By
eHow Holidays & Celebrations Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Step1
Check that the turkey is completely thawed the night before. This step is in the event the bird has not completely thawed after several hours of thawing time. Reach into the cavity to determine if it is frozen or icy. You can run water into the cavity for a few minutes to complete the thawing.
Step2
Determine the turkey's weight. The rule of thumb when serving turkey is to allocate one pound per person. Therefore, if you are entertaining 15 people for Thanksgiving dinner, the smallest size turkey to serve is a 15 pound turkey. Note the bird's weight because this is one of the criteria for determining the length of time to cook the turkey.
Step3
Skip the stuffing if you are pressed for time. A stuffed bird takes longer to cook.
Step4
Set the oven temperature. The rule of thumb for roasting a turkey is to set the oven temperature between 325 degrees and 350 degrees. A lower temperature will not cook the turkey through, and a higher temperature will cause the turkey to burn on the outside while it remains undercooked on the inside (not very appetizing for a Thanksgiving dinner).
Step5
Follow the cook time guidelines for a turkey (temperatures in Farenheit).
Unstuffed Turkey
8 to 12 lb. 2 3/4 to 3 hours
12 to 14 lb. 3 to 3 3/4 hours
14 to 18 lb. 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 lb. 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
20 to 24 lb. 4 1/2 to 5 hours
Stuffed Turkey
8 to 12 lb. 3 to 3 1/2 hours
12 to 14 lb. 3 1/2 to 4 hours
14 to 18 lb. 4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 lb. 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours
20 to 24 lb. 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours
Step6
Insert a meat thermometer in the inner part of the turkey's thigh. The turkey is most likely done at 165 degrees. For stuffed turkeys the temperature of the stuffing should also reach 165 degrees. Take the turkey from the oven and insert the thermometer for 5 minutes into the middle of the stuffing. If the stuffing does not reach 165 degrees, place the turkey back into the oven to cook longer.
