Roasting a turkey in your convection oven is about 25% faster than in a traditional oven. Here are cooking times to get it perfect every time.
If you already know how to roast a turkey until the skin is golden brown and crispy, it might seem pointless to try to fix something that isn’t broken. Unless time is an issue, that is. It will take you a lot less time to roast that turkey if you have a convection oven. With a few tried-and-true turkey roasting tips, youll have your Thanksgiving bird dressed and ready in no time.
Cooking the perfect juicy turkey can be a challenge for many home cooks. If you are using a convection oven, you have likely wondered whether you should cook your turkey at the standard 350°F oven temperature or use the lower 325°F convection setting. In this article we’ll break down the differences between conventional and convection ovens and give recommendations for the best temperature to use for convection turkey.
Convection Oven Basics
Convection ovens have a fan that circulates hot air around the oven cavity during cooking. This circulating hot air helps food cook faster and more evenly. Items baked in a convection oven also tend to have crisper, browner exterior while staying moist inside.
Compared to conventional ovens without fans, convection ovens can cook foods around 25% faster That’s why it’s important to use lowered oven temperatures when using the convection setting.
Convection vs Standard Oven Cooking
Here’s a quick comparison of how convection and standard ovens differ
Standard Oven
- No internal fan
- Relies on radiant heat from oven coils or gas burners
- Heat circulates naturally via air currents
- Typically cook 25% slower
- Use traditional oven temperature on dials
Convection Oven
- Has an internal fan to circulate hot air
- Creates more even heat distribution
- Cooks faster due to improved heat flow
- Use 25 ̊F lower temperature setting
- May have option to turn fan on/off
Turkey Cooking Temperatures
For a standard oven without convection, cooking a turkey at the typical 350°F temperature is recommended. But for a convection oven, you’ll want to reduce the heat since the built-in fan allows for quicker cooking.
Here are the recommended oven temperatures:
- Standard oven: 350°F
- Convection oven: 325°F
Using the convection setting’s lowered 325°F temperature will prevent the turkey outer surfaces from overcooking before the interior is done.
If your convection oven doesn’t have a specific “convection” temperature setting, you can simply set the standard oven temperature 25 degrees lower.
Convection Turkey Cooking Guidelines
Follow these tips to ensure convection oven turkey success:
- Thaw turkey completely before cooking
- Use a low rack position centering the turkey
- Set oven to “Convection Roast” at 325°F
- Cook 10-15 minutes per pound of turkey
- Baste turkey with juices every 30 minutes
- Monitor temperature with a meat thermometer
The turkey is fully cooked once the thickest part of the breast and thigh reaches 165°F. If the skin starts to brown too quickly during cooking, tent foil loosely over the turkey.
For a 12-14 lb turkey, estimated convection oven cook times range from 2-2.5 hours at 325°F. Always rely on a food thermometer for doneness rather than just cook times.
Convection Roasting Tips
Besides using the right temperature, a few other tips will help ensure you end up with a tender, juicy convection oven turkey:
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Use a low rack position – Cooking the turkey on a lower oven rack brings the bird closer to the fan circulated heat source for optimal convection roasting.
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Cook breast side up – Placing the turkey with the breast facing up will let the hot air better circulate around the meat to cook evenly. The darker leg and thigh meat facing down will be protected from drying out.
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Tent with foil if needed – To prevent over-browning, loosely cover breast and drumsticks with foil. Remove for the last 30 minutes to crisp the skin.
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Baste periodically – Basting the turkey with the juices from the bottom of the pan every 30 minutes will add moisture and flavor.
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Let rest before carving – Allow the turkey to rest 20-30 minutes before slicing to let juices redistribute through the meat.
Convection Produces Perfectly Cooked Turkey
Many home chefs find that convection oven turkey comes out incredibly moist and tender with crispy, golden brown skin. The circulating hot air helps ensure even cooking throughout the meat. Just be sure to use the 25°F lower oven temperature on the convection setting and cook to a safe minimum internal temperature.
Follow the recommendations to cook your turkey at 325°F in a convection oven. Reduce the temperature, use a lower rack, and baste periodically for the best results. With this method, you’ll enjoy a Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey with incredible texture, juiciness and flavor. Your guests will definitely be asking for your convection turkey secrets!
