How Long Do You Cook a 14 Pound Turkey

Introduction

It’s that time of year again! Time to dust off the turkey roaster, pull out some stuffing and get ready for a feast. But how long does it take to cook this big bird?

Set the oven to 325 degrees.

Set the oven to 325 degrees.

If you don’t have an oven, you can also cook a turkey in the crockpot, microwave or smoker.

Put your turkey in the oven.

how-long-do-you-cook-a-14-pound-turkey

Once you’ve got everything ready, it’s time to put your turkey in the oven. First, make sure that it is preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 Celsius). Then, place your turkey on a rack inside of a roasting pan and add water or broth if desired. If you’re using an electric oven, follow its directions for setting temperature and cooking time; otherwise, use these guidelines:

  • 15 pounds/6 kilograms: 2 1/2 hours at 325F (160C)
  • 20 pounds/9 kilograms: 3 1/2 hours at 325F (160C)
  • 25 pounds/11 kilograms: 4 1/2 hours at 325F (160C)

Remove the turkey from the oven when it reaches 165 degrees.

Remove the turkey from the oven when it reaches 165 degrees. This is the temperature at which turkey is safe to eat, and you should use a meat thermometer to make sure that your turkey has reached this point before serving it.

Let your bird rest for 20 minutes before carving.

Let your bird rest for 20 minutes before carving. This helps keep the turkey juicy, and allows the juices to settle so they don’t run out when you cut into it. The meat will also continue to cook a little more during this time, which means it will be easier to carve once you’ve let it rest.

A turkey takes about 2 hours to cook completely in a 325 degree oven, but you’ll need to let it sit and rest for 20 minutes after removing from the oven.

A turkey takes about 2 hours to cook completely in a 325 degree oven, but you’ll need to let it sit and rest for 20 minutes after removing from the oven.

For best results, use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature of your turkey before carving. The USDA recommends cooking your bird until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit at its thickest point (the breast).

After removing your turkey from the oven and letting it rest, carve by slicing off pieces of meat along each side of the backbone with sharp knife or kitchen shears then cut across both sides using diagonal cuts so that each slice contains some white meat as well as dark meat from both sides.

Conclusion

There you have it! A 14 pound turkey takes about 2 hours to cook completely in a 325 degree oven, but you’ll need to let it sit and rest for 20 minutes after removing from the oven.

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