Turkey cooking times
Roasting
To prepare the turkey for roasting, first remove the giblets! My first turkey I cooked , I forgot to remove the paper-wrapped gibblets. It ruined the taste of the bird. You may also wish to use the giblets in your gravy or stuffing. Next, rinse the bird inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels. If you are stuffing the bird, stuff it loosely, allowing about 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 cup stuffing per pound of turkey. Brush the skin with melted butter or oil. Tie drumbsticks together with string. Lastly, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. The thermometer should point towards the body, and should not touch the bone.
* Place the bird on a rack in a roasting pan, and into a preheated 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven. Use the following chart to estimate the time required for baking.
* Bake until the skin is a light golden color, and then cover loosely with a foil tent. During the last 45 minutes of baking, remove the foil tent to brown the skin. Basting is not necessary, but helps promote even browning.
Weight of Bird Roasting Time (Unstuffed) Roasting Time (Stuffed)
10-18 lbs 3-3.5 hours 3.75-4.5 hours
15-22 lbs 3.5-4 hours 4.5-5 hours
22-24 lbs 4-4.5 hours 5-5.5 hours
24-29 lbs 4.5-5 hours 5.5-6.25 hours