How Long Is It to Cook a Christmas Turkey?
Cooking a whole turkey for a Christmas dinner may seem a bit overwhelming and intimidating to an inexperienced cook. Fortunately, the process is quite simple once you understand how long to cook a Christmas turkey. Does this Spark an idea?
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Oven Temperature
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The Christmas turkey should be cooked at an oven temperature of 325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking the meat at a higher temperature generally causes the meat to dry out. That said, you can roast the turkey at 450 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit for only the first 30 minutes; this helps brown the turkey's skin.
Cooking Time
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The United States Department of Agriculture recommends the following cooking times for an unstuffed turkey: 1.5 to 3.25 hours for a 4 to 8 pound turkey; 2.75 to 3 hours for an 8 to 12 pound turkey; 3 to 3.75 hours for a 12 to 14 pound turkey; 3.75 to 4.25 hours for a 14 to 18 pound turkey; 4.25 to 4.5 hours for an 18 to 20 pound turkey; 4.5 to 5 hours for a 20 to 24 pound turkeys. Stuffed turkeys generally require an additional 5 to 7 minutes of cooking time per pound of meat. While roasting, keep the oven door closed as much as possible.
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What To Look For
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When a fork is pierced into the skin of a fully cooked turkey, the juices should run clear. However, to ensure safety, a meat thermometer should be used. The bird is done once the breast meat reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit and the thigh meat reaches an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
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References
- Photo Credit cooking turkey image by Ernest Prim from Fotolia.com
