No guessing: here’s a go-to guide for turkey roasting times for a perfect Thanksgiving dinner. By Leah Brickley for Food Network Kitchen Leah is a contributing writer at
Food Network. Roasting a turkey doesn’t have to be an intimidating task if you have a good game plan. We consulted the USDA — the authority on turkey talk — and here is a handy guideline for
cooking success. These times all based on roasting a turkey at 325 F. It's safe to cook a completely frozen turkey but it will take at least 50
percent longer than a fully thawed bird. If cooking from frozen, remove the giblet packet with tongs about halfway through. Cook until the deepest part of the thigh registers 165 F with an instant read thermometer. Here is our super basic, super simple, super easy recipe for roasting a super beautiful turkey. Comments We
independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Whether you’re roasting a whole turkey for the first time, or just need your annual Thanksgiving and holiday-season refresher, this guide will help you through the steps to a perfect turkey: Crispy skin, tender meat, well seasoned, and so delicious you’ll wonder why you waited a year to eat it again. This is the easiest, simplest way to roast a turkey. This method will work with any turkey: Big or small, brined or not, free-range or otherwise. Cooking times will vary, but the basic technique will be the same. For reference, the turkey in the photos was a pre-brined 16-pound turkey from Williams-Sonoma. Turkey Recipe Cheat-Sheet
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) How to Safely Thaw a Frozen TurkeyBe sure to let your turkey completely thaw before cooking. The best way is to loosen the wrapping and place the turkey on a baking sheet, then thaw in the refrigerator. How Long to Thaw a TurkeyWhat to Do If Your Turkey Is Still FrozenIf your turkey isn’t completely thawed yet — no worries! You can roast your frozen turkey and it will turn out just fine! If your turkey is still frozen — fully or partially — just follow our instructions for cooking a frozen turkey. You’ll be fine (and your gravy will be even more delicious). Read more: How To Cook a Fully Frozen Turkey How to Brine a TurkeyAny turkey will taste better if brined in salt for a day or two before cooking. Brining your turkey is not necessary but it is a good idea. This method has become popular over the last few years and involves immersing the turkey in a salt-water solution or dry-brining in salt for a day or so before cooking. The end result is moist, well seasoned white and dark meat and perfectly crispy skin. We’ve had great results with brining and heartily endorse it, although our method here will still work without brining. How and When to Make Turkey GravyAfter roasting the turkey should rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This is a perfect time to make gravy. Move the turkey to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. This way you can use all those tasty pan drippings for gravy making. (If you’d rather check things off in advance, it’s definitely possible to make gravy ahead of time, too.) Read these how-tos for more: (Image credit: Emma Christensen) How to Carve the TurkeyCarving a turkey is just like carving an extra-large chicken: Remove the wings first, and then the thighs — pop out the joints that keep these pieces attached to the bird and cut straight through the joint. When carving the breast meat, slice close to the rib cage with the flat of your knife right up against the rib bones. Once you have the meat off, you can separate the thighs into thighs and drumsticks, and carve the breast meat into individual slices. For a good demonstration, watch our cooking school video on carving a chicken, or follow this step-by-step guide: Get the guide: How To Carve a Turkey Cooking Your TurkeyAre you ready? Let’s cook some turkey! If you get anxious during roasting, just remember that roasting a turkey is just like roasting a large chicken. The same methods and ideas apply. Even if you don’t get fancy with spices or brining or special basting liquids, your turkey will still turn out browned, moist, and flavorful. Please share your own stories, advice, and recipe suggestions in the comments below! Here is our super basic, super simple, super easy recipe for roasting a super beautiful turkey. Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
Recipe NotesWays to Add Flavor to Your Turkey: Rub your turkey with butter or oil for a richer flavor and browner skin, rub minced herbs or ground spices into (or beneath) the skin for more flavor, place a few halved lemons or garlic cloves inside the cavity of the turkey. Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Nutritional information is based on a 15-pound turkey basted with 1 cup of butter. Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature ranging from 325°F to 350°F. Higher temperatures may cause the meat to dry out, but this is preferable to temperatures that are too low which may not allow the interior of the turkey to cook to a safe temperature.
How long does it take to cook a 14 lb turkey?How long to cook a turkey at 350°:. 8–12 lb.: 1¾–3 hours.. 12–14 lb.: 3–3¼ hours.. 15–16 lb.: 3½–3¾ hours.. 18–20 lb.: 4–4¼ hours.. 21–22 lb.: 4½–4¾ hours.. How many hours does a 14 pound turkey take?20 – 24 lb Turkey Cooking Time:. How long does it take to cook a 14 lb Butterball turkey in the oven?Lift turkey onto platter and let stand for 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.
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