The question is straightforward, but there are so many variables that make answering this a moot point (or, in the words of Joey Tribbiani, a “moo” point). Not only is every turkey a different size (duh), but ovens vary drastically—heck, even the cook times of turkeys that weigh the same can vastly differ due to breed, fat content, breast size, etc. Did you brine it? Truss it? Are you cooking a stuffed turkey? OK, then add a few more minutes to that!
The truth is, no matter how fancy-shmancy a turkey cooking time chart looks, youll only really know when your bird is cooked through if you check its internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer.
“For turkey that is moist and juicy,” writes J. Kenji López-Alt at Serious Eats, “aim for breasts that register 150°F in their deepest section and legs that register at least 165°F.” Ahead, we’re sharing even more tips about how to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving and offer our pro advice on carving a turkey, too.
Cooking a 30 pound turkey can seem daunting, but with some preparation and the right techniques, you can make this large bird just as delicious as a smaller one. Here are my tips and step-by-step instructions for roasting the perfect 30 pound turkey.
Getting Started
Buy the Right Size Roasting Pan
You’ll need a large roasting pan, at least 18×24 inches, with tall sides to contain a bird this size. A disposable aluminum foil pan works well.
Defrost Properly
Give yourself about 8 days to defrost a frozen 30 lb turkey in the refrigerator. This allows approximately 24 hours per 4 pounds. You can speed up the process with the cold water method, changing the water every 30 minutes, but refrigeration defrosting is easiest.
Let It Come to Room Temperature
Once thawed, let the turkey sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before roasting to allow it to cook more evenly.
Prepare the Turkey
Remove giblets, neck, and gravy packet if included. Rinse turkey inside and out, and pat dry.
Seasoning
Rub with Butter
Softened, salted butter helps keep the turkey moist and promotes browning. Thoroughly coat the skin with about 1 cup of butter.
Season the Skin
For maximum skin browning and crispiness, pat seasonings directly onto the skin rather than under it. Try 2 tsp each of dried thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Add Aromatics
For flavor, place onion, celery, thyme, rosemary, and pepper inside the body cavity. You can also add these under the roasting rack.
Don’t Stuff It
Cooking a stuffed turkey this size takes too long and can lead to undercooking. Cook stuffing separately for food safety.
Cooking
Use Low Heat
Preheat oven to only 325°F, not the typical 350°F. The outer portions of a huge turkey can overcook before the inside is done.
Partially Tent with Foil
Covering the turkey with foil for half of the roasting time allows the inside to cook through before the skin over-browns. Remove for the last 2 hours.
Figure Roasting Times
For an unstuffed 30 lb turkey, plan on roasting approximately 5-6 hours. For a stuffed bird, allow 6 to 6 1/2 hours.
Check Temperature
Turkey is safely cooked at 165°F. For ideal texture and moisture, cook to 175°F in the thighs and 165°F in the breast. Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness.
Let It Rest
Before carving, let the turkey rest for 20-30 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Tent loosely with foil to keep warm.
Step-by-Step Method
Follow these steps for roasting turkey success:
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Take turkey out of refrigerator 1-2 hours before roasting. Remove giblets and neck from cavities. Rinse and pat dry.
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Rub butter evenly over entire skin. Season skin with dried herbs, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powders.
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Place onion, celery, herbs, salt, and pepper inside cavity. Add water or stock to roasting pan.
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Preheat oven to 325°F. Place turkey breast up on a roasting rack in pan.
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Tent turkey loosely with foil, shiny side out. Roast 3 hours.
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Remove foil and roast until thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 175°F, about 2 more hours.
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Let turkey rest 20-30 minutes before carving.
Troubleshooting
If turkey skin browns too quickly – Cover with foil even up to 3 hours into roasting.
If breast meat looks dry – Check temperature. Breast meat can dry out before 175°F.
If thighs not cooked at 6 hours – Increase roasting time in 15 minute intervals until 175°F.
If pan juices burn – Add 1-2 cups broth or water to pan next time.
Serving and Leftovers
A 30 pound turkey will feed about 20 people generously. Offer guests their choice of white or dark meat. Have gravy, cranberry sauce, and stuffing on hand.
Refrigerate all leftovers, including turkey meat, bones, stuffing and gravy, within 2 hours. Use leftover turkey within 3-4 days for dishes like soup, sandwiches, casseroles, and stir-fries. Freeze cooked turkey for longer storage.
