Here are some of my best turkey roasting tips for a turkey that is full of flavor. The turkey is the main dish at Thanksgiving, and it may also be the hardest part of the meal. Learn all about turkey brining, turkey roasting times, and turkey roasting temperatures.
Cooking the perfect turkey can seem daunting, but the truth is it’s easier than you think. The key is cooking the turkey at the right temperature – and the ideal temp for a moist, flavorful turkey is 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why 375 Degrees is the Magic Number
Over the years there’s been a lot of debate over what temperature you should cook your Thanksgiving turkey. Some people swear by starting at a high temp like 425°F to brown the skin, then dropping the temp down. Others argue different temperatures based on the turkey’s size or if it’s stuffed vs. unstuffed. But after extensive testing the experts agree 375°F is the goldilocks temperature for turkey.
Here’s why 375°F is ideal:
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It’s high enough to crisp up the skin nicely without burning it.
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It cooks the turkey fast enough to get it done by dinner time.
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It allows enough time for the interior and stuffing to cook through without drying out the breast meat
No matter the size of your turkey or if you stuff it, 375°F consistently delivers a perfectly cooked bird.
Cooking Times for 375°F
Obviously, a 20 lb turkey will take longer to cook than a 12 lb one. Here are general guidelines for how long to cook your turkey at 375°F:
Unstuffed:
- 8-10 lbs: 1 hr 45 mins – 2 hrs 15 mins
- 10-12 lbs: 2 hrs 15 mins – 2 hrs 30 mins
- 12-14 lbs: 2 hrs 30 mins – 3 hrs
- 14-16 lbs: 3 hrs – 3 hrs 30 mins
- 16-18 lbs: 3 hrs 30 mins – 4 hrs
- 18-20 lbs: 4 hrs – 4 hrs 15 mins
Stuffed:
- 8-12 lbs: 3 hrs – 3 hrs 30 mins
- 12-14 lbs: 3 hrs 30 mins – 4 hrs
- 14-18 lbs: 4 hrs – 4 hrs 15 mins
- 18-20 lbs: 4 hrs 15 mins – 4 hrs 45 mins
- 20-24 lbs: 4 hrs 45 mins – 5 hrs 15 mins
These times are a general guideline, but I recommend using a meat thermometer to determine doneness rather than relying solely on time.
What Temperature Means Turkey is Done
Speaking of meat thermometers, this handy gadget is truly the best way to ensure your turkey reaches the proper internal temperature. Forget about those pop-up timers – they can be unreliable.
Instead, use an instant read thermometer to check the turkey’s temp in the innermost part of the thigh and breast. The thighs should hit 170°F and breast 165°F before removing the turkey from the oven. If stuffing the turkey, the center of the stuffing should reach 165°F as well.
Once the turkey hits the right internal temp, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 20-30 minutes before carving. This resting time allows the juices to redistribute so your meat stays nice and moist.
Turkey Roasting Tips
Beyond cooking at 375°F, here are some extra tips for roasting the perfect turkey:
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Season under the skin: Slip herbs, citrus, garlic, and butter under the skin to impart tons of flavor into the breast meat.
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Use a rack: Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan so the heat circulates all around. Add veggies like onion and carrot under the rack for aroma and extra flavor.
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Baste with pan drippings: Baste the turkey a couple times during roasting to keep the skin from drying out.
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Rotate occasionally: Rotate the pan front to back halfway through roasting for even browning.
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Rest before carving: As mentioned, be sure to let that bird rest so the juices get reabsorbed!
Help! My Turkey is Still Frozen!
We’ve all been there – you pull the turkey out to thaw the night before Thanksgiving only to find it still frozen solid. Don’t panic! You can absolutely still roast a frozen turkey. It will just take about 50% longer to cook through.
Simply allow 1.5 times the recommended cooking time for your turkey’s size, and check the temperature with a meat thermometer per the guidelines above. Also, use that pan dripping basting technique to help add moisture and prevent the skin from drying out.
While roasting a frozen bird may delay dinner a bit, rest assured your turkey will still turn out delicious. The key is relying on an accurate thermometer, not time, to determine doneness.
