Best answer: How long do you cook a fresh turkey per pound?

How long does it take to cook a fresh turkey?

Instructions

1. Turkeys should be cooked within 2–3 days of processing.
2. Store turkey in the coldest part of your fridge (back lower corners). …
3. A fresh bird should take 12–15 minutes per pound; using an instant-read thermometer is the best way to tell if your bird is cooked.

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 do you cook turkeys per pound?

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 many minutes per pound do you cook a raw turkey?

The general rule is 15 to 20 minutes per pound of turkey when cooking an unstuffed turkey.

Which is better a frozen or fresh turkey?

Fresh turkeys will hold their moisture better than frozen turkeys, bringing out a meaty texture with deeper natural flavors. … Frozen turkeys are best when flash-frozen packaged immediately to 0°F. The most important factor in deciphering between a fresh or frozen turkey is the quality of the meat before it is frozen.

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.

Is it better to cook a turkey in a convection oven or regular oven?

Convection ovens use a fan to move the hot air around, so food cooks about 30 percent faster than it does in a conventional bake oven, which does not have a fan. … 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 often do you baste a turkey while cooking?

How often to baste a turkey. Most recipes will tell you to baste your turkey every thirty minutes. But our rule of thumb is actually every forty minutes, and here’s why. You don’t want to open the oven too many times, or else the whole bird will take much long to cook, and that’s a huge inconvenience.

What temperature should a turkey cook to?

You’ll need a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Insert it close to, but not touching, the thigh bone. If it reads 180 degrees F in the thigh and 170 degrees F in the breast, it’s done and ready to serve.

Can turkey be slightly pink?

Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. The meat of smoked turkey is always pink.

Does a turkey cook faster in an oven bag?

Easy Juicy Thanksgiving Turkey

The oven bag takes out a lot of the extra work, no brining, basting and so forth. … Plus the turkey cooks faster in an oven bag and clean up is easier! The oven bag locks in flavor and the steam in the bag bastes the turkey as it cooks.

How long to cook a turkey at 325 in a convection oven?

Range & Wall Oven – Cooking a Turkey in a Convection Oven

How long does it take to cook a 21 pound turkey at 375?

Roast the turkey for 1 hour. Rotate the pan, reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh (dont touch the bone) registers 155 degrees , 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

How long do you cook a turkey at 375?

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1. Preparing the bird – Heat oven to 375 degrees. …
2. Cooking the bird – Estimate 12-15 minutes per pound for stuffed turkeys. …
3. Testing for doneness – You can either test by checking the temperature or checking the color of the juices. …
4. Finishing off – Remove bird from the oven.