Do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?

Do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?

Q: Should I roast the bird covered or uncovered? A: The Butterball folks recommend cooking the turkey uncovered in a roasting pan. Two-thirds of the way through cooking, Butterball says foil can be placed over the breast area to prevent it from drying out.

Do you cook a turkey at 325?

turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 3-3 3/4 hr. For a 28-30 lb turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 3 1/2-4 1/2 hr. Times are for unstuffed birds. A stuffed bird may cook at the same rate as an unstuffed one; however, be prepared to allow 30 to 50 minutes longer.

What is the best temperature to cook a turkey?

165°F is the USDA recommended temperature for cooked turkey. The turkey will continue to cook for several minutes after you take it out of the oven, so take it out before the meat reaches those target temperatures. I usually take the the turkey out when the breast reaches 155°F to 160°F, and the thighs 155°F to 165°F.

How long do you cook a turkey at 325?

This table from the USDA is based on a 325°F oven, and a fully defrosted or fresh bird. (For an unstuffed bird, we're talking roughly 15 minutes per pound.) If you want to cook a frozen turkey, it will take at least 50 percent longer than the recommended times.

Do I need to cover the turkey when cooking?

Place the turkey in the oven, uncovered, and let it cook. If the whole turkey is browning too quickly, you can baste it, or cover it all with a loose foil tent. If parts are browning too quickly, like the legs or breast, just cover those parts with a bit of foil.

How long should a 15lb turkey cook?

Heat peanut oil in a turkey fryer or a very, very large stockpot to 350 degrees F. Lower turkey into hot oil, very carefully, making sure it is fully submerged. Fry turkey for 3 minutes per pound plus 5 minutes per bird. Remove turkey from oil and drain on paper towels.

How long do I cook a 20 pound turkey?

If you're baking it at 325°F (the lowest temperature the USDA recommends), you'll need to bake a 20-lb turkey in the oven for 4 to 5 hours if it's unstuffed, and 4 ¼ to 5 ¼ hours if it's stuffed.

When should I start thawing my turkey?

When should I buy a turkey? If you're buying a frozen turkey, you can shop up to one year in advance as long as the turkey remains properly frozen. (Take advantage of post-holiday sales!) If you're buying a fresh bird, purchase it one to two days before you cook it.

How do you cook a frozen turkey?

Thawed turkeys require about 15 minutes of cook time for every pound of meat. With a frozen turkey, you need at least 50 percent longer, or about 22 ½ minutes per pound. A 12-pound turkey, which would cook in about three hours if it's fully thawed, now requires 4 ½ hours.

How do you fry a turkey?

Heat peanut oil in a turkey fryer or a very, very large stockpot to 350 degrees F. Lower turkey into hot oil, very carefully, making sure it is fully submerged. Fry turkey for 3 minutes per pound plus 5 minutes per bird. Remove turkey from oil and drain on paper towels.

How long should you cook a 19 lb turkey?

In an oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, cooking an 18- to 20-pound unstuffed thawed or fresh turkey will take between 4 1/4 and 4 1/2 hours, according to the USDA. This amounts to about 14 minutes of cooking time per pound. For a 19-pound turkey, this comes to about four hours and 26 minutes.

How long does it take to cook a turkey at 250 degrees?

At 250 degrees F your turkey will take 25 to 30 minutes per pound. At 275 degrees F your turkey will take 20 to 25 minutes per pound.