Thanksgiving Turkey Cooking Methods

Tips

Standard cooking time for turkey under 16 pounds--15 minutes per pound

Standard cooking time for turkey over 16 pounds--12 minutes per pound

For a moist turkey, baste every 15-20 minutes with drippings or basting sauces.

If using a meat thermometer, insert it in the center of the thigh muscle, not touching the bone.

Conventional Oven-Open Pan

Cook turkey, breast up on flat rack in shallow pan at 325°. Baste every 15-20 minutes.
This is a dry-heat method which is the easiest method for cooking a turkey.
The turkey turns out golden brown with a rich roasted flavor.

Conventional Oven-High Heat

Place a well-basted turkey in a shallow pan with the breast up. Cook at 450° for 30 minutes. Then turn oven down to 350° and continue to cook.
This produces an evenly browned turkey that is juicy and moist.

Conventional Oven-Covered Pan

Cook turkey, breast up, in covered dark enamel pan in 325° oven.
With this method the cooking time is shortened, but the turkey becomes less attractive in appearance than with the open pan method. It does not have a roasted flavor either.

Conventional Oven-Cooking Bag

Place the turkey, breast up, in a floured plastic cooking bag in a shallow open pan. Close the bag loosely and make slits in the top of the bag. Cook at 350°.
The cooking cooks in the drippings in the bag. Although this is easy to clean up the turkey is not nicely browned and has little roasted flavor.

Conventional Oven-Foil-Wrapped

Place the unstuffed turkey, breast up, on a sheet of foil. Wrap loosely and cook in a shallow pan at 450°.
This moist-heat cooking method reduces the time, but the turkey may cook unevenly. Be sure to check the final temperature of the breast and thigh. This can only be used with an unstuffed turkey.

Conventional Oven-Clay Pot

Place the turkey breast up in a presoaked clay pot in a cold oven. Cook at 450°.
The turkey browns evenly, but you must check the temperature of the stuffing, breat, and thigh.

Microwave

Cook the unstuffed turkey, breast down, on high for 4 minutes per pound. Then cook, breast up, at 50% power for 8 minutes per pound.
This cooking method cooks a turkey in about half the time, but you have to make sure you use a browning sauce for even color.

Charcoal Water Smoke Cooker

Place an unstuffed turkey on a rack over water pan and hot coals with wet wood. Cover. Add briquettes as required.
Turkey will become dark brown with a distinct smoky flavor.

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