If you’re pressed for time (or oven space), Make Ahead Roasted Turkey is just what you need. With this technique, cooking turkey the day before, the week before, or even the month before, still tastes delicious and freshly carved.
Of all the easy Thanksgiving turkey recipes out there, this one just works. Well before guests arrive, I get all the carving out of the way, make the gravy, make broth with the turkey carcass, and then I’m left fully prepared to deal with whatever else the day throws at me.
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe. Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Can You Prepare a Turkey the Night Before Cooking? A Complete Guide
Cooking a turkey is often the centerpiece of holiday meals, but it can also be an incredibly time-consuming and stressful process. Many cooks wonder if they can prepare the turkey ahead of time to simplify the cooking process on the big day. The answer is yes you absolutely can prepare your turkey the night before cooking it! Here is a complete guide to safely and effectively preparing your turkey in advance.
The Benefits of Preparing Your Turkey in AdvanceThere are several excellent reasons to prepare your turkey the night before cooking
-
Saves time on the busy holiday – Prepping your turkey ahead gives you more time to focus on side dishes, appetizers, desserts, and hosting guests rather than slaving away in the kitchen
-
Allows flavors to develop – Seasoning a turkey and letting it rest overnight gives the flavors, herbs, spices and rubs more time to thoroughly penetrate the meat.
-
Moist, tender meat – The salt and seasoning have more time to tenderize the turkey meat when it is prepped in advance.
-
Frees up oven space – With the turkey already cooked, your oven is freed up for cooking all the various side dishes on the big day.
-
Reduces stress – Getting part of the cooking finished ahead of time means you’ll be more relaxed when the holiday arrives.
How Far in Advance Can You Prepare a Turkey?
Many people prep their turkey 1-2 days before cooking it. However, you can technically prepare a turkey up to 4 days before cooking. Any longer than that and the quality begins to suffer. For best flavor and texture, aim to prep your bird 1-2 days in advance.
Turkey Safety First – Thawing and Storage Tips
When prepping your turkey in advance, proper storage and thawing are crucial to avoid foodborne illness:
-
Always thaw turkey thoroughly in the refrigerator before prepping or cooking. Allow 24 hours per 4-5 pounds.
-
Keep thawed turkey refrigerated at 40°F or below until ready to prep or cook.
-
Prepared turkey should be tightly wrapped and stored in the fridge immediately. Use within 1-2 days.
-
Cook or freeze leftovers within 2 hours of carving the cooked turkey.
Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Your Turkey in Advance
Here is a simple step-by-step walkthrough for prepping your Thanksgiving turkey the night before cooking:
-
Thaw Completely
If frozen, thaw turkey thoroughly in the refrigerator before beginning (allow 24 hours per 4-5 pounds). -
Remove Giblets & Neck
The night before cooking, remove bag of giblets and neck from the inner cavity. Discard or use for gravy. -
Rinse and Dry
Give the inner cavity a rinse with cool water. Thoroughly pat dry inside and out with paper towels. -
Apply Seasonings
Rub the outside of the turkey with olive oil or softened butter. Generously season the inner cavity as well. You can use a dry rub, poultry seasoning, fresh herbs, citrus, garlic, etc. -
Refrigerate
Tightly wrap seasoned turkey in plastic wrap or place in a plastic bag. Put directly on a tray and refrigerate overnight. -
Remove from Fridge
On the day of cooking, remove turkey from fridge and allow to sit at room temp for 30 minutes before roasting. -
Roast as Usual
Roast the turkey according to your normal method. Use a meat thermometer to ensure safe internal temp. -
Let Rest, Carve and Serve!
Allow turkey to rest for 20-30 mins before carving. Slice or portion out meat as desired. Warm through leftovers and enjoy!
Handy Turkey Roasting Tips
- Roast at 325°F, allowing about 15-20 mins per pound for an unstuffed turkey
- Place breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan
- Baste periodically with pan drippings or chicken broth
- Tent foil over turkey for the first 2/3 of roasting time
- Turkey is safely cooked at 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh
Stuffing Your Turkey in Advance
While stuffing inside the turkey cavity adds delicious flavor, improper handling can increase foodborne illness risks. If stuffing the turkey, follow these tips:
- Prepare the stuffing, but don’t mix wet and dry ingredients until just before stuffing the bird.
- Fill the turkey cavity loosely, not packed tight. Truss to enclose.
- Cook stuffing to 165°F. Check temperature in multiple spots.
- Allow turkey to rest 20 minutes before removing stuffing.
- Refrigerate leftover stuffing within 2 hours.
For optimal safety, cooking your stuffing in a casserole dish is recommended over stuffing inside the bird.
Choose the Right Turkey Size
Allow about 1-1.5 pounds of turkey per person. An 8-12 pound turkey will feed 8-12 people comfortably:
- 8-12 people: 8-12 pound turkey
- 10-15 people: 12-15 pound turkey
- 14-20 people: 16-20 pound turkey
- 18-24 people: 20-24 pound turkey
Buying a turkey that is too large can lead to unsafe handling of leftovers. Aim for 1-1.5 pounds per person.
