What is the best temp to cook a turkey?

Stick with a temperature of 325°F, which ensures the turkey gets cooked all the way without becoming overdone.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature ranging from 325°F to 350°F. Higher temperatures may cause the meat to dry out, but this is preferable to temperatures that are too low which may not allow the interior of the turkey to cook to a safe temperature.

Is 375 a good temperature to cook a turkey?

The Test Kitchen agrees that 375℉ is the best temperature to cook a turkey, because it’s not too hot, not too cold, and cooks quickly enough to ensure that a juicy, flavorful bird is ready by dinnertime. … Allow your turkey to rest for at least 25 minutes before carving. Cover it loosely with foil to keep it hot.

Is it better to cook turkey at high or low temp?

Turkey research, such as the Georgia study, has generally been conducted by roasting the birds at a low temperature, 325 or 350 degrees, which is what most turkey experts recommend. But many chefs and home cooks prefer to cook at high heat (say, 425 to 500 degrees).

IT IS INTERESTING:  How can I watch the Cooking Channel without cable?

How long do you cook a turkey at 325?

How Long to Roast a Turkey

  1. For one 8- to 12-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 2¾ to 3 hours.
  2. For one 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 3 to 3¾ hours.
  3. For one 14- to 18-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 3¾ to 4¼ hours.
  4. For one 18- to 20-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 4¼ to 4½ hours.

Should you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?

Q: Should I roast the bird covered or uncovered? A: The Butterball folks recommend cooking the turkey uncovered in a roasting pan. … If you put foil on the breast, remove it about 30-45 minutes before the turkey is done to allow the breast to brown.

How long do you cook a 40 lb turkey?

Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the bird between the breast and thigh (being sure not to hit bone). It’s done when the thermometer just reaches 165ºF. In general, you should plan to cook a turkey for around 15-20 minutes per pound at 325ºF to get to that temp. But that’s only an estimate!

How long does it take to cook a 20lb turkey at 375?

  1. Preparing the bird – Heat oven to 375 degrees. …
  2. Cooking the bird – Estimate 12-15 minutes per pound for stuffed turkeys. …
  3. Testing for doneness – You can either test by checking the temperature or checking the color of the juices. …
  4. Finishing off – Remove bird from the oven.

How long do I cook an unstuffed 12 pound turkey?

The simplest way to figure out turkey roasting times is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (that’s about 3 hours for a 12- to 14-lb. turkey), or 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.

IT IS INTERESTING:  Do you cook spaghetti with the lid on or off?

Does turkey really need to be 165?

The USDA chose 165°F for turkey because, held at that temperature, salmonella is killed in less than ten seconds. If the turkey gets to 165, there is no chance that salmonella will survive; ten seconds of carry over heat will take care of it.

Can you eat turkey at 160 degrees?

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends that your turkey reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F during cooking to be safely consumed based on the fact that bacteria threat, salmonella, cannot withstand temperatures of 160°F after 30 seconds.

Should you wash your turkey?

With Thanksgiving almost here, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued tips on the safest way to prepare your turkey. First of all, you should not wash or rinse your bird. That may seem counterintuitive, but washing the turkey can spread germs and bacteria all over your kitchen.

Should you cover your turkey with aluminum foil?

Just make sure you uncover the lid about 30 minutes before the turkey’s done roasting so the skin has a chance to get crispy. … Covering the bird with foil mimics what a roaster lid would do — it traps steam and moistness so the turkey doesn’t dry out — all the while allowing the skin to crisp up.

How often do you baste the turkey?

Most recipes will tell you to baste your turkey every thirty minutes. But our rule of thumb is actually every forty minutes, and here’s why. You don’t want to open the oven too many times, or else the whole bird will take much long to cook, and that’s a huge inconvenience.

IT IS INTERESTING:  What can I cook ahead of time?
I'm cooking