – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends a temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when cooking meat and poultry. Cook the turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long do you cook a Butterball turkey per pound?
Set a timer and cook the turkey for approximately 3 to 4 minutes per pound. Cook all dark meat to an internal temperature of 175 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and white meat to an internal temperature of 165 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do you keep a turkey warm for 4 hours?
A kitchen towel placed over the foil will keep the meat warm and moist until you are ready to carve and serve it. Another option is to cover the bird with foil and return it to the 200F oven at a lower temperature. Place a pan of water under the turkey to generate steam and contribute to the moisture.
Should I start my turkey at a higher temperature?
Remove the turkey from the refrigerator one hour before roasting, as the turkey will cook more evenly and faster if started at room temperature. If stuffing the turkey, wait until ready to put it in the oven before adding stuffing to the turkey.
Is it better to cook a turkey at a lower temperature?
I have researched on the internet and found that there is a method of roasting at a lower temperature of 190°-200°. The method I have used is to slow cook the turkey at 250°. Upon further research, I found that the USDA recommends that poultry not be cooked at less than 325°C.
Should I season turkey the night before?
How should I prepare my bird for roasting? The night before you put the turkey in the oven, season it with a blend. Maybe fresh herbs, garlic, shallots, and/or onions, olives or whatever your tradition is .
Should I butter my turkey the night before?
Absolutely! In fact, many people believe that buttering the turkey the night before not only saves roasting time, but that leaving the butter on or under the skin overnight adds even more flavor to the turkey.
How do you make turkey skin crispy?
Rub the skin with fat. Once the skin is carefully dried, the next step to assure perfectly crispy turkey skin is to rub it with a fat such as butter or oil. Butter contains at least 20% moisture, while oil contains no moisture, so oil will result in a crispier skin than butter.
What do I put on top of turkey before cooking?
Also, because the oven must be kept open at all times, the oven loses heat, the turkey takes longer to cook, and the turkey may dry out. Coating the turkey’s outer and inner skin with the herb butter mixture will help the skin to brown beautifully and taste wonderful .
How far in advance can you prep a turkey?
Preparing the turkey, roasting it for several hours, letting it rest, and carving it takes time and care. Just do everything in advance, refrigerate for 1-3 days, and heat up when you serve the turkey dinner. Oh, what a relief!
How do you make turkey meat taste good?
Ground Turkey – Grab 1 lb. Chopped Vegetables – yellow onions, green onions, and red bell peppers add color and flavor. Garlic – chop it for that nice pungent flavor for a turkey meal. Chili powder – an excellent ground turkey seasoning that gives this dish a nice kick without being too hot.
Why put an orange in a turkey?
Use orange, lemon, and lime for a different way to stuff your turkey for a wet, delicately flavored bird. Save calories and fat grams by not using the traditional stuffing of butter soaking into the meat.
Why do you salt the cavity of a turkey?
Salting the turkey in advance is one way to keep the meat seasoned and juicy. When raw poultry is salted, the internal juices are drawn to the surface. The salt then dissolves into the oozing liquid, forming a brine that is eventually reabsorbed by the poultry.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Do you cook your turkey at 325°F or 350°F? Slow and slow” is a good rule for cooking a bird all the way through without burning it, but there are no strict rules. All of our temperature guides assume that you are cooking at 325, but you can also cook a little warmer in about the same or slightly less time.
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?
We have found that covering the turkey with foil produces much more moist results than roasting without foil. To even out the cooking time, it is recommended to simply cover the breasts .
How long does it take to cook a 14 lb Butterball turkey?
Lift turkey onto platter and let stand 15 minutes before carving. 7-9 lbs. / 4-4 1/2 hrs. 9-12 lbs. / 4 1/2-5 hrs. 12-14 lbs. / 5-6 hrs.
Do you wash a Butterball turkey before cooking?
Should I wash my turkey? No, you really shouldn’t. The great thing about Butterball turkeys is that they are all cleaned and all that stuff. And when you wash the turkey, the raw juices are splattered all over the kitchen.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe
- Choose a fresh turkey, not a frozen one.
- Roast two small turkeys instead of one large turkey.
- Marinate the turkey in brine.
- Rub soft butter under the skin.
- Truss loosely or not at all.
- Roast the turkey upside down first.
- Do not overcook.
- Allow the turkey to rest before carving.
Should I put olive oil on my turkey?
If crispy turkey skin is your goal, use olive oil on the turkey instead of butter. Olive oil on turkey skin produces a much crisper skin than butter. It is simply the best oil for roasting turkey.
How do you keep a turkey from getting tough?
I use a plastic cooking bag and fill it with salt, water, seasonings, orange and lemon slices. Then place the turkey inside the bag and place the bag inside the roasting pan to hold everything together. A dark roasting pan absorbs more heat and cooks the turkey faster. Aluminum foil will deflect heat and slow cooking.
How often should you baste a turkey?
How often to bast the turkey. Most recipes call for basting the turkey every 30 minutes. However, our rule of thumb is actually every 40 minutes. The reasons for this are as follows. You don’t want to open the oven too many times, otherwise the whole bird would take longer to cook, and that is a major inconvenience.
Do I take the plastic thing out of the turkey?
Speaking of plastic, turkeys usually have a plastic or metal crimp, called a hook lock, that holds the legs together in the back. You can either leave it in place or take it off, whichever you prefer. The legs can cook more evenly without it. Rinse the turkey thoroughly with cold water, inside and out. Dry with paper towels.
What is the best temperature to cook turkey?
Stick to a temperature of 325°F. This will allow the turkey to cook all the way through without overdoing it.
What should I put in the cavity of my turkey?
Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with a bunch of thyme, half a lemon, a quarter onion, and garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Can you put a stick of butter in a turkey?
I like to stuff it with orange wedges, lemon wedges, garlic, onions, and a mix of fresh herbs. In this Thanksgiving turkey recipe, use 1/2 a stick of butter to make garlic herb butter and spread it under the skin. The skin protects the fresh garlic and herbs, and the butter, garlic, and herbs flavor the turkey meat.
Can you cook a turkey with the neck inside?
Safety Tip. If you forget to remove the giblets before roasting the turkey, all may not be lost. A paper-wrapped giblet can be safely cooked inside the cavity. However, if the giblet is wrapped in plastic, the plastic can melt inside the turkey and release harmful chemicals.
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?
Place in the bottom of the roasting pan. Place the turkey breast side down on top of the vegetables. Add about 0.5 inch of liquid (water or stock) to the roasting pan. This will keep the oven moist and the turkey juicy.
Should you take turkey out of fridge before cooking?
Remove the turkey from the refrigerator before cooking (1 hour for whole turkey, 30 minutes for fillets), as it needs to come to room temperature before placing in the oven. Cover and store in a cool place.
Is Butterball turkey better than other brands?
Butterball turkeys are a top quality product and will impress your guests. Butterballs are the right (and only!) choice this holiday season. Here’s why it is the choice Butterball turkeys are always tender and juicy because they take the extra step of individually pre-fighting based on size.
What’s the difference between a Butterball turkey and a regular turkey?
Butterballs are known for their pre-run turkeys. Frozen Butterball turkeys have an 8% solution of water, salt, spices, and “natural flavors,” but the turkey is sold as fresh (by law, having never been chilled below 26 degrees Fahrenheit contains only 4%. The solution.
How do you keep turkey warm and moist after cooking?
Keeping it whole prevents cooked chicken meat from drying out. Moisten the bird by covering it with foil and placing it in a 200°F oven with water in the bottom of the oven.