Cooking time for 24 to 30 lb. turkey (not stuffed): 4½ to 5 hours at 325°F. Cooking time for 24-30 lb. turkey (stuffed): cook at 325°F for 5½-6¼ hours.
How long does it take to cook a 30 lb turkey at 350 degrees?
For an unstuffed turkey, we recommend roasting the turkey for 13 minutes per pound of turkey and roasting the turkey for 13 minutes per pound of stuffing.
Should turkey be cooked at 325 or 350?
Do you cook your turkey at 325 or 350 degrees? While “low and slow” is a good rule for cooking all the way through without burning the bird, there are no hard and fast rules. All of our temperature guides assume you are cooking at 325, but you can cook it about the same, a little warmer, or a little shorter.
How many hours per pound should you cook a turkey?
Calculate the cooking time and temperature for your turkey. The easiest way to figure out the roasting time for a turkey is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (about 3 hours for a turkey) and 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
How long does it take to cook a 35lb turkey?
How long does it take to cook a turkey?
| Weight of turkey | Cooking time | Air temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 lbs breast | 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes | 165°F |
| 8-12 lbs. | 2 hr 45 min to 3 hr | 170-175°F |
| 12-14 lbs. | 3 hours – 3 hours 45 min. | 170-175°F |
| 14-18 lbs. | 3 hrs. 45 min. – 4 hrs. 15 min. | 170-175°F |
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?
We have found that covering the turkey with foil produces more marsh results than roasting without foil. We only prefer to cover the breast to even out the cooking time.
Do you cook turkey covered or uncovered?
Q: Don’t you cover or uncover the bird? A: The folks at Butterball recommend cooking a covered turkey in a roasting pan. Two-thirds of the way through cooking, Butterball says you can put foil over the udder area to keep the udder from drying out.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe
- Choose a fresh turkey, not a frozen one.
- Roast two small turkeys instead of one large turkey.
- Marinate the turkey in brine.
- Rub soft butter under the skin.
- Truss loosely or not at all.
- Roast the turkey upside down first.
- Do not overcook.
- Allow the turkey to rest before carving.
What is the best temperature to bake a turkey?
Our best turkey tips
- If you are feeding a crowd, purchase two small birds (or a whole turkey and one turkey breast).
- Agree that a test kitchen is the best temperature to cook a turkey. This is because it is not too hot, not too cold, and cooks fast enough to assure a juicy, flavorful bird that will be ready for dinner.
Should you take turkey out of fridge before cooking?
Before going into the oven, the turkey needs to be at room temperature, so remove it from the refrigerator (1 hour for the entire turkey, or 30 minutes for cutting) before cooking. Keep it covered in a cool place.
How long should a turkey rest for?
Thanksgiving Helpline. Pull out as soon as temperature reaches 165 or slightly lower. The amount of rest time depends on the size of the bird, but should be at least 20 minutes. Larger birds can wait up to 40 minutes or more, depending on room temperature.
Do you put water in a roaster oven when cooking a turkey?
Electric roaster ovens take full advantage of this feature by cooking food through even distribution of heat and liquid. The covered roaster traps and recycles moisture from the food during cooking, so no additional water or other liquids are needed unless required by the recipe.
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
Some recipes state that turkey should be cooked to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, but the meat is safe to consume once it reaches the 165 degree mark. Cooking breasts past 165 can result in dry meat, but dark meat can be cooked up to 180.
How do I cook a 35 pound turkey?
How long does it take to cook a turkey per pound? According to the USDA, the general rule for an unstuffed turkey (fresh or marbled) is about 15 minutes in a regular oven at 325°F.
How do you flip a turkey in the oven?
Make sure the turkey is not sticking to the roasting rack by running a spatula or table knife between the two. With hand protection in place, grasp the turkey by the neck and tail and immediately turn it over carefully. Try to keep the turkey level. Doing so should prevent any cavity juices or material from spilling out.
What happens if you cook turkey upside down?
There are two advantages to roasting the breast side of the turkey. The dark meat cooks faster as it approaches the heat source, and the juices trickle down and drip off for spectacular breast meat. Talk about a better turn!
Do Butterball turkeys have butter in them?
In fact, there is no actual butter in a butterball turkey. The fresh turkey is infused with a temporary solution made of salt water and “common household spices,” one brand representative told me. Butterball does not share its secret busting formula ingredients.
How do you prepare a turkey the night before?
Place the turkey in a shallow dish large enough to hold it and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. The day before roasting the turkey, remove the plastic wrap and place the turkey in the refrigerator. Skin will be dry and slightly translucent.
How long should a turkey rest before you carve it?
Let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before you cut things up. That way its juices are not on the cutting board.
How often should I baste my turkey?
