Introduction

The holidays are a time of good cheer and family reunions. But it’s also a time to cook an enormous turkey, which can be stressful if you’re new to the process. How long should I cook my turkey? What temperature should I roast it at? What if it doesn’t fit in my oven? Don’t worry! Here are some guidelines on cooking turkeys that will help ensure that your Thanksgiving dinner is delicious and safe for everyone.

Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Cook the turkey until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. This is the temperature at which all bacteria are killed, so it’s important to cook your turkey until it reaches this temperature. You can use a meat thermometer or cut into one of its thighs or wings and see if there’s no pink left inside (or just trust us). If you don’t have a meat thermometer, get one! It will make your life easier and safer when cooking turkey for Thanksgiving or any other occasion where you need to measure temperatures in food–and who doesn’t want that?

Use a meat thermometer for accuracy.

If you want to be sure that your turkey is cooked properly, use a meat thermometer. An unstuffed turkey needs about 15 minutes per pound, whether you roast it or cook it in a slow cooker.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F before putting the turkey in to cook. If using an electric roaster with an automatic timer, set it for 20 minutes per pound (for example: if you want to cook a 12-pound turkey for 4 hours). If using another type of oven with no automatic timer feature (such as an outdoor grill), estimate 10 minutes per pound and add 20% more time just in case something goes wrong during cooking (like forgetting about it!).

An unstuffed turkey needs about 15 minutes per pound, whether you roast it or cook it in a slow cooker.

An unstuffed turkey needs about 15 minutes per pound, whether you roast it or cook it in a slow cooker.

This means that if your turkey weighs 20 pounds, its total cooking time should be about 3 hours and 20 minutes. If you’re using a roasting pan with a rack (and we recommend that), add another 20 minutes to account for the extra time needed for heat circulation around the bird’s legs and wings.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F before putting the turkey in to cook.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F before putting the turkey in to cook. If you don’t preheat it, your turkey will take much longer to cook and may not reach its maximum temperature. The best way to do this is by setting an alarm on your phone or watch so that you can make sure the oven has been preheated for at least 15 minutes before putting your turkey in there!

Place stuffing in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees F until heated through, or heat the stuffing on top of turkey during the last half hour of cooking time.

• Place stuffing in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees F until heated through, or heat the stuffing on top of turkey during the last half hour of cooking time.
• Stuffing should be heated to 165 degrees F.
• Do not cook stuffing inside the turkey because it will cook too slowly and may result in an undercooked bird.
• Do not reheat leftover stuffing in the microwave oven; reheat it on top of your stovetop instead!

Buy turkeys that are young, not more than two months old. Older birds may be tough (even if they’re not too old) and may have less flavor than young ones do.

• Buy turkeys that are young, not more than two months old. Older birds may be tough (even if they’re not too old) and may have less flavor than young ones do.
• Look for a plump turkey with no saggy skin, a fresh smell, and a clean appearance. The turkey should feel heavy for its size, but not so heavy that you would think it was overstuffed or waterlogged; this is an indication of an aging bird.
• Make sure there is no strong odor coming from your turkey before purchasing it. If there is an odor emanating from inside the package during transport home from the grocery store or butcher shop then return that bird immediately! It could mean something went wrong during processing and your dinner guests might end up getting sick instead of stuffed after dinner!

Cook your turkey properly or don’t bother!

It’s the most important part of your Thanksgiving meal, so it’s important to get it right! There are a variety of ways to cook turkey, but if you don’t cook it properly and allow it to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F or higher, then all your hard work will have been wasted.

Use a meat thermometer inserted into various parts of the bird (but not touching bone) until you reach this magic number–this will ensure that all parts are cooked evenly and safely.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to cook a turkey, there’s no reason not to try it! If you follow these tips and the recipe we’ve provided above, your Thanksgiving meal will be delicious and everyone will leave feeling full and happy.