How Long Does It Take to Cook the Perfect Turkey?
- Roasting times for a turkey vary based on weight and whether it is stuffed, with a 20 to 24-pound turkey taking 4 1/2 to 5 hours to cook unstuffed, according to FoodSafety.gov.
As the Thanksgiving season approaches every November, the big question looms large in everyone's minds yet again: How long does it take to cook a turkey?
For starters, how long you should roast a turkey depends largely on how much it weighs, as well as whether you plan to stuff it. For an oven set to 325°F, FoodSafety.gov recommends the following roasting times based on the weight of a fully thawed turkey :
4 to 6 Pounds (Breast) Cooking Time
1 1/2 to 2 1/4 hours
6 to 8 Pounds (Breast) Cooking Time
Unstuffed: 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hoursStuffed: 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours
Related: 15 Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
8 to 12 Pounds (Breast) Cooking Time
Unstuffed: 2 3/4 to 3 hoursStuffed: 3 to 3 1/2 hours
12 to 14 Pounds (Breast) Cooking Time
Unstuffed: 3 to 3 3/4 hoursStuffed: 3 1/2 to 4 hours
14 to 18 Pound Cooking Time
Unstuffed: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hoursStuffed: 4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 Pound Cooking Time
Unstuffed: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hoursStuffed: 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours
20 to 24 Pound Cooking Time
Unstuffed: 4 1/2 to 5 hoursStuffed: 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours
Related: 101 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes
How To Know When a Turkey Is Done
While the time estimates above offer a general idea of how long a turkey will take to cook, the absolute safest way to know if your turkey is done is to use a meat thermometer. If you are cooking a stuffed turkey
,you must cook it until the internal temperature of the stuffing reaches a minimum of 165°F.
If the stuffing
in your turkey has reached a temperature of 165°F, the temperature of the innermost part of the turkey's thigh is likely between 165°F to 185°F, at which point it is done. If you are cooking an unstuffed turkey, roast until a temperature reading of the innermost part of the thigh reaches 165°F.
Related: How Much Stuffing Do You Need for Your Thanksgiving Dinner?
How to Cook a Turkey
How Much Turkey Will You Need Per Person for Your Holiday Dinner?
For your dinner, you can estimate that each guest will eat about 1 1/2 pounds of turkey. Here's a general guide for how much turkey you'll need per person:
4 people – 6 pounds
6 people – 9 pounds
12 people – 18 pounds
If you are buying a smaller bird for a smaller party—12 pounds or less—you should allow 2 pounds per person to account for the smaller meat-to-bone ratio. These guidelines apply to both fresh and frozen turkey—if you're cooking a frozen turkey, be sure to allow at least 24 hours of thawing for every 4 pounds of your bird.
More Thanksgiving Questions, Answered
Next up, how to cook the perfect prime rib
