Introduction

For many, Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends and give thanks for everything you have. But if you’re like me, it’s just another day of cooking yet another turkey. While I can’t do much about the second part of that sentence, I can help make your first task—preparing the turkey—a lot easier. So let’s get started!

Preparing a 17-pound turkey can be difficult.

When you’re roasting a turkey, it’s important to follow the right steps. You should also use the right size roaster and make sure your oven is set at the right temperature.

• Preparing A 17-Pound Turkey Can Be Difficult: Cooking a 17-pound turkey can be difficult because there are so many variables that go into making sure your bird comes out perfectly cooked. The first step is determining how long it will take for your bird to cook based on its size and weight, which we’ve outlined below:
• 13-15 lbs – 3 hours 15 minutes
• 16-17 lbs – 4 hours 30 minutes

If you haven’t yet purchased or received your turkey from someone else who has already done so (perhaps an uncle or grandmother), then we recommend buying one from us! We have all kinds of delicious options available right now including whole birds as well as pre-cut breast halves or thighs/leg quarters if those sound better suited for what kind of dish(es) you’d like them used in (and what type).

Cooking a 17-pound turkey is a lot of work.

It’s important to prepare the turkey in advance. A 17-pound turkey can take up to 6 hours of cooking time, and if you want it to be done in three hours, you’ll need at least three people (or more) who are willing to help out. You’ll also want enough space around your kitchen for this monumental effort—a 12-by-12 foot room is ideal so that there’s room for everyone who wants to gather around while dinner cooks.

To avoid dry or overcooked meat, there are several ways to prepare your turkey.

When cooking your turkey, it’s important to know how long to cook it for. There are several ways you can use to determine this.

• Use a meat thermometer: Insert the probe into the thickest part of your turkey breast, making sure that it goes all the way through. The temperature should be 165 degrees F (74 C) when done. If not, continue cooking until it reaches this temperature and then take out of oven immediately so as not to overcook or dry out your meat!
• Use a roasting bag: Place your bird inside an oven-safe bag with some vegetables and herbs along with salt and pepper then seal tightly shut before placing into hot oven (425 F/220 C). Cook at high heat for 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F/71 C . Remove from heat immediately after removing from oven; do not let sit too long under heat source because this will cause overcooked meat!

Always use the correct size roaster for your bird.

• Always use a roaster that is large enough to hold the turkey. If you don’t have a roaster, use an extra-large pot or baking sheet.
• Never cook your turkey in a small roasting pan or casserole dish—it will not fit into the oven once it’s done cooking!

Be aware that an over-cooked turkey will become dry and tough.

When you’re cooking a turkey, it’s important to be aware of the fact that an over-cooked turkey will become dry and tough. If you don’t cook it long enough, the meat will remain raw in the middle; if you cook it too long, some parts of your bird may become dry and tough.

For best results when roasting a large bird like this one (17 pounds), follow these instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 C). If using convection baking mode or fan forced heat setting on your oven, reduce temperature by 25 degrees F (15 C).
• Place turkey breast side up on rack in large roasting pan with sides at least 2 inches high; add 1 cup water or broth if desired; cover loosely with foil if not basting frequently during cooking time–this helps keep moisture inside so that internal temperature remains higher than skin temperature which helps ensure tenderness throughout entire piece rather than just its outer layer where fat deposits have been removed prior to cooking process

If you have an older bird, try cooking the stuffing separately because it may not cook all the way through after being inside the turkey for so long.

If your turkey is older, try cooking the stuffing separately because it may not cook all the way through after being inside the turkey for so long.

Stuffing should be cooked in an ovenproof dish and not inside of your turkey (unless you want to spend hours basting). The reason for this is because stuffed turkeys often end up overcooked due to their size and shape–it’s hard to get heat into every part of a 17-pound bird evenly without overcooking some parts while leaving others undercooked! If you do choose to stuff your turkey with stuffing, make sure that it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving

It can take two days to fully cook a 17-pound turkey

Depending on the size of your turkey and how you like it cooked, it can take two days to fully cook a 17-pound turkey.

The internal temperature of the meat should be checked with a meat thermometer every 30 minutes during cooking.

Conclusion

If you have a big family, then it’s best to cook the turkey in advance and reheat it on Thanksgiving Day. In addition, if you have an older bird or one that hasn’t been properly cared for, try cooking the stuffing separately because it may not cook all the way through after being inside the turkey for so long.