You should keep your turkey covered with foil during roughly the first half to two-thirds of the cooking time to help retain moisture and prevent drying out. Then remove the foil for the last 30 to 60 minutes to allow the skin to brown and become crispy, especially if roasting in the oven.
Recommended Foil Coverage Timing
- For a 10-12 pound turkey, cook covered with foil for about 2 hours, then uncovered for 1 hour.
- For a 14-18 pound turkey, cover for 2.5 hours, then uncover for 1.5 hours.
- For a 20-24 pound turkey, cover for 3 hours, then uncover for 2 hours.
Additional Tips
- When covering, create a foil tent that doesn't touch the turkey skin to allow steam to escape and help crisp the skin later.
- Baste the turkey every 30 minutes to keep it moist.
- After cooking, let the turkey rest covered with foil for at least 10-30 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
These guidelines help keep the turkey juicy while achieving a nicely browned skin at the end of roasting.
