How long does it take to cook a 12 pound turkey?

Calculate Turkey Cooking Time and Temperature. 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.

How long does it take to cook a 12 pound turkey at 325?

For one 8- to 12-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 2¾ to 3 hours. For one 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 3 to 3¾ hours.

How many people will a 12 pound turkey feed?

For turkeys smaller than 16 pounds, estimate 1 pound per serving (this accounts for bone weight). For larger birds, a bit less is fine; they have a higher meat-to-bone ratio. But if your goal is to have ample leftovers, aim for 1½ pounds per person whatever the turkey’s size. For 8 people, buy a 12-pound turkey.

How long does it take to cook a 12 pound turkey at 300 degrees?

While oven is heating, wash turkey in cold water, removing giblets, neck, tail and any pinfeathers. Rub oil over all sides of turkey. and place turkey in uncovered roasting pan in oven. Bake for 1 hours at 300 degrees to kill bacteria.

How do I keep my turkey moist?

Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe

1. Choose a fresh turkey instead of a frozen one. …
2. Roast two small turkeys rather than one large one. …
3. Brine the turkey. …
4. Rub soft butter under the skin. …
5. Truss loosely, or not at all. …
6. Roast the turkey upside down at first. …
7. Don’t overcook it. …
8. Let the turkey rest before carving.

How long should a 20 pound turkey cook at 350 degrees?

If your turkey weighs 18 to 20 pounds, roast it at: 425°F for 3½ to 3¾ hours. 400°F for 3¾ to 4 hours. 350°F for 4 to 4¼ hours.

How many people will a 16 lb turkey feed?

turkey (If you can’t find a bird that small, you can get a slightly larger bird that will allow for more leftovers.) 8 to 10 people = 14- to 16-lb. turkey.

How big of a turkey do I need for 7 guests?

While 1 pound per person could feel like too little, and 1 1/2 pounds for each guest might be over-doing it, 1 1/4 pounds of turkey per mouth is the perfect balance. At that rate, feeding a large party of fifteen or more people will require 20+ pounds of turkey.

How long does it take a turkey to thaw in the refrigerator?

Refrigerator Thawing Times

Whole turkey: 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days. 12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days. 16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days.

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.

What temperature is best to cook a turkey?

165°F is the USDA recommended internal temperature for cooked turkey. The turkey will continue to cook for several minutes after you take it out of the oven, so take it out before the meat reaches those target temperatures.

Do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?

Always cook your turkey until the skin is a light golden color. Cover your roasting pan with a lid or foil and cook covered for 2 hours (depending on size of your bird) and uncovered for the remaining time. Baste your turkey every half hour or so.

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.

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

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.” … The meat will be less flavorful by cooking via steam instead of roasting.

Why is my turkey always dry?

Of course, turkey isn’t a red meat, and it’s a relatively lean bird. But another, and perhaps more important, reason turkey is so dry is that it doesn’t stimulate our salivary glands. … If they drool before they eat, the meat will be juicier. The second reason turkey is dry is because it is almost never salty enough.