Time in the oven can vary depending on the type of oven you use, and especially if your turkey is stuffed. In an unstuffed turkey, it takes approximately 15 minutes per pound to bake a turkey in the oven!
If your turkey is stuffed, then add about 30 minutes to that time.
The USDA recommends checking for doneness by using a thermometer. It should register 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also check for doneness by making sure the juices from the inner thigh run clear, or by using a food-safe needle to pierce the inner thigh muscle – if it is clear liquid or blood, then your turkey is done!
If the turkey is stuffed, add 20 minutes to the total cooking time. If you want to cook a frozen turkey, increase the total cooking time by 30 minutes.
An unstuffed 10-pound turkey should take about 4 hours to cook in a 325-degree oven. A 14-pound turkey should take about 5 1/4 hours.
If you’re cooking a bigger bird, use these formulas: Increase the cooking time by 2 minutes for every 2 pounds of turkey. Increase it by 5 minutes for every extra inch of thickness. For example, an 18-pound turkey would need 3 hours and 45 minutes to bake in a 325-degree oven.
For extra credit, there are also charts at About.com that tell you how long it takes to bake other things — including apples and potatoes — in the oven
When you bake a turkey, the cooking time varies depending on several factors. If you’re roasting your Thanksgiving turkey, you’ll need to know how long it should roast in the oven. This will depend on the size of the turkey, as well as how you like it cooked, and if it is stuffed.
The National Turkey Federation says it takes around 4 hours to bake a 20-pound turkey in an oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If your turkey is big or you’re using the convection function on your oven, it might take up to 5 hours. It’s always advisable to check the internal temperature of the turkey with a meat thermometer before serving it, so you’ll want to leave around 15 minutes for that process.
TIP: Always remove the giblets from your turkey before cooking it, because they can make the meat taste bitter. Also be sure to let your turkey rest for 30 minutes after removing it from the oven, so that the juices inside can redistribute evenly throughout the meat.
If you’re cooking a frozen turkey, cook it at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour per pound.**
Oven temperature and turkey size are the two biggest factors that determine how long it takes to cook a turkey. Cooking times vary, depending on both the type of oven used and the size of the turkey. For example, if your oven is preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and you use a 15-pound turkey, it’ll generally take about 4 hours to finish cooking. If you’re using an oven that’s not preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit — for example, if it’s closer to 300 degrees — it will likely take about 5 hours for your turkey to finish in the oven.
Tipping the scales at 15 pounds, you’d probably want to start cooking your turkey around 6 a.m., allowing plenty of time for the internal temperature of the meat to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving dinner at 6:30 p.m. However, if you’re using a larger bird that weighs more than 20 pounds or so, you’ll need to bump up your baking time by about an hour or so to allow for its size.*
Ovens vary in temperature, as do turkeys (especially those with stuffing). Because of this variance, be sure to check on your turkey periodically throughout its time in the oven. If you have an oven thermometer available,
The question of how long it takes to cook a turkey in the oven is one every home chef must face. Turkey can take from 2 1/2 to 3 hours to cook through, depending on the size of the bird. Most recipes recommend cooking times based on your bird’s weight, but there are other factors that affect how long it takes for a turkey to cook in the oven. The main variables are:
Size of Turkey: Larger turkeys take longer to cook than smaller ones. A 15-pound turkey will probably need about 20 minutes per pound and an 8-pound turkey will probably only need 10 minutes per pound.
A fresh or unfrozen turkey needs longer than a frozen turkey — up to an hour extra in some cases — because it has not yet begun to defrost.
Cooking temperature: Higher temperatures will cook your turkey faster than lower temperatures, but avoid opening the oven door too frequently as this can cause your bird to lose heat fast, resulting in a tough bird. If you’re unsure about how hot your oven gets, check with your appliance manager before you start.
The thickness of your bird’s skin makes a difference. A thicker skin will need longer than a thinner skin because it must reach a higher internal temperature without overcooking the
How long does it take to bake a turkey? It depends on how big your turkey is and how you like it cooked.
Baking Time by Size
1 pound turkey – 1 1/2 hours
1 1/2 pound turkey – 2 hours
2 pound turkey – 3 hours
3 pound turkey – 3 1/2 hours
4 pound turkey – 4 1/2 hours
So if you want a 1-pound bird, you’ll need to cook it for 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want a 2-pound bird, your oven will need to be at 350 degrees F for 2 hours. If you want a 3-pounder, the oven temperature should be set at 350 degrees F for about 3 hours. And so on. The time for baking is the same whether your oven is set on high or low. It’s also the same whether you’re using a convection oven or not. And don’t forget that the times are approximate, because oven temperatures vary and turkeys come in different sizes and shapes.
