How long do you bake a 13 lb turkey

Q: Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?

Weve found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out cooking time. Some people swear that roasting a turkey breast-side down and flipping it halfway through achieves the same results as a foil covered breast.

Table of Contents Show

Ingredients
Directions
Chef's Notes
Nutrition Facts
From eight to 24 pounds, stuffed or unstuffed, use this guide to determine how long to roast any turkey.
How Long to Roast a Turkey
Timing Guidelines for Stuffed Whole Turkeys
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
How long do you cook a Butterball 13 pound turkey?
Does it take to cook a 13lb turkey?
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?

Ingredients

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Step 1
Remove and discard leg truss from turkey. Pull off and discard any lumps of fat. Remove giblets and neck (they're often packed in the neck or body cavity) and save for gravy. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. Rub turkey all over with butter.
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Step 2
Place turkey, breast up, on a V-shaped rack in a 12- by 17-inch roasting pan, or one that is at least 2 in. longer and wider than the bird. Insert a meat thermometer through thickest part of breast to the bone. (If using an instant-read thermometer, insert when checking temperature later.)
Step 3
Roast in a 325° or 350° (depending on size of bird; see below) oven until thermometer registers 160°.
Step 4
If turkey is unstuffed, tip slightly to drain juices from body cavity into pan. Transfer turkey to a platter. Let stand in a warm place, uncovered, for 15 to 30 minutes, then carve. If thigh joints are still pink (common in an oven-roasted bird), cut drumsticks from thighs, place thighs in a baking pan, and bake in a 450° oven until no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes; or put on a microwave-safe plate and cook in a microwave oven at full power (100%) for 1 to 3 minutes.
Step 5
Nutritional analysis per 1/4 pound boned cooked turkey with skin, based on percentages of white and dark meat in an average bird.
Step 6
Oven-roasted turkey: temperatures and times
Step 7
For a 10-13 lb. turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 350° oven for 1 1/2-2 1/4 hr.
Step 8
For a 14-23 lb. turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 2-3 hr.
Step 9
For a 24-27 lb. turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 3-3 3/4 hr.
Step 10
For a 28-30 lb turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 3 1/2-4 1/2 hr.
Step 11
Times are for unstuffed birds. A stuffed bird may cook at the same rate as an unstuffed one; however, be prepared to allow 30 to 50 minutes longer. While turkeys take about the same time to roast in regular and convection heat, a convection oven does a better job of browning the bird all over.

Chef's Notes

If using a frozen turkey, start thawing it in a pan in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days before roasting, depending on its size. During roasting, if turkey overlaps the pan rim, tuck a strip of heavy-duty foil along the sides of the pan to keep fat from dripping over.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

229 calories; calories from fat 39%; protein 32g; fat 10g; saturated fat 3g; sodium 82mg; cholesterol 93mg.

From eight to 24 pounds, stuffed or unstuffed, use this guide to determine how long to roast any turkey.

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.

Jason Donnelly

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.

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.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature ranging from 325°F to 350°F. Higher temperatures may cause the meat to dry out, but this is preferable to temperatures that are too low which may not allow the interior of the turkey to cook to a safe temperature.

How long do you cook a Butterball 13 pound turkey?

Bake until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest portion of thigh (not touching bone) registers180°F, 3 hours to 3 hours and 15 minutes, brushing with butter every hour. Let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

Does it take to cook a 13lb turkey?

13 minutes of cooking time for each pound of turkey if roasting empty and 15 minutes per pound if stuffed. What temperature to cook the turkey? Preheat the oven to 450°F then drop the temperature to 350°F after putting the turkey into the oven.

Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?

We've found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out cooking time. Some people swear that roasting a turkey breast-side down and flipping it halfway through achieves the same results as a foil covered breast.