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.
How long does it take to cook a turkey at 450 degrees?
Steps
- Move oven rack to lowest position; heat oven to 450°F. …
- On rack in shallow roasting pan, place turkey breast side up. …
- Roast uncovered 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes, watching carefully. …
- Turkey is done when thermometer reads 165°F and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted.
Should you start a turkey at 425 degrees?
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. I start it out at a higher temperature for 30 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees. This gives it a nice browned skin, then reducing the temperature lets the insides get nice and tender.
How long do you cook a 20 pound turkey at 400 degrees?
You’ll get crispy skin without compromising tenderness. Depending on the size of your bird, it should take anywhere from 2-6 hours to roast at 400°F (204°C). I highly recommend a meat thermometer, one that stays in the turkey while it cooks and lets you set an alarm for when it reaches the proper temperature.
Is it better to cook turkey on low or high heat?
If you cook your turkey from room temperature, untrussed and unstuffed, it will cook significantly faster than a chilly bird stuffed full of bread and trussed tightly. Air will circulate much better around the bird and roasting times will be shorter.
Can you cook a turkey on 400 degrees?
400°F is the perfect temperature for cooking a whole bird. You’ll get crispy skin without compromising tenderness. Depending on the size of your bird, it should take anywhere from 3-6 hours to roast at 400°F. … It doesn’t matter what orientation you roast your turkey in.
What temperature do you cook a turkey too?
To kill all bacteria, a turkey must be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
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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.
- 325°F for 4¼ to 4½ hours.
Can you cook a turkey in 30 minutes?
To cook the perfect turkey, you want to preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t worry, you won’t be cooking it at this temperature for long, you just want to cook it for 30 minutes at this super high temperature to brown the skin and crisp it up.
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.
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.
How long should a 20lb turkey cook?
Cooking time will vary. For example, a 20 pound turkey will take 4 1/4 to 5 hours to cook, check the temperature on the thermometer after 4 1/4 hours.
How long do you leave a turkey in the oven?
Cook until the turkey is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165F (checked in the inner thigh meat and in the thickest part of the breast). For a 14 pound turkey this takes around 3 1/2 to 4 hours. A general guide is that it takes approximately 15 minutes per pound to cook an unstuffed turkey.
How long should a turkey sit at room temperature before cooking?
First, Bring Your Bird to Room Temp
Your turkey will cook more evenly and faster if you start it out at room temperature so remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. If you plan to stuff your turkey, wait until you’re ready to put it in the oven before putting the stuffing in the turkey.