Most recipes will instruct you to cook the turkey every 30 minutes. However, our rule of thumb is actually every 40 minutes. The reasons for this are as follows. You don’t want to open the oven too many times, otherwise the whole bird would take longer to cook, and that is a major inconvenience.
Do you cook turkey breast side up or down?
The USDA recommends cooking the entire turkey breast during the entire cooking time. Flipping a large, hot bird is dangerous and it is very easy to tear the skin, making the finished product less appealing.
Should I put butter or oil on my turkey?
Do not butter the bird. Putting butter under the skin will not make the meat juicier, but it will help brown the skin faster. But butter is about 17% water and will dissipate the bird, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before roasting.
Should you put water in the bottom of the pan when roasting a turkey?
Add water to the roasting pan to keep the turkey from drying out. Grandma always added water or chicken broth to the bottom of the roasting pan at the start of cooking. This prevents the bird from drying out.
Why is my turkey always dry?
If they slobber before eating, the meat will be juicy. The second reason turkey is dry is because it has very little salt. Unless the turkey has been coated with a bucket of salt a few days before, there is no way for the salt to permeate the turkey.
Should I start my turkey at a higher temperature?
Remove the turkey from the refrigerator an hour before roasting, as the turkey will cook more evenly and faster if started at room temperature. If you plan to stuff the turkey, wait until ready to put it in the oven before placing the stuffing on the turkey.
How do you keep a turkey warm for 4 hours?
A kitchen towel placed over the foil helps keep the meat warm and moist when carved and served. For another option, cover the bird with foil and return it to a low temperature 200F oven. Place a pan of water under the turkey to create steam and contribute to the moisture.
How do I know the turkey is cooked?
A meat thermometer is needed to cook the turkey to the proper temperature. Insert it close to the thigh bone, but not touching it. When it reads 180 degrees Fahrenheit at the thigh and 170 degrees F at the breast, it is done and ready to serve.
What if I left my turkey out overnight to thaw?
Thawing raw meat at room temperature for more than two hours imposes rapid bacterial growth. Is thawing turkey at room temperature a good idea? No. If you are doing it and using it, it is not a good idea. If you have done it and used it, you are in luck.
Is it OK to leave turkey out overnight?
Cooked turkeys that are left in for more than two hours (or one hour above 90°F) should be discarded. The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when cooked turkeys are kept at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F. Try to refrigerate cooked turkeys as soon as possible to prevent foodborne illness.
When should I tent my turkey?
Turkey Tenting – Initially, an aluminum foil tent may be placed loosely over the turkey breast for the first 1 to 1-1/2 hours and then removed due to browning. Alternatively, a foil tent may be placed over the turkey after the turkey has reached the desired golden color.
How do you know when turkey is done without thermometer?
To find out if the turkey is done without a thermometer, drill a hole in the middle thigh muscle at the junction, explains Nicole Johnson, co-director of the Butterball Turkey Talk Line. When the juices are clear and no longer red or pink, it’s a good sign that the turkey is done.”
Can I let my turkey rest for 2 hours?
A 4- to 6-kg turkey should rest for an hour and a half, while a 6- to 10-kg one can rest for two hours. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
Can you let a turkey rest too long?
Can I let my turkey rest longer? In theory, yes. After a certain point, it is best not to let the bird rest for more than an hour, as the meat will begin to cool. Therefore, if you want to serve a piping hot turkey dinner, a 45 minute to 1 hour rest period is preferable.
What do you put in the bottom of a turkey pan?
Place the chopped onion, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. Select some herbs from the stems and add them to the vegetables.
What do you put in the turkey cavity when not using stuffing?
Herbs. The secret secret to adding extra flavor to your Thanksgiving turkey is to season it liberally. To make sure your favorite herbs permeate every part of the bird, stuff a small bunch into the cavity of the turkey. Thyme, sage, parsley, and a little rosemary are a great combination, but feel free to customize to your liking.
Does turkey need roasting rack?
You don’t need a rack specifically designed for a roasting pan, but you will need something to lift the bird over the bottom of the pan. Aluminum foil balls work perfectly well. Upside-down Ramekins can also be used.
Where is the best place to insert a thermometer in a turkey?
There are few tips to keep in mind. When preparing the whole turkey, insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing. Do not allow the thermometer to touch the bones, gristle, or pan.
Do Butterball turkeys have pop up timers?
Does the Butterball turkey come with a pop-up timer? The Butterball turkey does not come with a pop-up timer. Instead, we recommend using a meat thermometer as the best way to determine if the turkey is properly cooked.
What is the lowest safe temperature to cook a turkey?
Be safe – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends a temperature not to exceed 325 degrees Fahrenheit for cooking meat and poultry. Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Do you cook your turkey at 325 or 350 degrees? While “low and slow” is a good rule for cooking all the way through without burning the bird, there are no hard and fast rules. All of our temperature guides assume you are cooking at 325, but you can cook it about the same, a little warmer, or a little shorter.
