If you’re baking it at 325°F (the lowest temperature the USDA recommends), you’ll need to bake a 20-lb turkey in the oven for 4 to 5 hours if it’s unstuffed, and 4 ¼ to 5 ¼ hours if it’s stuffed.
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.
How many minutes per pound should I cook my turkey at 325 degrees?
This table from the USDA is based on a 325°F oven, and a fully defrosted or fresh bird. (For an unstuffed bird, we’re talking roughly 15 minutes per pound.) If you want to cook a frozen turkey, it will take at least 50 percent longer than the recommended times. Your turkey will cook faster in a 325°F convection oven.
How long should a 20lb turkey cook?
How Long to Cook a Turkey
| Turkey Weight | Servings | Cooking Time |
|---|---|---|
| 15 to 18 lb | 10 to 12 | 3 1/4 to 4 hours |
| 18 to 20 lb | 12 to 14 | 4 to 4 1/4 hours |
| 20 to 22 lb | 14 to 16 | 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours |
| 23 to 24 lb | 16 to 20 | 5 to 5 1/4 hours |
How long should a 20 pound turkey cook at 350 degrees?
If your turkey weighs 18 to 20 pounds, roast it at: 425°F for 3½ to 3¾ hours. 400°F for 3¾ to 4 hours. 350°F for 4 to 4¼ hours.
Do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?
To achieve that balance, the ideal is to let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered: We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out, then removing the cover for the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp.
What is the best temperature to cook a turkey?
Begin by roasting your turkey at 425°F for 40 to 45 minutes before lowering the temperature of the oven to 350°F for the rest of the cook time. Like the other method, it’s a good idea to brush the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with butter or olive oil to help the surface brown and keep the meat moist.
How many hours per pound do you cook a stuffed turkey?
Stuffed Roast Turkey
| Unstuffed | |
|---|---|
| 8 to 12 pounds | 2 3/4 to 3 hours |
| Stuffed | |
| 8 to 12 pounds | 3 to 3 1/2 hours |
| 12 to 14 pounds | 3 1/2 to 4 hours |
What temperature do you cook a turkey at 325 and 350?
425°F for 3 to 3¼ hours. 400°F for 3¼ to 3½ hours. 350°F for 3½ to 3¾ hours. 325°F for 3¾ to 4 hours.
How long does it take to thaw a 21 pound turkey?
4 to 12 pounds: 1-3 days. 12 to 16 pounds: 3-4 days. 16 to 20 pounds: 4-5 days. 20 to 24 pounds: 5-6 days.
How long do you cook a stuffed turkey at 325 degrees?
In a 325°F oven, here’s a rough guide for how long to cook a stuffed turkey from the pros at foodsafety.gov. These stuffed turkey cooking times have been tested and proven to work well by our Test Kitchen team: For 10- to 12-pound turkey, roast 3¼ hours to 3½ hours. For 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast 3½ to 4 hours.
Should I start my turkey at a higher temperature?
I find it is best to start the turkey at a fairly high temperature (400°F), roast for about twenty minutes and then lower the heat to 350°F for the remainder of the cooking time.
How long will it take to thaw a 20-pound turkey?
Fridge-Thawing Your Bird
Here’s the calculation: plan on 24 hours of fridge thawing for every 5 pounds of frozen turkey (for example: budget 4 full days of thawing in the fridge for a 20-pound turkey). Keep the turkey wrapped, and occasionally check to see if the baking sheet or roasting pan needs to be drained.