How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey with Alton Brown’s Recipe?

For many home cooks, preparing the perfect roast turkey can be an intimidating task. With its large size and long cooking time, it’s easy to end up with an underdone or dried-out bird if you don’t get the timing right. That’s why so many turn to trusted food experts like Alton Brown when cooking their holiday feast centerpiece. The longtime TV host and author is known for developing tasty recipes backed by food science.

One of Alton Brown’s most popular turkey recipes is his brined Good Eats Roast Turkey This method produces exceptionally moist, seasoned meat in all sections of the turkey But how long exactly does it take to cook a turkey using his technique? Let’s break it down.

Overview of the Good Eats Turkey Recipe

Alton Brown’s roast turkey recipe starts with soaking the thawed raw bird in a salt, sugar, and spice brine for 8 to 16 hours. Brining infuses flavor and moisture deep into the meat

After rinsing off the brine, the turkey is placed breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan. A foil shield covers the breast meat to prevent overcooking. The turkey starts roasting at a high 500°F for 30 minutes to brown the skin.

Then the oven temperature is lowered to 350°F and an instant-read thermometer is inserted in the thickest part of the breast. The turkey roasts until the thermometer reaches the target internal temp of 155°F.

Cooking Time for a 14-16 lb Turkey

For a 14 to 16 pound turkey, Alton estimates the total active cooking time at 500°F and then 350°F will be 90 minutes to 2 hours. However, the exact time needed will vary.

Factors like your specific oven’s hot spots, the turkey’s shape and thickness, and how cold it was before roasting will all impact the total time. Checking the internal temp and cooking until it hits 155°F is more important than going by time alone.

As a general guide, you can expect approximately 15-20 minutes per pound at the 350°F roasting temp. So a 15 lb turkey would take roughly 225-300 minutes (3 3⁄4 – 5 hours) total active cooking time.

Why Alton Brown’s Method Takes Longer

You may notice that Alton Brown’s turkey recipe calls for a significantly longer roasting time than many others. Traditional recipes often cite cooking times of just 2-2 1⁄2 hours total.

So why does his technique need up to 5 hours for a 15-pounder? There are two main reasons:

1. Lower oven temperature – Roasting at moderate 350°F rather than very hot temperatures up to 425°F means the turkey will require a longer time to finish cooking. But the payoff is juicier meat.

2. Deep breast temperature – Alton aims for an internal breast temp of 155°F compared to the USDA’s 165°F. Those extra 10 degrees mean at least another 45 minutes to an hour of roasting. Again though, pulling the turkey at 155°F results in a moister bird.

So while it requires patience, Alton’s careful temperature control leads to the best possible texture and moisture in both the white and dark meat.

Carryover Cooking Time

Don’t forget to account for carryover cooking after the turkey comes out of the oven. The internal temperature will continue rising about 5-10°F as the hot turkey rests.

Alton recommends allowing the cooked turkey to rest for 15+ minutes before carving. So factor that into your total time.

Tips for Serving Time

When planning your meal timing, remember the turkey needs to rest before you can carve and serve it. And a bird this size can take 30-45 minutes to fully carve and arrange on a platter.

If you want to eat dinner within an hour of the turkey coming out of the oven, you’ll need to prep the other components in advance. Side dishes can be kept warm in a low oven or slow cooker. Reheat anything that needs a final sauté or bake just before serving.

And encourage your guests to enjoy appetizers first while the turkey finishes resting! A good turkey is worth the extra minutes of patience.

When following Alton Brown’s brined roast turkey recipe, allow plenty of time for the long but flavorful cooking process. With his precise directions, you’ll enjoy a beautifully cooked bird worth celebrating.