Thanksgiving Classic Half Roast Turkey Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

Oven-Roasted Turkey

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

Half Turkeys generally weigh between 5-10lbs, and we recommend you allow about 10min/lb at 325F. You can follow any turkey recipe, just remember that it will cook more quickly than you expect — possibly even under an hour, so don't let it go too long without checking.

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

You'll find that most "small turkeys" range in size from 10 to 14 pounds, although you may be able to find them as small as 6 pounds.

Regular Oven 325°

6-7 lbs. 2-2½ hrs. 2¼-2¾ hrs. 7-10 lbs.

Roasting the bird slowly, at a lower temperature is the best way to achieve tender meat. You should still prep the bird with butter, salt, and pepper, as described above (or dry-brine it). To cook, set your oven to 325°F and roast for 3½ to 4 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird.

A spatchco*cked whole turkey will cook more quickly than a standard turkey. While the spatchco*ck turkey cooking time will depend on the size and oven temperature, 6 minutes per pound is a good rule of thumb. Depending on the size of the turkey, cook times are estimated between 60-90 minutes.

Spatchco*ck (butterfly or split) involves vertically cutting a turkey breast open and flattening it out. If you do this, your oven or outdoor grill can directly apply heat to every part of the opened meat and cook it faster.

The most common complaint about spatchco*cking is that it “just doesn't look right”.

"Often, consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. 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."

Is it better to roast a turkey on a rack or in a pan? ›

Do I need to use a roasting rack to roast a turkey? The point of using a rack is to let the heat of the oven circulate around the turkey. You don't need a specially designed rack for your roasting pan, but you need something to lift the bird above the bottom of the pan.

While you may be accustomed to seeing a 20-pound turkey in the center of the dining room table, a smaller one ranges from about 5 to 10 pounds. An 8-pound turkey is a perfect size if you're entertaining up to six people. And if you're hosting a group of eight people, a 10-pound turkey should be perfect.

Roast chicken is less expensive, easy to roast, delicious, and has less portions than a large turkey, so it is perfect for a single, couple, or small family celebration. A simple chicken stuffed with mirepoix, lemons, fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, sage) and roasted whole is a great alternative to a large turkey."

Publix Fresh Half Turkey, All Natural, Usda Inspected, Grade A (1 lb) Delivery or Pickup Near Me - Instacart.

Here are some guidelines: Unstuffed Turkey: For an unstuffed turkey, you can use the 13-15 minutes per pound guideline. This means that a 15-pound turkey, for example, would take about 3 hours and 15 minutes to 3 hours and 45 minutes to cook at 325°F.

Begin by roasting your turkey at 425°F for 40 to 45 minutes before lowering the temperature of the oven to 350°F for the rest of the cooking time. Like the other method, it's a good idea to brush the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with butter or olive oil to help the surface brown and keep the meat moist.

An unstuffed 15-pound turkey will take about 3 ¾ hours at the recommended oven temperature of 325°F. If the turkey is stuffed, add an extra 20 to 30 minutes. How Long to Cook 18 lb Turkey? An unstuffed 18-pound turkey will take about 4 ¼ hours at the recommended oven temperature of 325°F.