You can smoke a whole turkey for less time and for longer than you think! Here are some tips on how to prepare, brine, smoke, and cook a turkey.
The most common types of turkey we’ve had are Oven Roasted and Fried. But last year, we learned how to smoke a turkey and tried it for the first time!
In fact, every last bite of the 15 lb Turkey was devoured, and people were looking for more.
Nick and the boys were in charge of making the Thanksgiving dinner because I had just had major surgery.
Our wonderful friends in the area invited us to dinner, and they cooked most of the food. We only brought the turkey, a few sides, and a dessert.
If you’re making it for a holiday meal or just want Turkey,
He bought a Camp Chef Smoker, and it uses Pellets to smoke. (It was worth the investment, we smoke on it at least 1-2 times per week. Living in Texas, we are able to use it year round. ).
When he smokes turkeys, he prefers to use Apple, Hickory, or Cherry Wood Pellets in the smoker.
You can also cook a turkey in a Dutch oven if you don’t have a smoker. This recipe for a Dutch oven turkey breast is delicious! It makes a great roasted turkey breast with crispy skin that is slathered in a garlic and herb compound butter and topped with homemade gravy.
We picked a 15-pound Butterball Turkey and let it thaw in the fridge for a few days before cooking. The day before, we started brining it.
Roasting a turkey can seem daunting, but cooking it at the ideal temperature is key to perfect results Most experts agree that 275°F is the optimal roasting temperature for turkey But how long does it take to cook a turkey at 275°F?
Cooking the turkey low and slow at 275°F allows the meat to gently cook through without drying out. Let’s take a closer look at why this temperature works so well, approximate cooking times, and tips for roasting the best 275°F turkey.
Why Cook a Turkey at 275°F?
There are a few reasons why 275°F is ideal for roasting turkey
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Prevents overcooking and drying. Higher temperatures can burn the outside before the inside cooks through.
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Allows time for tender, juicy meat. The collagen breaks down slowly at 275°F for succulent texture.
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Provides a window to cook thoroughly You can roast until fully cooked without going overboard.
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Crisps the skin beautifully. The lower heat renders fat slowly under the skin for crispy browning.
So 275°F gives you the best of both worlds – moist, flavorful meat and golden crispy skin.
Turkey Cooking Times Per Pound at 275°F
Cooking times vary based on the size of your turkey. Here are some general guidelines:
- 8-12 lb turkey: 2.5 – 3 hours
- 12-16 lb turkey: 3 – 4 hours
- 16-20 lb turkey: 4 – 5 hours
- 20-24 lb turkey: 5 – 6 hours
Plan on roasting approximately 15-20 minutes per pound at 275°F.
For stuffed turkeys, increase cooking time by about 30 minutes since the stuffing absorbs additional heat. It’s also safest to bake stuffing separately.
How to Tell When Turkey is Done
Using an instant-read meat thermometer provides the most accurate doneness gauge. Insert it into the thickest part of the thigh and wing, avoiding the bone.
The turkey is finished cooking when the thigh and wing reach 165°F. The breast may register 155-165°F when done.
If juices run clear when pierced and the drumsticks wiggle easily, it’s also ready. Let rest 20-30 minutes before slicing.
Handy Time and Temperature Turkey Roasting Chart
| Turkey Weight | Unstuffed Time at 275°F | Stuffed Time at 275°F |
|---|---|---|
| 8-12 lbs | 2.5 – 3 hours | 3 – 3.5 hours |
| 12-16 lbs | 3 – 4 hours | 4 – 4.5 hours |
| 16-20 lbs | 4 – 5 hours | 5 – 5.5 hours |
| 20-24 lbs | 5 – 6 hours | 6 – 6.5 hours |
Tips for Perfect 275°F Turkey
Follow these tips for roasting success:
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Thaw frozen turkey safely in the fridge 1 day per 4 lbs.
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Dry brine turkey overnight by rubbing with salt before roasting.
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Use a rack in the roasting pan for air circulation.
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Baste with butter or oil every 30 minutes for browning.
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Cook stuffing in a baking dish separately.
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Allow turkey to rest 20-30 minutes before carving.
Common Roasting Problems and Solutions
Here are some common turkey roasting troubles and how to prevent them:
Soft skin – Baste more often and avoid tenting with foil.
Undercooked turkey – Use a meat thermometer to confirm 165°F temp. Cook longer if needed.
Dry turkey – Don’t overcook. Tent breast with foil if browning too quickly.
Raw stuffing – Must be baked in a dish to reach 165°F.
Turkey takes forever – Always thaw completely before roasting.
Alternatives to Roasting a Large Turkey
If roasting a big turkey seems overwhelming, consider these options for smaller groups:
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Roast just a turkey breast (20 minutes per lb at 275°F)
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Smoke a whole turkey or just the breast
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Roast turkey legs and thighs (18-25 minutes per lb at 275°F)
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Deep fry a small turkey
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Make a turkey roulade stuffed with dressing
All provide delicious turkey meat without the long cook time. Smoking also infuses great flavor.
