Recipes and Cooking How to Cook Cooking with Meat & Poultry How Long to Cook a Turkey of Any Size for Juicy Results From eight to 24 pounds, stuffed or unstuffed, use this guide to determine how long to roast any turkey. By Sheena Chihak, RD Sheena Chihak, RD Instagram Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 15 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Instagram Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for over 8 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on November 3, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Andy Lyons If you've been assigned to take on the turkey this Thanksgiving, or any other festivity, it's important to know that getting the juiciest, most tender results requires get the cooking time right. You can start your Thanksgiving countdown by coordinating the guest list, cleaning the house, and even planning the entire Thanksgiving menu, but you can't plan your cooking strategy until you determine how long to cook a turkey. The key to knowing how many hours to cook a turkey (yes, it takes hours) depends on the turkey's weight. From an 8-pound turkey for a more intimate gathering to a 24-pound turkey that feeds the entire extended family, these guidelines show you exactly how long to cook a turkey. How Long to Thaw a Turkey It's important to start cooking with a fully defrosted turkey. Our handy turkey defrosting guide shares full timing and methods for thawing your Thanksgiving turkey. Our favorite way to thaw a bird is to leave it in the refrigerator. You can keep a turkey in the fridge for up to four days before cooking. How Long to Roast a Turkey Once your turkey has been properly thawed and brined, seasoned, or stuffed as desired, roast in a pan at 325°F using these times as guidelines for unstuffed turkeys. Always determine doneness with a temperature check. Each time is for cooking one turkey at a time. Your meat thermometer should register 175°F in the thigh muscle. Turkey Roasting Times Turkey Size Time 8- to 12-pound turkey 2¾ to 3 hours 12- to 14-pound turkey 3 to 3¾ hours 14- to 18-pound turkey 3¾ to 4¼ hours 18- to 20-pound turkey 4¼ to 4½ hours 20- to 24-pound turkey 4½ to 5 hours Test Kitchen Tip: When your turkey finishes cooking, cover it loosely with foil and let it stand 15 minutes before carving. Timing Guidelines for Stuffed Whole Turkeys If you're going the classic route, stuffing your turkey rather than cooking the stuffing in its own dish, you'll increase the above roasting times by 15 to 45 minutes. Look here for the stuffed turkey timing details. Again, do a temperature test to be sure the turkey is done. The center of the stuffing should hit 165°F. Whether you cook up a Classic Roast Turkey, Maple Sage Turkey, Honey Roast Turkey, or the recipe that your family has passed down for generations, using these timings as your guide will help you put a turkey on the table that you're proud of. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Related Articles How Long to Cook a 30-Pound Turkey Roast Turkey, 8-10 Pounds 3 hrs 15 mins Can You Freeze Eggs? How Long to Cook a Stuffed Turkey for Safe—but Juicy—Results How to Roast a Standout Turkey for Thanksgiving How Long Do You Grill Chicken? Here are All the Answers This is the Safe Internal Temperature for Turkey How to Use Baking Soda for Tenderizing Meat How to Prep and How Long to Cook Leg of Lamb for a Mouthwatering Feast It Only Takes 3 Easy Steps to Broil Chicken to Juicy Perfection How to Defrost a Turkey in Time for the Feast How Long to Brine a Turkey and Other Secrets for a Perfect Bird HelloFresh's Thanksgiving Meal Kit Is Everything You Need to Cook Your Holiday Feast—Without a Subscription Cooking Turkey 101: How to Prep and Cook a Bird for Thanksgiving How to Cook Turkey Breast 3 Ways, According to Our Test Kitchen Experts How to Cook Turkey in an Electric Roaster to Free Up Oven Space Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies