How Long Do You Cook A 20Lb Turkey

How long must a 20-pound turkey cook?

At 325°F (the lowest temperature recommended by the USDA), you will need to bake a 20-pound turkey for 4 to 5 hours if it is unstuffed and 4 to 5 hours if it is stuffed.

How long do you roast a 20-pound turkey at 350 degrees?

If your turkey weights between 18 and 20 pounds, roast it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 to 4 hours. 325°F for four to four hours

Is it best to roast a turkey at 325 or 350 degrees Fahrenheit?

Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature between 325 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures may dry out the flesh, but this is better than temperatures that are too low and may prevent the turkey from reaching a safe internal temperature.

How hot should a 20-pound turkey be cooked?

The food is ready when the thermometer registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit. It should take between 4 and 4 1/2 hours to reach the desired temperature, but you should begin checking it at the 3 1/2-hour point to prevent overcooking.

How many people can a 20-pound turkey serve?

While 1 pound per person may seem insufficient and 1 1/2 pounds each guest could be excessive, 1 1/4 pounds of turkey per mouth strikes the ideal balance. At such pace, more than 20 pounds of turkey are required to serve 15 or more people at a big gathering.

Should I wrap my turkey with aluminum foil?

We’ve discovered that roasting a turkey covered in aluminum foil produces significantly juicier meat than roasting it without foil, and we recommend covering just the breast to ensure a uniform cooking time. Some claim that roasting a turkey breast-side down and turning it halfway through accomplishes the same effects as cooking it with the breast wrapped in aluminum foil.

Do you add water to the bottom of the turkey roasting pan?

We do not advocate adding water to the bottom of roasting pans. Cooking a turkey with steam is a wet heat-cook technique that is OK, but it is not the best approach for cooking your turkey.

How frequently should a turkey be basted?

How Frequently to Basting a Turkey. The majority of recipes call for basting the turkey every thirty minutes. However, our general guideline is every forty minutes, and here’s why. If you open the oven too often, the whole chicken will take considerably longer to cook, which is a major nuisance.

How long must a turkey rest before being carved?

Remove it as soon as the temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly lower. Depending on the size of the bird, a minimum of 20 minutes is required for resting. Depending on the temperature of the space, a big bird may wait up to 40 minutes or more.

Is it best to roast a turkey at 350 or 400 degrees Fahrenheit?

The ideal temperature for roasting a complete turkey is 400°F (204°C). The skin will be crisp without sacrificing softness.

Does a turkey really require basting?

Do Not Baste. To flavor the meat, it is not required to baste the skin. You will flavor the skin, but each time you open the oven to baste, heat will escape. “That means the chicken will cook for a longer period of time, which means it will dry out more,” explains Brown.

What is the safest temperature at which to roast a turkey?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises cooking meat and poultry at temperatures no lower than 325 degrees Fahrenheit. The interior temperature of turkey should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you determine when the turkey is cooked?

  1. 180 degrees Fahrenheit in the thigh.
  2. 170 degrees Fahrenheit in the breast.
  3. 165 degrees Fahrenheit for stuffing.

How can a turkey be kept warm for four hours?

A kitchen towel put on top of the aluminum foil keeps the meat warm and moist until it is ready to serve. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil and return it to the oven at a temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Underneath the turkey, place a pan of water to generate steam, which helps to its moistness.

How long is a turkey cooked and at what temperature?

Depending on the temperature of the oven and whether your turkey recipe asks for a filled or unstuffed bird, the time required to cook the turkey might vary. We suggest cooking an unstuffed turkey at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 13 minutes per pound.

How long does a 20-pound turkey need to defrost in the refrigerator?

Make space at the bottom of your refrigerator and have a baking sheet or roasting pan handy. Plan on 24 hours of refrigerator thawing time for every 5 pounds of frozen turkey (for example: budget 4 full days of thawing in the fridge for a 20-pound turkey).

Is a 20-pound turkey Large?

Selecting the Appropriate Size Turkey When selecting a turkey for Thanksgiving, allow 1 1/2 pounds per person. Choose a turkey weighing between 15 and 20 pounds to serve 10 guests on Thanksgiving. Smaller birds weighing less than 12 pounds have a lower meat-to-bone ratio, so plan on two pounds per individual.

How does one thaw a 20-pound turkey?

Defrost in the Refrigerator Defrosting a frozen turkey ONLY in the refrigerator is suggested. To be successful, however, you will need enough time: 24 hours of defrosting time for every 4 to 5 pound chicken. A 15- to 20-pound turkey will need four to five days in the refrigerator.

How is a turkey prepared the night before Thanksgiving?

It’s simple: Simply cook the turkey a day or two in advance, let it cool fully, and then cut it into big chunks, including the breasts, wings, thighs, and legs. Refrigerate in an airtight container until the big event. This procedure produces juicier meat and a far more relaxed host.

Do Butterball turkeys include butter?

In actuality, there is no butter within or on a Butterball turkey. A business spokesperson informed me that the fresh turkeys are injected with a basting solution composed of salt water and “ordinary home seasonings.” Butterball will not reveal the components of their proprietary basting sauce.

Is cooking a turkey covered or uncovered preferable?

Should I roast the turkey covered or uncovered? According to Butterball, the turkey should be cooked uncovered in a roasting pan. Butterball recommends covering the breast with foil halfway through the cooking process to prevent it from drying out.

Should I put butter beneath my turkey’s skin?

Before roasting your Thanksgiving turkey, put a layer of butter beneath the skin to impart flavor and enhance moisture.

What is the most effective method for keeping a turkey moist?

Make the basting during the last hour of turkey cooking. In a saucepan, melt one cup of butter and stir in one cup of maple syrup. Turkey should be basted every 15 minutes during the last hour of cooking. Rest for 20 to 30 minutes before to serving carved meat.

What goes in the bottom of a turkey roasting pan?

Put chopped onions, celery, and carrots in the roasting pan’s bottom. Remove a few herbs from their stems and combine with the veggies. Set aside. The turkey is dried using paper towels.

Should I add butter to my bird?

Placing butter beneath the skin of a bird will not make the flesh more juicy, however it may help the skin brown more quickly. According to López-Alt, though, butter’s 17 percent water content will make your bird spotted. Instead, before roasting, massage the skin with vegetable oil.