If you think roasting a turkey on Thanksgiving requires a 4 a.m. wake-up call and letting the bird take up oven space all day long, well, think again. A perfectly juicy, moist bird actually doesn’t need an entire day in the oven for a proper roasting—just a few good hours and some rest time on the counter.
But how long do you actually need to cook a turkey so you don’t overcook—or undercook—the bird? We asked award-winning chefs and experts to share the exact time and temperature you should roast your turkey this Thanksgiving. Here’s what they said, and then be sure to also keep these 17 Major Ways You’re Cooking a Turkey Wrong in mind!
First: the prep work
For a flavorful turkey, Chef D’Andre Carter, Owner of Soul & Smoke in Chicago says that placing it in a brining solution 24 hours before cooking can result in a juicy, robust roasted bird.
When Thanksgiving day arrives, Chef Carter says to “rinse and dry the turkey thoroughly before rubbing it with softened compound butter. Make sure the butter covers the entire turkey including the cavity and also massage some between the skin and breast meat.”6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
The proper roasting time for a turkey
As for how long to roast the turkey Chef Rob Levitt, Head Butcher of Publican Quality Meats, says “a [typical] 14-16 pound turkey should take about 2 1/2 to 3 hours at most in the oven.“
While expert opinions will vary on the exact temperature for roasting your turkey, many typically suggest spending the first 45 minutes or an hour roasting the turkey at a high temperature (such as 450 degrees) and then decreasing the temperature to 350 degrees for the remainder of the roast.
