To cook a turkey in the oven, the recommended temperature and cooking time depend on the turkey's weight. Here are the general guidelines based on the search results:
- Temperature :
- Good Housekeeping suggests roasting the turkey at 375°F, which they found to be the ideal temperature for turkey roasting
* Food Network recommends roasting an 8- to 12-pound unstuffed turkey at 325°F
* Epicurious advises setting the oven to 325°F for a 12- to 14-pound bird and provides a temperature and time chart for larger turkeys
* A Reddit user mentions roasting a 20-pound turkey at 400-425°F after using the Alton Brown wet brine recipe
* Real Simple recommends starting the turkey in a 425°F oven for 30-45 minutes before lowering the temperature to 350°F
- Cooking Time :
- A 12- to 14-pound turkey generally takes 3½ to 4 hours at 325°F
* An 8- to 12-pound unstuffed turkey typically takes 2 3/4 to 3 hours to roast in a 325°F oven
* For a 20-pound turkey, a Reddit user suggests a cooking time of 1.5 to 2 hours at 400-425°F, or a minimum of 6 hours at 275°F, with the option to increase the temperature to 350°F partway through the cooking process
It's important to use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh. Additionally, allowing the turkey to rest for at least 25 minutes after cooking is recommended to retain its juiciness
