What Is The Best Temperature To Bake A Turkey?

Stick with a temperature of

325°F

, which ensures the turkey gets cooked all the way without becoming overdone.

How long should you cook a turkey at 325?

325°F for

41⁄4 to 41⁄2 hours

.

Do you cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature ranging from

325°F to 350°F

. Higher temperatures may cause the meat to dry out, but this is preferable to temperatures that are too low which may not allow the interior of the turkey to cook to a safe temperature.

Do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?

To achieve that balance, the ideal is to let the bird spend

time both covered and uncovered

: We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out, then removing the cover for the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp.

How long should a 20 lb turkey cook at 325?

For one 18- to 20-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for

41⁄4 to 41⁄2 hours

. For one 20- to 24-pound turkey, roast at 325°F for 41⁄2 to 5 hours.

Should you put water in turkey roasting pan?

We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan

. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey.” … The drippings will be less flavorful and not as concentrated as roast turkey drippings.

Should I start my turkey at a higher temperature?

I find it is best to start the turkey at a fairly high temperature (

400°F

), roast for about twenty minutes and then lower the heat to 350°F for the remainder of the cooking time.

How do I get my turkey to brown?

Simply

pat the turkey's skin dry before it goes into the oven

, preferably a very hot oven—the hotter the oven, the more quickly the skin will dry out completely and the browning can begin. Once you've got the browning underway, you can lower the oven temperature for the remaining cooking time.

Should I baste my turkey?

Basting the skin is not necessary to flavor the meat. You'll flavor the skin, but you'll also let heat out of the oven each time you open it to baste. “That means the bird is going to be in there for a longer time cooking, which means it's going to dry out more,” Brown says.

Can I butter my turkey the night before?

The bird should be prepared the night before

. Mix the butter with the salt and freshly ground black pepper, then season the cavity of the bird. Rub the butter mix all over the turkey. … Take the turkey out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature while the oven is heating up.

How long should a 20 pound turkey cook at 350 degrees?

If your turkey weighs 18 to 20 pounds, roast it at: 425°F for 31⁄2 to 33⁄4 hours. 400°F for 33⁄4 to 4 hours. 350°F for

4 to 41⁄4 hours

.

How long should a 20lb turkey cook?

What internal temperature should a turkey be cooked to?

You'll need a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Insert it close to, but not touching, the thigh bone. If it reads 180 degrees F in the thigh and

170 degrees F in the breast

, it's done and ready to serve.

How do I keep my turkey from drying out?

“When roasting the whole bird, the key is to cook the legs longer than the breast,” Tommy says. “Once

the breast is cooked, remove the legs and put them back in the oven

. This stops the breasts drying out.”

Should I rub butter on my turkey?

Placing butter under the skin won't make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt. Instead,

rub the skin with vegetable oil before you roast

.

How do you take the bottom of the turkey off the pan?

Grab a few paper towels and wad or fold them up so that you have a few layers in each hand. Then

grasp the turkey on each side right where the legs meet the body

, and lift. The paper towels are thick enough so that you won't burn your hands but enable you to keep a firm grasp on the turkey.