What Size Turkey Should I Buy?
When buying your Thanksgiving turkey, smaller is better. Instead of one huge 20 lb turkey, get two 10-12 lb birds. The smaller turkeys will cook more evenly, have more crispy skin, and be easier to carve.
Aim for about 1-1.5 lbs of turkey per guest, which allows enough for generous servings plus a bit of leftovers. Get a turkey breast alongside a whole turkey if cooking for a crowd.
Let’s Talk Turkey!
There you have it – everything you need to know to roast the perfect 375°F turkey. With these simple tips, you’ll enjoy a norman rockwell-worthy bird this Thanksgiving. Just remember:
- Cook at 375°F
- Use a meat thermometer
- Let that sucker rest before carving
Soon you’ll be doling out juicy, flavorful slices of turkey that your guests will rave about. The only thing left to decide is light or dark meat? Happy Thanksgiving!
I Had Some Questions About Brining
- What is brining?
- How do you brine a turkey?
- What is in a turkey brine?
Should you Rest your turkey?
Absolutely! You might wonder: is it necessary to let the turkey rest. YES! The answer is definitely YES. If you carve the turkey before it has had 30 minutes to rest, the juices will run off the board and into the meat.
This gives you time to do any last-minute things you need to do before the meal, like finishing up any side dishes, making the gravy, setting the table, or quickly cleaning up the kitchen.
Don’t worry about your turkey being cold; it will still be nice and warm, but you can cover it with foil to keep the heat in while it rests. Serving your turkey alongside hot gravy also helps the temperature of your turkey taste plenty warm when eating.
The turkey’s temperature will continue to rise a few more degrees during the resting period. Resting allows the turkey to reach it’s final temperature without the meat becoming over cooking.
Letting the turkey rest helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat and be reabsorbed. The meat fibers also relax and widen. The result is incredibly juicy, tender meat that is also easy to cut.
When you carve your turkey right after it’s done cooking, the juices will pool on the cutting board and not be able to spread out throughout the bird. This will result in a dry turkey.
How long do you cook a turkey per pound in the oven?
FAQ
How long does a turkey take to cook at 375 degrees?
What is the lowest temperature you can cook a turkey at?
Is it too high to cook a turkey at 350 degrees?
What is the best temperature to cook a whole turkey?
How long to cook a Turkey at 375 degrees?
Let’s find out how long to cook turkey at 375 degrees. When the smoker is set to 375 degrees, your turkey should cook at a rate of 10 to 12 minutes per pound. Since we suggest birds weighing no more than 12 pounds for the smoker, your bird could be ready in just 2-1/2 hours—including resting time.
Is 375 degrees a safe temperature to cook a Turkey?
It is still a safe temperature so don’t worry. When cooking at 375°F it is important to make sure you don’t get overcooked turkey on the outside, while the meat remains undercooked. Remember, this is a big bird and you want to make sure it cooks thoroughly
How long does it take to cook a 12 pound turkey?
At 375 degrees, the turkey will reach its optimum temperature much more quickly. Expect the bird to cook at a rate of 10 to 12 minutes per pound. That means a 12-pound bird could be finished cooking in just 2 hours.
What temperature should a turkey breast be cooked to?
Cooking time is dependent on the size of your turkey breast. Turkey needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer for accuracy. Boneless turkey breasts will cook faster than a bone-in turkey breast.
What temperature do you cook a stuffed turkey?
However, after decades of testing, we found the one Goldilocks temperature for turkey is 375℉. It’s not too hot, not too cold and cooks quickly enough to ensure that a bird is juuust right by dinnertime. If you’re wondering what temperature to cook a stuffed turkey, it’s the same number: 375℉. What temperature do you cook a 16-pound turkey? 375℉.
How long should you cook a Turkey before carving?
Test Kitchen Tip: When your turkey finishes cooking, cover it loosely with foil and let it stand 15 minutes before carving. If you’re going the classic route, stuffing your turkey rather than cooking the stuffing in its own dish, you’ll increase the above roasting times by 15 to 45 minutes.