What’s the Right Turkey Cooking Time?
Whether it is the famous thanksgiving holiday or any other time that you are considering serving turkey, the turkey cooking time is very important. This is because you do not want the turkey to be overcooked and dried out. Similarly an undercooked turkey is not a great idea. Steak can be consumed rare, but poultry should never be eaten unless it is well cooked to prevent bacteria forming.
Turkey cooking time varies as it depends on a lot of factors. The size of the turkey, whether it was frozen or fresh, the method of cooking (such as roasting or frying) and the dish used to bake it in are some of the considerations to be given to the cooking time.
There are several websites and cookbooks that provide you with a guideline for the time needed to cook a turkey. You can ask a trusted friend, mother or mother in law, as they would be more acquainted with your recipe, the type of oven you have, the marinating techniques as compared to a website that has standard times based upon weight.
Another alternative is to call the turkey hotline that several manufacturers have started and ask an expert what they think is the best turkey cooking time. There are so many variables it is always best to check the internal temperature of the turkey with a cooking thermometer, than to just set the timer and forget about it.
To get you started, here are some guidelines you can keep in mind, so that your guests are not left waiting at the table. The general rule is that if your turkey weighs in the range of 10 and 20 pounds, roasting for around five hours should be enough. The best way to know that your meal is ready, is to take an internal temperature and if 165 degrees has been reached the turkey is cooked. If the bird is bigger, say in the range of 20 and 30 pounds, then around six hours should be enough time for roasting.
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