When it comes to determining cooking a turkey time, there are a couple of things that need to be considered. Whether you’re cooking your bird in the oven, the air fryer or the crock pot, it’s important to notice the differences in preparation between them.
Another important thing to keep in mind is how big the bird you are preparing is. This makes a large difference in the length of prep time. Although this seems like a lot, fear not because we’re have come up with this master post of cooking a turkey time.
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Questions to Keep In Mind For Turkey Prep
1) What Temperature Should The Turkey Be At?
Use a food thermometer to help you figure out the internal temperature of your turkey. Your turkey is at a safe minimum. internal temperature at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) How Big Is the Turkey?
Most methods give instructions on how to cook a turkey around 12-16 pounds. Follow this basic guide for your proper cooking time: 13 minutes of cooking time for each pound of turkey if roasting empty and 15 minutes per pound if stuffed.
3) How Long To Leave the Turkey to Rest Before Serving
When serving turkey, it’s important to let it sit directly after cooking before serving it. Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes (at least) before carving and serving.
Determining Your Preparation Method
There are several different ways that a turkey can be properly prepared. Whether you’re using the air fryer, the oven or even a crock pot, make sure you pay proper attention to the cooking instructions as they vary with each!
If you are cooking in the oven:
- Set a rack at the lowest position in the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Tie the legs together and tuck the wing tips under. Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Drizzle the outside of the turkey with a few tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the turkey about 3 hours, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F. Transfer the turkey to a platter, cover loosely with foil, and let rest 30 minutes before carving.
If you are deep frying your turkey:
- Wash bird inside and out, and allow to drain. Rub turkey all over with House Seasoning. Coat turkey with dry rub. Allow the bird to sit until it reaches room temperature.
- Heat oil in a turkey fryer or a very, very large stockpot to 350 degrees F. Lower turkey into the hot oil, very carefully, making sure it is fully submerged. Fry turkey for 3 minutes per pound plus 5 minutes per bird. Remove turkey from oil and drain on paper towels.
If you are slow cooking your turkey in a crock pot:
- When it comes to preparing your turkey in the cock pot, you have to make sure that your bird will actually fit. This usually means scaling down a little bit when it comes to the size of your turkey. The perfect sized turkey for crock pot cooking would ideally be 8-10 pounds!
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours, or LOW for 8 hours.
Some Tips For Preparing A Turkey
- Calculate before you buy! In order to best determine how much turkey you are going to need to purchase, figure around 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per each guest. Once you’ve done that, add a few more pounds to include the weight of the turkey bones and you should have a pretty good idea of the turkey weight needed!
- Invest in a good meat thermometer! This is crucial. As I mentioned before, the optimal temperature of a turkey that is completely cooked is around 165 degrees F. Investing in a good meat thermometer helps give you the most accurate measurements. Use it for other meals as well!
- Keep the stuffing on the side! Although stuffing is an amazing traditional side dish often paired with turkey, it is recommended that instead of stuffing your turkey before cooking, you should prepare and cook it in a separate dish. It adds on to your cooking a turkey time if cooked together!