Let’s Get Roasting!
Roasting turkey at 275°F delivers ideal results – moist, flavorful meat and crisp browned skin. Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm 165°F doneness.
Allow 15-20 minutes per pound, plus an extra 30 minutes if stuffed. Rest before slicing for juicy carved turkey straight from the oven.
Following the guidelines above will help you roast your best Thanksgiving turkey yet. Serve it proudly and enjoy its perfect texture and taste!
Do you Stuff a Smoked Turkey:
Sometimes we stuff ours with Sliced Apples, Oranges, and Butter.
Other people we know like to add garlic and onions to the mix, but we’ve never done that because I could get sick from onions. I LOVE smoked turkey and if it’s been stuffed with onions, I can’t eat it.
HOW TO BRINE THE TURKEY
We prepared the turkey (remove giblets, wash, pat dry) then placed the turkey in a XL Ziploc Bag. One gallon of ice water, one cup of kosher salt, one cup of brown sugar, 12 ounces of molasses, 12 ounces of honey, 8 ounces of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of rosemary, 1 tablespoon of thyme, 1 tablespoon of sage, and 1 tablespoon of poultry seasoning should be added.
Do you HAVE to brine? No. But, it does come out more flavorful and moist if you do.
An alternate brining recipe is this citrus turkey brine. You can add different things to the brine but make this brine with quality ingredients so your Thanksgiving menu is perfection.
We learned that cooking the turkey for 15 minutes at 275 degrees for every pound is a good rule of thumb.
We had a 15 lb Turkey, so we smoked it at 275 degrees for just under 4 hours.
When smoking food, the key factor is indirect heat and consistent temperatures.
During the whole smoke, you want to keep the grill’s temperature at 275 degrees F.
Times may vary according to type of smoker, did it hold a constant temperature, etc. so be sure to allow some extra time and monitor the smoker temperature while it’s smoking.
*Edited to add, we do not spatchcock our smoked turkeys, but you could if you wanted to.
We use a Food Thermometer to test the temperature before we remove it from the smoker.
The thickest part of the breast should be 165 degrees and the thigh should be 180 degrees before you eat the turkey.
When our turkey was done cooking, we put it in a roasting pan so it could be moved. We covered it in foil and let it rest for 20 minutes on the way to our friends’ house. When we arrived, we removed the foil, and carved it. We prefer to use an electric carver.
We got an electric carver as a wedding gift 23 years ago, and it still works great! It makes slicing SO easy and quick, so you can get the turkey on everyone’s plate quickly and start dinner!
How long does it take to cook a 12-pound turkey at 275 degrees?
FAQ
How long will it take to cook a turkey at 275 degrees?
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 250?
How long to cook a 14 lb turkey at 300 degrees?
|
Cooking Temperature
|
Weight Unstuffed
|
Estimated Cooking Time
|
|
300ºF
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14-18 lbs.
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2½ – 3 hours
|
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300ºF
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18-22 lbs.
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3 – 3½ hours
|
How long to smoke 15 lb turkey at 275 degrees?
How long do you cook a Turkey in a smoker?
When your smoker is set to 275 degrees, plan on cooking the turkey at a rate of 20 to 25 minutes per pound. Smokers that run on the cooler side will prolong the process, while units with good heat retention should keep the cooking time to 20 minutes per pound. Remember that these are only estimates.
How long to cook a Turkey at 275 degrees?
The cooking time for a turkey at 275 degrees Fahrenheit will vary depending on the size of the turkey. A general rule of thumb is to cook a turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long to cook a 16 lb Turkey?
Cooking a 16 lb turkey at 325 or 350 degrees is up to you. The key is to find the right temperature for your bird. For example, if you are cooking a turkey at 325 degrees, it will cook for about 20 minutes per pound. If you are cooking a turkey at 350 degrees, it will cook for about 25 minutes per pound.
What temperature should a Turkey be cooked at?
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start planning for the big feast. One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is how to cook your turkey. If you’re looking for a simple and foolproof method, roasting a turkey at 275 degrees Fahrenheit is a great option.
What temperature do you smoke a whole turkey?
We prefer to use a smoker temperature of 275 for whole turkeys. It might take longer to cook than it would if you’d roasted the meat in the oven, but smoking requires patience no matter what cut you’re using. We would recommend setting the smoker to 275 degrees the first time you attempt to smoke a whole turkey.
Can you eat turkey breast at 165 degrees?
All poultry is technically safe to eat once it’s cooked to 165 degrees. This applies to ground chicken and turkey as well as whole muscle cuts. This temperature works well for the breast meat, which is the only white meat on the turkey. Since the breast is very lean, it might dry out if you cook it too far past 165 degrees.