How to Roast Your Turkey
To prepare the turkey for roasting, first remove the giblets (and save for gravy or stuffing). Next, rinse the bird inside and out and pat dry with paper towels.
- If you are stuffing the bird, stuff it loosely, allowing about ½ to ¾ cup stuffing per pound of turkey.
- Brush the skin with melted butter or oil. Tie drumsticks together with string (for stuffed birds only).
- 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 | Roasting Time |
10-18 lbs | 3-3.5 hours | 3.75-4.5 hours |
18-22 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 |
