Cooking turkey is a laborious job. If you are cooking for Thanksgiving then it is important that you know how long it will take to cook a turkey. This way you can save enough time and efforts in preparing this meal especially when you have people coming over for dinner. Now if you don’t know how long it takes to cook turkey then you are in luck! This article will help you figure out how long it takes to cook turkey without much fuss. So if you are ready, here are the best ways to know how long to cook turkey.
The trick in knowing how long it will take to cook a turkey lies on how heavy the turkey is. You can cook turkey with or without stuffing but always keep in mind that the heavier the turkey is, the longer it will take for you to cook it.
Unstuffed Turkeys:
Unstuffed turkey might be a lot easier and quicker to cook compared to stuffed ones. So depending on the weight, your turkey might need more time in the oven.
- If the turkey is 8 to 12 pounds in weight, cook it for 2 ¾ hours to a maximum of 3 hours.
- If the turkey is 12-14 pounds in weight, cook it for 3 to 3 ¾ hours max.
- If the turkey is 14 to 18 pounds in weight, cook it for 3 ¾ to 4 ¼ hours.
- If the turkey is 18 to 20 pounds in weight, cook it for 4 ¼ to 4 ½ hours.
- If the turkey is 20 to 24 pounds in weight, cook it for 4 ½ to 5 hours.
Stuffed turkey:
Stuffed turkeys require longer cooking time and depending on how big the turkey is and the amount of stuffing you have placed; the cooking time may be longer than expected. Here’s how long to cook turkey with stuffing.
- If the turkey is 8 to 12 pounds in weight, cook it for 3 to 3 ½ hours.
- If the turkey is 12-14 pounds in weight, cook it for 3 ½ to 4 hours.
- If the turkey is 14 to 18 pounds in weight, cook it for 4 to 4 1/4 hours.
- If the turkey is 18 to 20 pounds in weight, cook it for 4 ½ to 4 ¾ hours.
- If the turkey is 20 to 24 pounds in weight, cook it for 4 ¾ to 5 ¼ hours.
So it’s not that hard to cook turkey but always take note of the weight so you can also take note of the hours it will take to cook them through. Enjoy cooking!