How Long to Cook a Turkey

Name: How Long to Cook a Turkey
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 5 h
Yield: 10 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 whole turkey, fully thawed; Salt, pepper, herbs, or butter as desired for seasoning

A simple guide to calculating turkey cooking times to ensure your bird is perfectly juicy every time.

By Enzo81 Kitchen· American· October 17, 2026

enzo81.xyz

Prep

1 hour

Cook

2 to 4 hours

Total

3 to 5 hours

Serves

10 12

Cooking a whole turkey can feel like a big task, especially when you only do it once or twice a year. After roasting for over fifteen years, I have found that the secret to success is planning ahead and using a reliable thermometer rather than guessing by the clock.

My favorite technique is starting the turkey at a high heat to get the skin crispy, then dropping the temperature to finish it off. I also recommend letting your turkey sit at room temperature for an hour before it goes in the oven, as this helps it cook much more evenly.

Ingredients

1 whole turkey, fully thawed
Salt, pepper, herbs, or butter as desired for seasoning

9Instructions

1
Take your turkey out of the refrigerator one hour before you plan to roast it so it loses some of its chill.
2
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
3
Place your seasoned, unstuffed turkey in a roasting pan.
4
Roast at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to crisp up the skin.
5
Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and continue roasting until done.
6
Calculate your total time based on 8 to 10 minutes per pound for this high heat method, or 10 to 12 minutes per pound if cooking at 325 degrees Fahrenheit the entire time.
7
Use an instant read thermometer to check the breast, thigh, and wing joint.
8
Remove the turkey from the oven when the thickest parts reach 155 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
9
Tent the turkey loosely with foil and let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes, allowing the temperature to rise to a final 165 degrees Fahrenheit before carving.

Tips

Always use an instant read thermometer to check the thickest parts of the meat rather than relying on oven time alone. If your turkey finishes early, you can keep it warm by tenting it with foil for up to two hours. For the juiciest meat, I recommend cooking your stuffing in a separate dish instead of inside the bird.

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