Cooking a turkey just right can make or break your turkey day gathering. It’s important to allow yourself enough time to cook the turkey and heat up all your other dishes. Below are some guidelines that will help you determine approximately how long to roast stuffed and unstuffed turkey. Always use a meat thermometer to gauge doneness.
- For a stuffed turkey, the roasting time may vary up to 30 minutes, depending upon the bird and the oven. Use the meat thermometer to check the temperature of the dressing. The center of the dressing inside the bird must reach a temperature of 165 degrees F. for food safety.
- For an unstuffed turkey, place the meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, taking care that it does not touch any bone. Roast the turkey until the meat thermometer reaches 180 degrees F.
- Roasting times listed below are for a preheated 325 degrees F. oven.
Approximate Roasting Times for Stuffed Turkey
Turkey Weight: Hours
6 to 8 pounds: 3 to 3-1/2 hours
8 to 12 pounds: 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours
12 to 16 pounds: 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours
16 to 20 pounds: 5-1/2 to 6 hours
20 to 24 pounds: 6 to 6-1/2 hours
Approximate Roasting Times for Unstuffed Turkey
Turkey Weight: Hours
6 to 8 pounds: 2-1/2 to 3 hours
8 to 12 pounds: 3 to 4 hours
12 to 16 pounds: 4 to 5 hours
16 to 20 pounds: 5 to 5-1/2 hours
20 to 24 pounds: 5-1/2 to 6 hours
Be sure to also refer to your turkey’s packaging for specific or special instructions. Happy Thanksgiving!
