Today I am here to answer a very specific yet important query. Many people wonder how long it takes to cook a 14 lb turkey, which is great for serving a party of four. Let’s read all about it!
How long you cook a 14 lb. turkey depends on how you will use it, whether you will stuff it or use it in gravy.
Usually, a pound of turkey has to be heated at 350 degrees in the oven for 13 minutes. Hence a 14lb can be correspondingly calculated for the time it has to be roasted.
Of course, there is a difference between roasting an unstuffed and stuffed turkey, depending on the total time it takes. The maths chart below can help you know the time taken to cook a turkey.
Cooking a turkey also involves different methods, and one method would vary from another. There is also a necessity that comes from using different methods of cooking a turkey.
The best is just by using the oven, whereas other methods also prove useful in many ways.
How Long Does It Take To Cook A Turkey?
The below chart will be very helpful in cooking a turkey, and the time it will take to do that. It is cooked in the oven at 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C. The oven is actually preheated to that degree before placing the turkey inside.
| Weight Of Turkey | Time Taken (Maximun) |
|---|---|
| 10 to 12 lb. | 2 ¾ hours |
| 12 to 14 lb. | 3 hours |
| 15 to 18 lb. | 4 hours |
| 18 to 20 lb. | 4 ¼ hours |
| 20 to 22 lb. | 4 ¾ hours |
| 23 to 24 lb. | 5 hours |
The above table has all the details of cooking a turkey and the time required for that. However, some important pointers come in handy while cooking a turkey.
- Turkey is heated at 165 degrees.
- The turkey has to be rested for at least 30 minutes before it can be processed.
- Using an oven thermometer to check if all the dense part of the meat is heated. Half-baked meat can spoil easily and will not be effective while cooking.
How Much Turkey Should You Buy?
How much to buy actually dictates how you cook and what is leftover. There are times when you will not need leftovers at all. 1 pound of turkey can be cooked and can be served longer than 6 to 8 times.
If you don’t do turkey sandwiches or soups and gravies, then a minimum of 2 pounds would do. If, in case, you will need leftovers, then 11 pounds per person for multiple servings would be the appropriate amount.
Methods To Thaw A Turkey
If you have leftovers at your home, then thawing comes in very handy, and knowing how to thaw, will decide the fate of how you are going to eat it.
Thawing is done in different ways and methods. The prominent one is refrigerating it to the required timelines. Thawing the turkey in cold water will also help
Every 5 pounds of turkey requires almost a day i.e., 24 hours of thawing time in the fridge. 15 or 16-pound birds will take 8 hours of thawing in the cold water. The water needs intermittent change every 30 minutes.
Cooking A Stuffed Turkey
A stuffed turkey takes longer to get cooked than an unstuffed turkey. The right time to cook all the stuffing’s inside the turkey definitely affects the time for the whole turkey to be cooked.
The temperature of the stuffing also decides how well it has been cooked. The stuffing should be heated up to 165 degrees, not less than that. Owning a thermometer to check the temperature of the stuffing is important.
Roast the turkey for 15 minutes per pound when it has stuffings inside. You have to check the temperature of the stuffing by using a thermometer that informs you how cooked the turkey is and what its current temperature is.
Cooking Turkey In Different Steps
Cooking a turkey is an art in itself. Some experts tend to cook it faster and make it more delicious with extreme softness that rules the flavor and also appeals to people. Let us understand the different methods and preparations needed to cook a turkey.
1. Preparation
This step involves removing the turkey from its package, eliminating all the giblets, and saving them for gravy or stuffing. The bird has to be dry without moisture on its surface. Dry the surface inside and outside layers of the turkey easily.
2. Truss and Brush
Just dab the layers of the turkey with melted butter softly. It requires careful handling of the turkey not to poke it or hamper its surface. Brush it softly and gently, and ensure all the layers are tossed properly with the melted butter.
3. Roast
Roast the turkey in a roasting pan and preheat it to 350 degrees F by following the cooking times based on the chart. The chart describes exactly how long you should cook the turkey with respect to the different methods you adapt to.
4. Baste
Roast the turkey until it is golden brown in color. Covering it with foil will safeguard the turkey from turning thick brown. Take the last 20 minutes to remove the foil and roast it completely.
Basting it would also help a lot as it would give a crispy color to promote the texture of the turkey.
4. Rest Before Carving
Rest the turkey for some time before carving it. The juices settled on the layers of the turkey will be distributed properly and evenly to make the carving easier. Every part of the meat would have to absorb the juices before it could be served to people.
How To Know When The Turkey Is Done?
The temperature of the meat is alone the indicator of whether the turkey is fully cooked. Let us look at the pointers to recognize when the turkey is done.
The color of the skin could be a rough indicator, but the temperature alone would be the right sign. The thigh meat is the densest part of the meat, and it should reach a maximum of 165 degrees F.
Check with the thermometer and get the perfect reading. The turkey has to be preserved from any amount of dryness it may get
The turkey is removed from the oven typically at 155 degrees F, and the carry-over cooking continues when it is resting. When the turkey is resting, it gains about 5 to 10 degrees F, which also needs to be checked.
When the turkey is resting, check its temperature every 10 minutes to ensure it retains that constant 5 or 10 degrees F.
How To Carve A Turkey?
Carving a turkey is the most intimidating part and must be done very carefully. You need to follow some precautions before you go all out in carving the turkey.
First, the turkey should be rested well for all the juices to be distributed evenly. If you cut the turkey before resting, the cut board would be filled with juices, and then it would be a complete mess all around.
- You need a carving knife, a meat fork, and a cutting board.
- Remove the legs of the turkey. Work around the side of the turkey where joint bones connect the breast and the leg.
- Angle your knife to focus on the center of the bird. Slice through the rib cage of the meat to free the breast meat separately.
- Find the wings attached to the breast meat and slice it away carefully. Slice the turkey breasts into thin pieces.
- Remove the bone carefully so you can cut through the whole meat without any hassle.
- Arrange it on a serving plate and serve it with appropriate seasonings that go with the meat.
Conclusion
Cooking a turkey is a joy and an art in itself. The chefs and cooking experts with a wide range of knowledge would do this perfectly and love every moment.
A perfectly cooked turkey would then be the best gift for turkey lovers, making you enjoy the occasion of thanksgiving with all pleasure and joy.
The methods and procedures above describe how a turkey can be cooked. It can also be innovated with different recipes that match your taste and preference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do you need to carve a turkey?
You need a cutting board, meat fork and a knife. This is an intimidating part and has to be done carefully.
How do you know when the turkey is fully cooked?
The thigh meat is the densest part of the meat, and it should reach a maximum of 165 degrees F.
Should the turkey be rested before carving?
Rest the turkey for some time before carving it. The juices settled on the layers of the turkey will be distributed properly and evenly to make the carving easier. Every part of the meat would have to absorb the juices before it could be served to people.
How do you prepare the turkey before it is cooked?
This step involves removing the turkey from its package, eliminating all the giblets, and saving them for gravy or stuffing. The bird has to be dry without moisture on its surface. Dry the surface inside and outside layers of the turkey easily.
How much turkey you should buy?
1 pound of turkey can be cooked and can be served longer than 6 to 8 times. If you don’t do turkey sandwiches or soups and gravies, then a minimum of 2 pounds would do.
