Ready to make a tasty turkey? Got everything ready and left with the timing? We’ve got you covered!
Cooking a turkey is a labor of love, and the key to success lies in achieving that ideal balance between succulent, tender meat and accurately predicting the cooking time. Timing is everything. We know that and the last thing you want is to serve a dry and overcooked bird or, on the other hand, an undercooked one that leaves you or your guests feeling less than satisfied.
No need to fear. That’s where our calculator comes in. The Turkey Cooking Times per Pound Calculator is a tool that ensures that your turkey emerges from the oven as a moist meat, with golden-brown skin, and flavors that will make your taste buds sing.
So, take a deep breath, and let’s explore the Turkey Cooking Times per Pound Calculator.
What is the ‘Turkey Cooking Times per Pound Calculator’?
The Turkey cooking times per pound calculator allows you to determine the cooking time of your turkey whichever type. It considers the measurement of your turkey type in pounds and uses that to predict accurately the cooking time to prepare your turkey.
Based on a formula we’ll see in the next section, the calculator uses their set rule and recommendations for your bird.
The tool is accurate and encompasses different areas that will help you put your mind at ease when setting the cooking time for your turkey.
Be rest assured that the results presented by the calculator are correct and precise, following a standardized regulation. Let’s see that in the next section.
What formula is used for the ‘Turkey Cooking Times per Pound Calculator’?
The Turkey Cooking Times per Pound Calculator utilizes guidelines provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to estimate the cooking time for your turkey based on its weight in pounds. It follows the approximated cooking time provided in a chart to give you the best results.
We’ve referred to the chart and come up with the perfect calculator that can save you the stress of manually going through them. See a few of their recommendations below:
- 2 to 3 pounds of unstuffed turkey should take about 50 to 60 minutes.
- 4 to 4 pounds of turkey approximately need about 1 1⁄2 to 2 1⁄4 hours to cook.
- 8 to 12 pounds need around 2 3⁄4 to 3 hours to cook.
While the USDA does not specify these as a formula for calculating the cooking times, they offer a general guideline that can be followed.
Secondly, the resting time of your turkey. Resting your turkey after it has finished cooking is an essential step in the process, and our Turkey Cooking Times per Pound Calculator considers that as well.
While the cooking time determines when your turkey is fully cooked, the resting time according to America’s Test Kitchen, allows it to reabsorb the juices.
The USDA recommends allowing your turkey to rest for at least 15 to 20 minutes before carving. This timeframe is a little bit extended on the calculator due to preference. Gordon Ramsay who is a renowned chef, for instance, believes a turkey should rest for about 45 minutes and above. Whatever you believe, you are free to choose yours on the calculator.
Other Guidelines for Using the ‘Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
In addition to the recommendations noted above, there are a few other important guidelines recommended by the USDA which the calculator also identifies.
1. Setting your oven
To make sure your turkey is properly cooked, it is necessary to set your oven to the recommended temperature before placing your turkey inside. The USDA advises setting the oven to 325°F (163°C) for roasting a turkey.
2. Using a food thermometer
While the estimated cooking time provided by our calculator is a valuable starting point, it’s important to use a food thermometer to determine the exact doneness of your turkey. The USDA recommends checking the internal temperature in three areas: the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing, and the innermost part of the thigh. If your thermometer registers 165°F in those areas, then, your turkey is ready or resting.
Are you wondering what benefits the features of the calculator provide you with? The calculator helps you to figure:
How Long to Cook a Stuffed Turkey per Pound
This calculator allows you to figure out the cooking time for a stuffed turkey. The resting time is also included in the calculation. You can as well determine what time to start the cooking and what time to end. The calculator is so flexible that it allows you to determine this, either by entering when you wish to start the cooking or when you wish to end the cooking.
Cooking Time for Turkey Legs and Thighs
The calculator applies specific formulas for drumsticks and thighs. From the drop-down menu, you can select either drumsticks or thighs and you will be able to choose the appropriate weight. The weight is restricted to the range provided by the USDA.
Can’t wait to see how it works. Let’s see that in the next section of this article.
How to use the ‘Turkey Cooking Times per Pound Calculator
To make use of the calculator, follow these steps:
- Identify your turkey type and the weight of your turkey. The accuracy of this information helps the calculator to predict the correct cooking time.
- After getting those, Choose your turkey type using the drop-down menu. There are 7 turkey types options you can pick from.
- Select the weight of your turkey type using the slide.
- On a scale of 1-10, determine how fast you want your turkey done.
- For some turkey types, you are to select if your turkey is stuffed or unstuffed. (Stuffing a turkey or not influences the time).
- The time needed for your turkey to be ready will be available at this point.
- You can go further to choose if you want to add the resting time. If yes, use the slider to choose between 15 minutes to 60 minutes.
- The calculator provides a result with the resting time added to the cooking time.
- You might want the calculator to estimate the starting time and ending times for preparing your turkey using a time of the day. For that, simply enter the time you want the calculator to calculate from and the calculator will present the end time for you.
- Lastly, in the form of a sentence, the calculator tells you the oven temperature and specified cooking time.
We hope these steps help you in using the calculator.
Cooking Time for Stuffed Turkey
Cooking a stuffed turkey requires additional time compared to cooking an unstuffed turkey. Here are the estimated cooking times for various weights of stuffed turkeys:
How Long to Cook a Stuffed 8 lb Turkey
A stuffed 8Ib turkey should take approximately 3 hours to cook.
How Long to Cook a Stuffed 8.5 lb Turkey
Approximate cooking time: 3 hours
How Long to Cook a 9 lb Turkey with Stuffing
A 9Ib stuffed turkey should also take about 3 hours to cook.
How Long to Cook a Stuffed 12 lb Turkey
To cook a 12Ib stuffed turkey, approximately 3 hours should be enough to get it done.
How Long to Cook a Stuffed 15 lb Turkey
Using our calculator, approximately 4 hours should get a 15Ib stuffed turkey done.
How Long to Cook a Stuffed 20 lb Turkey
For a 20Ib stuffed turkey, 4 hours and 15 minutes will get it cooked.
How Long to Cook a Stuffed 22 lb Turkey
To cook a 22Ib stuffed turkey, approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Cooking Time for Unstuffed Turkey
The cooking time for an unstuffed turkey is generally shorter compared to stuffed turkeys. Take a look at a few below:
How Long to Cook a 10 lb Turkey Not Stuffed
About 2 hours and 15 minutes will cook an unstuffed turkey.
How Long to Cook a 12 lb Turkey Without Stuffing
2 hours and 15 minutes is the approximate time to cook an unstuffed turkey.
How Long to Cook a 13 lb Turkey Not Stuffed
Approximately 3 hours will cook an unstuffed turkey.
How Long to Cook a 15 lb Turkey Not Stuffed
About 3 hours and 15 minutes are long enough to cook a not stuffed turkey.
How Long to Cook a 16 lb Turkey Not Stuffed
To cook a not stuffed 16Ib turkey, 3 hours and 15 minutes should be enough.
How Long to Cook a 19 lb Turkey Not Stuffed
Approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes should be enough to cook a 19Ib non-stuffed turkey.
How Long to Cook a 20-Pound Turkey No Stuffing
About 4 hours and 15 minutes approximately will cook a 20-pound turkey with no stuffing.
A Master of Cooking Times
In your quest to create a delicious turkey feast, our Turkey Cooking Times per Pound Calculator can be a trusted tool. Armed with the knowledge of cooking times for both stuffed and unstuffed turkeys, along with important guidelines from the USDA, you are well-prepared to make that feast on your mind.