Let Your Turkey Shine With Sides
A perfect turkey deserves exceptional holiday side dishes like:
- Fluffy dinner rolls
- Classic mashed potatoes and gravy
- Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, carrots, and parsnips
- Fresh cranberry sauce
- Coleslaw or green salad
- Pumpkin, pecan or apple pie for dessert
With your turkey prepped ahead of time, you’ll have more freedom to make delicious sides your guests will rave about.
Preparing Your Turkey in Advance Is a Game-Changer
Prepping your turkey the night before roasting offers many advantages for a less stressful, flavorful holiday meal. Follow these tips for safely preparing your Thanksgiving turkey in advance. With your bird ready to pop in the oven, you’ll have a hassle-free holiday full of food, family, and giving thanks.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: Plan for 1 ¼ pounds turkey per person (some of the weight is from bones) for your Thanksgiving menu. This recipe assumes a 15-pound bird will feed about 12 people (about 1 ½ cups turkey per person or 18 cups total). The math is: 12 people x 1.25 pounds per person = 15-pound turkey.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Thaw safely: The best (and safest) way to thaw a frozen turkey is slowly in the refrigerator over the course of several days. It takes longer, but it is infinitely safer. Never thaw a turkey using warm/hot water, in the microwave, or at room temperature, all of which let bacteria grow before the turkey is thawed.
- Brine: A dry brine is a great way to infuse your turkey with extra flavor, if you have the time and inclination. If brining, look for a turkey with the words “no salt added” on the label. Stay away from “self-basting” or Kosher turkeys which are already injected with a brine.
- Roasting times may vary: After all, you may be cooking a slightly smaller or larger turkey. An unstuffed turkey takes about 15 minutes per pound when roasted at 325 degrees. However, the best way to tell if a turkey is well roasted is with a good meat thermometer (165 degrees at the thickest part of the thigh).
- Carving: It’s easiest to carve one entire side of the first and then move on to the second side. See my full tutorial on carving a turkey for more information.
For food safety reasons, and for a more evenly cooked bird, most modern recipes don’t encourage stuffing a turkey. If you decide to stuff your turkey, combine wet and dry stuffing components just before placing them in the cavity of the turkey, ensuring any raw meat, poultry, or seafood used in the stuffing is fully cooked beforehand. Do not stuff a bird with cooked stuffing. Use a large spoon or your hands to loosely stuff the body and neck cavities (do not pack it tightly because the stuffing expands while it cooks). Truss the main cavity with trussing pins to keep the stuffing inside. The stuffing must register 165 degrees on an internal thermometer to be safe to eat. Stuffing a chicken or Cornish hens is also discouraged. For more information, see the USDA website.
How to prep a turkey for roasting
FAQ
Can I prep my turkey the night before?
Goodbye stress. It takes time and attention to prep a turkey, roast it for several hours, let it rest, and carve it. You can do all that in advance, refrigerate it for 1-3 days, and all you have to do is heat it up when it’s time to serve your turkey dinner. Oh, what a relief it is!
Is it safe to stuff a turkey the night before cooking it?
Can I make Stuffed Turkey Breast in advance? Yes, you can prepare the turkey breast up to 48 hours in advance. Ensure that the stuffing is completely cold before rolling the turkey, keep well-chilled and allow to rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour before cooking.
Can you prepare turkey and leave in the fridge?
Cooked turkey can be safely stored in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days. Make sure to keep it in an airtight container or tightly wrapped to maintain its freshness. If you need to keep it longer, consider freezing it, where it can last for several months.
How do you store a turkey cooked the night before?
Place the turkey on a shallow baking sheet and wrap it securely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the turkey for at least 1 to 2 days. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator, remove the plastic wrap, and drain any juices from the pan. Return the turkey to the refrigerator for 1 day, unwrapped.
Can You prep Turkey the night before?
Yes, you can prep turkey the night before by brining it, seasoning it, and storing it in the refrigerator. However, it is important to ensure that the turkey is properly thawed before beginning the prep process and that it is stored in an airtight container to prevent contamination.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
Can you cook a Turkey the day before?
If you’re pressed for time (or oven space), Make Ahead Roasted Turkey is just what you need. With this technique, cooking turkey the day before, the week before, or even the month before, still tastes delicious and freshly carved. Of all the easy Thanksgiving turkey recipes out there, this one just works.
Should you cook a Turkey the night before Thanksgiving?
Things like removing the giblets, rinsing the turkey, rubbing it with herbs and butter, and even stuffing it can all be done the night before. Frees up oven space – If you roast the turkey the day before your oven is free for all your side dishes on Thanksgiving day. No need to worry about coordinating oven space and cooking times.
How long do you cook a Turkey a night before?
Roast turkey at 350°F until the thickest part of the breast reaches 165°F and the thigh 175°F on a meat thermometer. Plan for approximately 15 minutes per pound. Let turkey rest at least 30 minutes before carving. Here are some additional tips for prepping your turkey the night before: For food safety, limit prep to 24 hours before cooking.
Should I Bast a Turkey the night before?
Basting the turkey should generally be done during the cooking process rather than the night before, as it helps to keep the meat moist while it cooks. 9. Should I oil the turkey the night before? Oil the turkey just before cooking as this helps to promote a crispy skin during the roasting process. 10.