Turkey Legs, Thighs, and Wings
Why cook the whole bird when you can just cook the parts you like? If your family wants extra dark meat or wings, preheat your convection oven to 325°F and cook them as follows:
- Place in pan and cover. Bake 1 to 1½ hours depending on size.
- Take off the lid and bake for another 30 minutes, or until the bone is soft and a digital thermometer that is not touching the bone reads 165°F.
It takes some time and temperature adjustments when cooking with convection because a convection oven cooks 55% faster than a regular oven. This is true whether you’re cooking a whole turkey or a boneless, skinless chicken breast. While the basic roasting time estimates are good, and for safety’s sake, you should always go by the temperature reading, the answers to these questions can help you cook your turkey at the right time.
- Size of the turkey? The bigger the turkey, the longer it needs to cook.
- White meat cooks faster than dark meat, so if you are only cooking a breast, it will take less time to get the meat to a safe temperature.
- Why does it take longer to cook a stuffed turkey to 165°F? This is to make sure the stuffing is safe to eat and avoid food poisoning.
- What color is your roasting pan? The food will cook faster in a darker pan than in a shiny metal pan.
- Are you going to cook the turkey in a bag? Turkey cooked in a poultry bag takes even less time to cook. Check the bag manufacturers instructions for specific cooking times.
- How often are you going to baste the turkey? The oven temperature drops a little every time you open it to baste the turkey. If you baste a lot, the food may take a little longer to cook. Make sure the turkey is cooked to the right temperature with a meat thermometer.
Read More
Unstuffed Whole Turkey Breast
If you choose not to stuff the breast, you will keep the temperature the same and decrease the roasting time by 45 minutes. Always use your meat thermometer to double check your turkey for safe consumption. You dont need a Thanksgiving disaster on your hands.
- 3 to 5½ pounds – 1½ to 2 hours
- 5½ to 9 pounds – 2 to 2½ hours
How long to cook a turkey at 325 in a convection oven?
FAQ
How long to cook a turkey at 325 in a convection oven?
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Minutes/lb.
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Oven Temp
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Whole Turkey
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Unstuffed (10-15 lbs.)
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8-11 min./lb
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325
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Unstuffed (over 15 lbs.)
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7-10 min/lb.
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325
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Turkey Breast
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Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Is 325 convection the same as 350 bake?
How long does it take to cook a Turkey in a convection oven?
It typically takes between 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours for a turkey breast to roast at 325 F in a convection oven. Your convection oven turkey breast is safe to eat when the meat has reached an internal temperature of 165 F. How do you cook a Turkey in a convection oven? Use a low sided sheet pan with a rack.
Can you cook a turkey breast in a convection oven?
All three types of ovens can be used to roast a delicious, moist turkey as long as the temperature of the turkey is carefully monitored. 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. Is it better to cook a turkey breast at 325 or 350?
How many people can roast a Turkey in a convection oven?
After roasting, a serving is about 8 ounces per person. For example, a 20 pound bird should be enough to serve 15 guests. Learning how to prepare and roast a turkey with a convection oven is very simple: Preheat the oven to 325°F on convection setting. Pat the skin dry. This allows the butter to adhere to the surface.
Is convection roasting a Turkey a good idea?
Convection roasting is a great way to cook a turkey because it cooks the turkey evenly and quickly. Here are some tips and tricks for convection roasting a turkey: * Start with a fresh turkey. The best way to ensure that your turkey is cooked evenly and juicy is to start with a fresh turkey.
Can you cook a thawed Turkey in a convection oven?
Start with a fully thawed turkey. See USDA’s tips on safely thawing your turkey. There is no need to baste the turkey when using a convection oven because the blowing heat sears the turkey quickly, which locks in the juices. If a special sauce or marinade is used, baste the turkey during the last hour of cooking.
How long do you cook a Turkey at 325 degrees?
* Place the turkey in a roasting pan and brush it with oil. This will help to keep the turkey moist while it cooks. * Cook the turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time up or down depending on the factors listed above. * Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.