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What Size Turkey to Buy
One pound of turkey per person will comfortably feed your crowd.
More info: To be safe and to ensure that you have those wonderful leftovers for soups and sandwiches a pound and a half per person will suffice. Reference the example table below.
|
Guests |
Turkey Size |
|
6 |
9 lbs. |
|
10 |
15 lbs. |
|
15 |
22-23 lbs. |
|
20 |
30 lbs. |
|
25 |
37-38 lbs. |
How Long to Cook per Pound
There are several methods to cook a turkey depending on how you want the end result. You can slow roast it evenly for the full cooking time, or you can initially set the oven temperature higher to crisp the outside and then lower the temperature to slow roast. The oven should never be set below 325°F and the finished bird should have an internal temperature of 165°F.
The chart below is an approximate example of the cooking time in an oven set at 325°F with no stuffing and very little oven temperature interruption from basting.
A stuffed bird will take approximately half hour longer to cook than an unstuffed bird. Basting during cooking will also add to the cooking time. Remember, it's the internal temperature, not the timer that counts.
|
Turkey Size |
Approx. Cooking Time |
|
8-12 lbs. |
2-3/4 to 3 hours |
|
12-14 lbs. |
3 to 3-3/4 hours |
|
14-18 lbs. |
3-3/4 to 4-1/4 hours |
|
18-20 lbs. |
4-1/4 to 4-1/2 hours |
|
20-24 lbs. |
4-1/2 to 5 hours |
UDSA Poultry Preparation Fact Sheet
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