How to Calculate How Long to Cook a Turkey

Planning your meal preparation requires an accurate estimate on the turkey cooking time. A fully thawed turkey, best done in the refrigerator or in a sink of cold water, cooks more quickly. You can cook a frozen bird, but it will take 1 ½ times as long as roasting a thawed turkey.


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Weigh the Bird

  • Cooking time depends on weight. When roasting at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, an unstuffed turkey takes 20 to 23 minutes per pound. Stuffed turkeys can take up to 30 minutes per pound. So a 6-pound unstuffed turkey needs about 2 hours and 15 minutes to cook, while a stuffed bird needs a 3-hour cooking time.

Trust the Thermometer

  • The best guide to whether your turkey is done is to insert a meat thermometer into the center of the thigh so it doesn't touch the bone. Your turkey is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165 F. When determining your cooking time, don't forget to include a 30-minute resting time at the end of roasting so the juices can distribute evenly through the meat.

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