What is the best time and temperature to cook a turkey?

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

What is the best time to cook a turkey?

The general rule of thumb is to roast an unstuffed turkey breast-side up for 13 minutes per pound of turkey at 350°, which translates to approximately 3 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird (a 12-pound turkey is pretty standard).

Should turkey be cooked at 325 or 350?

Turkey weighing 12-14 lbs should be cooked at 350 degrees in the oven. It will cook your meat faster and make for crispy skin. It will also make the meat taste meatier. For smaller birds, cooking them at 325 degrees cooking temperature in the oven is best.

Is it better to cook turkey at high or low temp?

Then there's the question of cooking method. Turkey research, such as the Georgia study, has generally been conducted by roasting the birds at a low temperature, 325 or 350 degrees, which is what most turkey experts recommend. But many chefs and home cooks prefer to cook at high heat (say, 425 to 500 degrees).

Is it better to cook a turkey at 350 or 400?

400°F (204°C) is the perfect temperature for cooking a whole bird. You'll get crispy skin without compromising tenderness.

Roasting a Turkey - Amounts, Times

What temp is turkey most tender?

To achieve the end goal of tender, juicy breast meat and silky, succulent dark meat, the internal temperature in the thighs needs to be at least 175°F (79°C) by the time the breast meat reaches 157°F (69°C).

How do you keep turkey moist?

Cover and chill the turkey or carve it and chill in an airtight container no more than 2 hrs after eating for safety, and to help keep it at its juiciest.

Should I cover turkey with foil when cooking?

To achieve that balance, the ideal is to let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered: We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out, then removing the cover for the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp.

What oven setting is best for turkey?

A 300-325°F temperature is perfect for producing a delicious bird that maintains a moist exterior while also reaching an ideal interior temperature of 165°F. Alternatively, regular ovens are usually set for 350°F when cooking the entire turkey.

How many hours to cook turkey?

The simplest way to figure out turkey roasting times is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (that's about 3 hours for a 12- to 14-lb. turkey), or 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.

Do you put water in bottom of roasting pan for turkey?

"Often, consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey."

How many minutes per kilogram to cook a turkey?

If the turkey is over 4kg, calculate 20 mins per 1kg, plus 90 mins. If the bird is under 4kg, calculate 20 mins per 1kg, plus 70 mins. To test if it's done, make sure the juices run clear when you pierce the thigh where it meets the body.

What is the safest temperature to cook a turkey?

The temperature of the turkey and the center of the stuffing must reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. Check the temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

Do you cook turkey in middle or bottom of oven?

The preferred method is to roast the turkey in the center of the lowest rack or oven shelf so the top of the turkey will be centered in the oven. If two racks must be used, place the turkey on the lowest or middle rack. When cooking with two roasting pans, position the pans in opposite corners of the oven.

What is difference between roasting and baking?

The main differences between roasting and baking are the types of foods you roast vs bake and the temperature of the oven. When it comes to temperature, roasting requires a higher oven temperature of above 400°F for the cooking process, while baking takes place at lower oven temperatures around 375°F and below.

Is it better to cook turkey convection or bake?

All three types of ovens can be used to roast a delicious, moist turkey as long as the temperature of the turkey is carefully monitored. So, although a convection oven will cook faster, even a bake oven will work if the turkey is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees.

How long should a turkey rest after roasting?

Pull it out as soon as the temperature hits 165, or even a little lower. The amount of resting time depends on the size of the bird, but at least 20 minutes is needed. A large bird can wait up to 40 minutes or longer, depending on the temperature of the room.

How to season a turkey?

Salt and pepper can do wonders for a turkey, but first things first: Pat the turkey dry with paper towels—this helps crisp up the skin. Then, go to town and season the bird everywhere you can with salt and pepper—on top, underneath, between the body and the wings and legs, and under the skin.

Should I put butter or oil on my turkey?

Don't butter your bird

Placing butter under the skin won't make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before you roast.

What are 2 ways to keep turkey from drying out?

Should I salt my turkey overnight?

Salt the turkey, cover it, then stick it in the fridge. Overnight the salt draws moisture from the interior of the bird to the surface, where it combines with the salt and other seasonings. Eventually, that flavorful salted liquid is reabsorbed by the meat, seasoning it throughout.

How do you know when turkey is cooked?

The meat should feel soft and the leg will move easily when twisted. Another check is to run a long-tined fork into thick muscle; the meat should feel tender and the juice should show no pink tinge.