How Long to Cook a Turkey
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How long to cook a turkey per pound should be determined not only by the turkey roasting time, but also the oven temperature. Obviously, the higher the oven temperature, the shorter time you need to roast your turkey.
Generally speaking, the oven temperature should not be lower than 325 o F. Some turkey recipes use an initial temperature of 500 o F at which a 15-pound turkey is roasted for 30 minutes and then cooked at 350 o F for another 2 to 2.5 hours. But that it not definite. You need to watch the inner temperature of the turkey.
You measure cooking time not with a clock – but with a thermometer.
the size of the turkey, the weight of the bird, the moisture content, the temperature of the turkey when it goes into the oven, the cooking temperature, loss of oven heat caused by opening the oven door, temperature fluctuation caused by the oven thermostat, incorrect oven temperature caused by a mis-calibrated thermostat, even altitude will effect cooking time.
And when we move to the backyard, the list includes: outdoor temperature, wind, and numerous other factors dependant on the cooking method and type of cooker.
So how long to cook a turkey doesn’t have an precise answer. There is a range of times when it might be done. To help control some variables, use an oven thermometer to double check your oven’s temperature. For outdoor cooking, be sure your grill thermometer is accurate. And always use an instant read thermometer to check the temperature of the turkey itself.
How long to cook a turkey – oven roasting at 325 degrees F :
Time in hours unstuffed
8lbs – 2.75 hours
12lbs – 3 hours
14lbs – 3.75 hours
18lbs – 4.25 hours
20lbs – 4.5 hours
24lbs – 5 hours
Time in hours if stuffed
8lbs – 3 hours
12lbs – 3.5 hours
14lbs – 4 hours
18lbs – 4.25 hours
20lbs – 5.75 hours
24lbs – 5.25 hours
How long to cook a turkey – oven roasting at 425 degrees F :
Time in minutes unstuffed
8lbs – 64 minutes
12lbs – 96 minutes
14lbs – 112 minutes
18lbs – 144 minutes
20lbs – 160 minutes
24lbs – 192 minutes
Time in minutes if stuffed
8lbs – 80 minutes
12lbs – 120 minutes
14lbs – 140 minutes
18lbs – 180 minutes
20lbs – 200 minutes
24lbs – 240 minutes
How long to cook a turkey on a grill at 350 to 400 degrees F :
Use a 14 or 15 pound bird. Don’t stuff it. Figure about 3 hours but check it after two hours. Timing is very imprecise.
Time in minutes unstuffed
8lbs – 90 minutes
12lbs – 135 minutes
14lbs – 180 minutes
18lbs – 210 minutes
20lbs – 225 minutes
24lbs – 270 minutes
How long to cook a turkey if deep frying:
A deep fried turkey takes about 3 to 5 minutes per pound when cooked in 350 degree F. oil.
After deep frying at the lower range of cooking time, 3 minutes per pound, check the temperature with an instant read thermometer. If the temperature is 160 degrees F the turkey is done and can be removed to rest. The temperature will continue to rise to 165 degrees F as the bird is resting.
If the turkey has not reached 160 degrees F, return it to the oil, carefully, for more frying.
How long to cook turkey when rotisserie cooking:
A 12 to 14 pound turkey may take from 4 to 5 hours – more or less time. There are so many variables. If you doing this outdoors, how cold, warm or windy is it? How hot is your fire? How far from the heat is the meat? How fast is the rotisserie turning?
Using an instant read thermometer is the most reliable way to measure when a rotisserie turkey is done.
If you cook the turkey on a rotisserie inside of a closed grill, the cooking time may be cut in half. But you will actually be “roasting” rather than rotisserie grilling.
