Introduction

A turkey is a great way to feed a lot of people at once. But if you’re new to cooking a 16-pound turkey, you may be wondering how long it will take for the bird to cook through. In this guide, we’ll show you everything from preparing your bird to roasting it in the oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and is done.

Step 1: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Make sure the oven is at the right temperature before you put the turkey in, or it will take longer than expected to cook and be dry when it comes out of the oven! You can use a meat thermometer to check if it’s hot enough, but if not just turn up that dial until it reaches 325 degrees Fahrenheit (or about 160 Celsius).

Step 2: Place the turkey in a roasting pan that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2: Place the turkey in a roasting pan that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray.

If you don’t have an oven-safe roasting pan, be sure to use a separate baking sheet instead. Make sure it’s large enough to hold your 16-pound turkey and place it on one side of your oven so that the heat can circulate around both pans evenly (we’ll talk about this more in Step 3). And don’t forget to coat both sides of each rack with nonstick cooking spray before placing them inside!

Step 3: Put in the refrigerator for 24 hours, uncovered, before cooking it.

The next step is to put your turkey in the refrigerator for 24 hours, uncovered. This allows for any juices that have accumulated during cooking to drain off and be reabsorbed into the meat. If you don’t do this, your bird will be too juicy and greasy when it comes out of the oven–not exactly what you want when serving up Thanksgiving dinner!

How long should I leave my turkey in there?

It depends on how big it is and whether or not it’s frozen or fresh (or even brined). If it’s fresh out of the package with no brine treatment whatsoever, then 24 hours should be sufficient; however if there was any kind of brining involved before cooking began then perhaps 48 hours would be better suited towards achieving optimal results by allowing more time for absorption/marinating effects to take place within each cell structure so that maximum flavor becomes infused throughout every bite as opposed to just sitting on top like sauce would do with pizza toppings instead being mixed throughout every bite like cheese does when melted onto breads instead being sprinkled over top after baking has completed but before serving begins so everyone gets just what they ordered without having anything extra added onto theirs without asking first.”

Step 4: Mix together 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1/2 tsp. of salt and 1 tsp. of poultry seasoning in a bowl.

• Mix together 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1/2 tsp. of salt and 1 tsp. of poultry seasoning in a bowl.
• Use your hands or rubber gloves if you want to keep things sanitary.

Step 5: Cover the entire turkey with this mixture, inside and out, using your hands or rubber gloves if you want to keep things sanitary.

• If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, use rubber gloves.
• Or use a basting brush to apply the butter mixture. You can also use a pastry brush if you prefer that method.

Step 6: Roast at 325 degrees for 15 minutes per pound or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees as measured by a meat thermometer placed in the thickest part of the thigh (not touching bone).

In step 6, you’ll roast the turkey at 325 degrees for 15 minutes per pound or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees as measured by a meat thermometer placed in the thickest part of the thigh (not touching bone).

If you’re using a convection oven, reduce your temperature by 25 degrees.

How long does it take to cook a 16-pound turkey?

• How long does it take to cook a 16-pound turkey?
• It depends on the size of your turkey, but most cooks say that 15 minutes per pound is a good rule of thumb. For example, if your turkey weighs more than 16 pounds (the maximum weight allowed by most ovens), then you’ll need to increase the cooking time accordingly. If you’re unsure of how much meat is in your bird and don’t have access to scales at home or in stores, use this handy chart as reference:

Conclusion

It takes about 4-5 hours to cook a 16-pound turkey in the oven. If you’re roasting it on an open fire or grill, it will take longer–about 6-8 hours.