How do you cook a 40 pound turkey?
Rub oil or butter on it and cook without stuffing. Do not cover until about 2/3 cooked. cooked at 325 for about 4 hours.
How long do you cook a turkey for at 350?
For an unstuffed turkey, we recommend roasting the turkey for 13 minutes per pound of turkey and roasting the turkey for 13 minutes per pound of stuffing.
Should I cover a turkey with foil?
We found that covering the turkey with foil produced much more moist results than roasting without foil. To even out the cooking time, we recommend simply covering the breast. Some people swear that roasting the turkey breast down and turning it over halfway through will produce the same results as a foil-covered breast.
Do I Cover the turkey when cooking?
Always cook the turkey until the skin is light golden brown. Cover the roasting pan with a lid or foil and cook covered for 2 hours (depending on the size of the bird) and uncovered the rest of the time. Roast the turkey every 30 minutes.
Do I take the plastic thing off the turkey?
Speaking of plastic, turkeys usually come with a plastic or metal crimp called a hook lock, which holds the legs together in the back. You can leave it on or remove it. The legs may cook more evenly without it. Rinse the turkey well inside and out with cold water.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe
- Choose a fresh turkey, not a frozen one.
- Roast two small turkeys instead of one large turkey.
- Marinate the turkey in brine.
- Rub soft butter under the skin.
- Truss loosely or not at all.
- Roast the turkey upside down first.
- Do not overcook.
- Allow the turkey to rest before carving.
What side of the turkey goes up in the pan?
Place slices lengthwise, buttered side up, on a V-shaped wire rack set in a roasting pan. Place the turkey breast side down on the pan (do not place directly on the rack).
Should I wash my turkey before cooking it?
According to a study by USDA food safety experts, washing and rinsing raw turkey may expose you to the risk of foodborne illness. Wash raw turkey only once, and that is after brining. Otherwise, do not wash the turkey before cooking.
Is Butterball turkey better than other brands?
Butterball turkeys are top quality products and are sure to impress your guests. Here’s why Butterball is the right (and only) choice this holiday season
What’s the difference between a Butterball turkey and a regular turkey?
Butterballs are known for their pre-cooked turkey. A frozen Butterball turkey contains an 8% solution of water, salt, spices, and “natural flavoring,” while a turkey sold fresh (by law, meaning it has never been chilled below 26 degrees Fahrenheit) contains only 4%. The solution.
What brand of turkey is best?
We’ve roasted 5 grocery store turkeys and this is the best we’ve found.
- This is how we do it.
- Butterballs.
- Shady Brooke Farms.
- Harris Teeterbrand.
- Nature’s Rancher.
- Organic Prairie.
What can I put in my turkey for flavor?
Basics like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage help add traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Add halved lemons or oranges to take the flavor up a notch. Citrus fruits add a nice brightness and tartness to the turkey.
Should I season turkey the night before?
How should I prepare the bird for roasting? The night before you put the turkey in the oven, season it with a blend. Maybe fresh herbs, garlic, shallots, and/or onions, olives or whatever your tradition is.
How do you prepare a turkey the night before?
Place the turkey in a shallow dish large enough to hold it and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. The day before roasting the turkey, remove the plastic wrap and place the turkey in the refrigerator. Skin will be dry and slightly translucent.
How do you make turkey skin crispy?
Rub the skin with fat. Once the skin is carefully dried, the next step to assure perfectly crispy turkey skin is to rub it with a fat such as butter or oil. Butter contains at least 20% moisture, while oil contains no moisture and will result in a crispier skin than butter.
Why You Should Never baste your turkey?
Do not season the meat. It is not necessary to brine the rind to flavor the meat. Flavor the skin, but let the heat escape from the oven each time you open the oven. That means the bird will be in there longer, which means it will be drier,” Brown says.
How long before cooking should I take turkey out of fridge?
Before going into the oven, the turkey needs to be at room temperature, so remove it from the refrigerator (1 hour for the entire turkey, or 30 minutes for cutting) before cooking. Keep it covered in a cool place.
Should I put butter under the skin of my turkey?
Adding a layer of butter under the skin before roasting will give the Thanksgiving turkey a rich flavor and add moisture.
What is the best temperature to cook turkey?
Stick to a temperature of 325°F so that the turkey is fully cooked without overdoing it.
Why should you cook turkey upside down?
There are two advantages to roasting the breast side of the turkey. The dark meat cooks faster as it approaches the heat source, and the juices trickle down and drip off for spectacular breast meat. Talk about a better turn!
How do you flip a turkey in the oven?
Make sure the turkey is not sticking to the roasting rack by running a spatula or table knife between the two. With hand protection in place, grasp the turkey by the neck and tail and immediately turn it over carefully. Try to keep the turkey level. Doing so should prevent any cavity juices or material from spilling out.