Roasting a Turkey
It seems that there are many ways to cook a turkey.
Do you stuff it or don't you?
Should you roast it breast down?
What size should you buy?
Well, the same applies to the cooking times.
We have researched and found various cooking times, we were not sure which would work the best, so here are the most common three.
All will work, it's up to you which one to use, let us know which you prefer.
A good tip: Remove the wishbone (from the neck end) before cooking.
You can then begin carving from the end of the bird, taking slices from both breasts.
Method 1
Pre-heat oven to 170°C: 325°F: Gas 3.
Weight
Unstuffed
Stuffed
6 - 8lbs (3.0 - 3.5kg)
2½ - 2¾ hours
3 - 3¼ hours
8 - 10lbs (3.5 - 4.5kg)
2¾ - 3¼ hours
3¼ - 3½ hours
10 - 12lbs (4.5 - 5.5kg)
3¼ - 3¾ hours
3¾ - 4¼ hours
12 - 16lbs (5.5 - 7.0kg)
3¼ - 3¾ hours
3¾ - 4¼ hours
16 - 20lbs (7.0 - 9.0kg)
3½ - 4 hours
4 - 4½ hours
20 - 24lbs (9 - 10.9kg)
4½ - 5¼ hours
4¾ - 5¾ hours
24 - 28lbs (10.9 - 12.7kg)
5 - 5½ hours
5¼ - 5¾ hours
Method 2
Pre-heat oven to 180°C: 350°F: Gas 4.
2.7 - 4.5kg (6 - 10lb) 20 minutes per pound (450g) plus 20 minutes.
4.5 - 8.1kg (10 - 18lb) 15 minutes per pound (450g) plus 15 minutes.
Add 30 - 45 minutes if stuffed.
Method 3
Pre-heat oven to 190°C: 375°F: Gas 5.
Unstuffed 15 minutes per pound (450g) plus 15 minutes
Stuffed 20 minutes per pound (450g) plus 20 minutes
Meat Thermometer Temperatures
Internal temperature for cooked turkey breast (the deepest part) 77°C (170°F)
Thigh (in the inner thigh near breast) 82°C (180°F)
Stuffing (centre of stuffing) 71 - 74°C (160° - 165°F)
Turkey Thawing Times
Thaw the turkey in the cool place (below 60°F).
Check regularly and when thawed (ensuring that no ice crystals remain in the cavity), remove all of the packaging.
Remove the neck and giblets, wipe with kitchen paper and store in the refrigerator at a temperature of no more than 5°C.
Weight
Thawing Time
Cooking Time
2.25kg (5lb)
20 hours
1½ hours
4.5kg (10lb)
22 - 24 hours
3¼ - 3½ hours
6.75kg (15lb)
24 - 28 hours
4½ hours
9kg (20lb)
40-48 hours
6 hours
11.25kg (25lb)
48-60 hours
7½ hours
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