How To Cook A Turkey
Wondering how to cook a turkey? This is the easiest, most basic, step-by-step guide for how to cook a turkey for a stress-free Thanksgiving.
Servings 15
Calories 454kcal
Ingredients
- 15 lb turkey (takes 4 days to thaw this size in fridge)
Instructions
- Remove the netting and wrapper from the thawed turkey and drain the juices.
- Remove the neck, giblets bag, and gravy packet (if present) from the main cavity or the neck cavity. Discard or save, if desired.
- Put the turkey in a roasting pan breast side up.
- Cover and bake at 325˚F until the breast reaches 165˚F. For a 15 lb turkey that is about 3 1/2 hours. See notes for more weights and times.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes.
- Carve and place on a platter or in a slow cooker for serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days and in the freezer for up to two months.
Video
Notes
Cooking times by weight for a fresh or thawed frozen turkey baked at 325˚F or until the breast reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F.
- 7-10 pound for 2.5 – 3 hours.
- 10-18 pound for 3 – 3.5 hours.
- 18-22 pound for 3.5 – 4 hours.
- 22-24 pound for 4 – 4.5 hours.
- 24-30 pound for 4.5 – 5 hours.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/15 | Calories: 454kcal | Protein: 70g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 232mg | Sodium: 361mg | Potassium: 721mg | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 3mg
