As the holidays approach, many people look forward to cooking a turkey as the centerpiece of a festive meal Jennie-O is one of the most popular brands of turkey, and learning how to properly cook a Jennie-O turkey can help ensure your holiday dinner is a success In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process for preparing and cooking a delicious Jennie-O turkey.
Selecting and Thawing the Turkey
The first step is picking out the right Jennie-O turkey for your gathering. Jennie-O offers a variety of turkey sizes, from 8 lbs to 24 lbs. A good rule of thumb is to plan for 1 pound of turkey per person, along with extra for leftovers Jennie-O provides a handy turkey calculator on their website to help you determine the right size turkey for your group.
Once you’ve selected the appropriate size, the next step is proper thawing. For whole turkeys, Jennie-O recommends thawing in the refrigerator allowing 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds. So a 12 lb turkey would need 3 days to thaw. Place the turkey in a container to catch any juices as it thaws.
If you’re short on time, you can thaw in cold water, allowing 30 minutes per pound and changing the water every 30 minutes. A thawed Jennie-O turkey will feel soft and pliable when gently pressed.
Preparing the Turkey
Before cooking, remove the neck and giblets from the turkey cavities. Use these for making gravy or stock. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Jennie-O says to leave the plastic leg clamp on during roasting to hold the legs together.
Many recipes suggest rubbing the turkey skin with butter or oil before cooking for increased browning and flavor. You can also lightly season the skin with salt and pepper or sprinkle on poultry seasoning. Stuffing can be cooked inside the turkey, but Jennie-O recommends cooking stuffing separately for food safety.
Roasting the Jennie-O Turkey
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the turkey breast-side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Tent foil loosely over the turkey, then roast for 1 hour before removing the foil so the skin can brown. Jennie-O provides approximate roasting times based on turkey weight:
- 8-12 lbs: 3 1/2 – 4 hours
- 12-18 lbs: 4 1/4 – 4 3/4 hours
- 18-22 lbs: 4 1/2 – 5 hours
- 22-24 lbs: 4 3/4 – 5 1/4 hours
Baste the turkey with the pan juices every hour for moistness. Roast until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 180°F. The plastic pop-up timer will also indicate doneness. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
Food Safety Tips
To prevent foodborne illness when working with raw turkey, be sure to wash hands, utensils, and surfaces that have touched the raw turkey meat. Cook stuffing separately to 165°F as stuffing cooked inside turkey may not reach a safe temperature. Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours.
Follow Jennie-O’s instructions for thawing, preparing, and cooking your turkey, and you’ll be rewarded with a tender, juicy holiday centerpiece. Your guests will be delighted when you serve up a perfect Jennie-O turkey!
Cooking a Turkey Breast
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Place turkey breast on a rack in shallow pan.
- Roast skin side up at 325°F, using the times in the chart below and until meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165°F.
- Juices should run clear.
- Let turkey breast rest for 15 minutes prior to carving.
Approximate oven roasting time at 325°F:
- 3-6 pounds, 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours
- 6-8 pounds, 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 hours
Previous How Tos
How to Cook a Whole Turkey
- Heat oven to 325°F. Remove neck, giblet and gravy packet, if applicable. These may be used to prepare gravy or stuffing.
- The plastic leg clamp should be left on during cooking.
- Place turkey on rack in shallow pan, breast side up, and loosely cover with foil. Remove foil after 1 hour of cooking.
- Roast until timer pops up and turkey is fully-cooked, 180°F as measured by a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. ALWAYS confirm doneness with a meat thermometer. Juices should run clear.
- Let turkey stand 20 minutes before carving.
- For optimal safety, cook stuffing and turkey separately. If desired, add fully cooked stuffing to cooked turkey just prior to serving.
Approximate Oven Roasting Time at 325°F.
- 8-12 pounds, 3-1/2 hours to 4 hours.
- 12-18 pounds, 4-1/4 hours to 4-3/4 hours.
- 18-22 pounds, 4-1/2 hours to 5 hours.
- 22-24 pounds, 4-3/4 to 5-1/4 hours.
Wash hands and all items that come into contact with uncooked turkey.
JENNIE-O® Turkey – How to Cook a Turkey
FAQ
What’s the best way to cook a Jennie O’ turkey?
- Heat oven to 325°F. …
- The plastic leg clamp should be left on during cooking.
- Place turkey on rack in shallow pan, breast side up, and loosely cover with foil. …
- Roast until timer pops up and turkey is fully-cooked, 180°F as measured by a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh.
Do you cook a 12 pound turkey at 325 or 350?
How long to cook a 12 lb turkey? Using a conventional oven you will need to cook a 12 lb turkey for 3 hours to 4 hours at 325°F until the internal temp reaches 165°F.
What is the best way to cook a turkey without drying it out?
By roasting turkey upside down, the breast meat is protected from the oven’s searing heat by the rest of the bird.
Is Jennie O’ turkey pre-cooked?
Treat yourself to delicious whole turkey made easy. This Oven Roasted Whole Turkey comes pre-cooked and preseasoned for a prep-free meal.
How do you cook a Jennie-O ® whole turkey?
How do I cook a JENNIE-O ® whole turkey? Step 1: Heat oven to 325°F. Remove neck, giblet and gravy packet, if applicable. Step 2: The plastic leg clamp should be left on during cooking. Step 3: Place turkey on rack in a shallow pan, breast side up, and loosely cover with foil. Remove foil after 1 hour of cooking.
What temperature should a Jennie-O turkey breast be cooked to?
The ideal cooking temperature and time for a Jennie-O turkey breast depend on the cooking method. When roasting in the oven, preheat to 325°F (163°C) and place the seasoned turkey breast in a roasting pan. What is Jennie-O turkey breast?
Can you cook a Jennie O turkey breast separately?
It is more suitable to cook the stuffing separately. What are some popular seasonings for a Jennie-O turkey breast? Popular seasonings for a Jennie-O turkey breast include a variety of herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
What is Jennie-O oven ready turkey breast?
Jennie-O Oven Ready Turkey Breast is a fully cooked, boneless, skinless turkey breast that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. It is made with all natural ingredients, including turkey breast, water, salt, sugar, and spices. Jennie-O Oven Ready Turkey Breast is a good source of protein and contains no trans fat or cholesterol.
How to cook Jennie O Turkey Tenderloin in oven?
How to cook Jennie O’ turkey tenderloin in the oven? Preheat oven to 350°F. Place tenderloins in a shallow baking pan. Bake until meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of the meat reaches 165°F, approximately 60-70 minutes. Remove from oven, cover and let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing.
How long do you cook a precooked Jennie O turkey breast?
Roast turkey for 4 hours and until a meat thermometer reaches 165°F. in the breast and 180°F. in the thigh. Let turkey rest 15 minutes, cut open top of oven bag. How do I cook a precooked Jennie O turkey breast? Heat oven to 325°F. Place turkey breast on a rack in shallow pan.