My Favorite Side Dishes
Here are some of my favorite side dishes to complement the roasted turkey:
- Fluffy mashed potatoes or roasted root vegetables
- Classic bread stuffing or wild rice stuffing
- Cranberry-orange or cranberry-pear relish
- Maple roasted winter squash or Brussels sprouts
- Green bean casserole or roasted green beans
- Parker House rolls or homemade biscuits
- Spiced apple, pecan, or pumpkin pie for dessert
Cooking a 30 Pound Turkey with Ease
While roasting an extra large turkey requires more time and planning, the same tried and true techniques still apply. With ample pan space, lower oven temperature, partial tenting, and checking internal temperature, you can enjoy tender, juicy meat on your 30 pound bird. Just brace yourself for lots of amazing leftovers!
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How Long to Cook a Turkey
I like to roast my unstuffed, room-temperature turkey at 350°F—and if you must know for how long, its about 13 minutes to 15 minutes per pound. That means, say, a 12-pound turkey should take about 2 1/2 hours to cook. Keep in mind that these times work best for, as mentioned, a thawed turkey that has been brought to room temperature. Trying to cook a partially frozen turkey for Thanksgiving is an entirely different ballgame (though if you find yourself in that unsavory pickle, we do have some tips to get you out of it).
Guess who agrees? Nigella Lawson. Her turkey cook times in the seminal classic, Nigella Christmas, line up with my numbers above (and no ones cooked as many turkeys as she has).
“The cook times here always seem shockingly short to other people,” Lawson writes, “but the truth is weve all been overcooking turkeys for years, and then complaining about how dull and sawdusty they are. If your turkey starts at room temperature, and is untrussed and without stuffing, and your oven thermostat is working correctly, these cooking times hold.”
Ive read horrifying accounts on other sites advising 20 minutes per pound of turkey (!). I can just taste the sawdust of what surely will be a memorable Thanksgiving turkey (but not in a good way).
Again, go by the internal temperature at the thickest part of the bird if you can (150°F at the breast and 165°F at the leg). I personally like to remove the turkey from the oven about 5°F earlier because it will continue to cook as it rests. Before you carve a turkey for Thanksgiving, you should let it rest for at least 15 minutes (and upwards of one hour). This will let it cool ever so slightly so it’s a little bit easier to handle when you go to carve it but more importantly, it will lock in all of the moisture and flavor, lest all the juices come rushing out onto the cutting board.
Should You Cover a Turkey?
And while you may be inclined to use it, ditch the aluminum foil. “But Eric, however will my turkey stay warm if it isn’t covered in aluminum foil?” Fortunately dear reader, after a bird has been roasting in the oven for upwards of two to three hours, it will continue to stay hot even after it’s been resting for half an hour. Plus, wrapping a Thanksgiving turkey in foil will cause it to continue to cook—ahem, overcook—as aluminum is a natural heat conductor. So while yes, it will keep your turkey meat warm, it will also turn it from a moist, juicy masterpiece into sawdust…and thus, all of your hard work will be ruined. What is your favorite way to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving? Share your secrets in the comments below! 52 Days of Thanksgiving 52 Days of Thanksgiving
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How to Cook a Turkey
FAQ
How long will a 30 pound turkey take to cook?
24- to 30-pound turkey cooking time (unstuffed): Cook for 4½ to 5 hours at 325°F.Oct 30, 2024
How long does it take to cook a size 30 turkey?
Turkey cooking time:
If the turkey is over 4kg, calculate 20 mins per 1kg, plus 90 mins. If the bird is under 4kg, calculate 20 mins per 1kg, plus 70 mins. To test if it’s done, make sure the juices run clear when you pierce the thigh where it meets the body.
How long to cook a 30 lb turkey butterball?
| Weight | Cook Time (Unstuffed) | Cook Time (Stuffed) |
|---|---|---|
| 10-18 lbs. | 3-3½ hrs. | 3¾-4½ hrs. |
| 18-22 lbs. | 3½-4 hrs. | 4½-5 hrs. |
| 22-24 lbs. | 4-4½ hrs. | 5-5½ hrs. |
| 24-30 lbs. | 4½-5 hrs. | 5½-6¼ hrs. |
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
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Crispy skin:Cooking at a slightly higher temperature like 350 degrees can help brown the skin more effectively, creating a crispier texture.
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Moist meat:While a higher temperature might seem like it could dry out the meat, using a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature and ensuring you don’t overcook is key to keeping the turkey juicy regardless of the cooking temperature.
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Cooking time:Cooking at 325 degrees will typically take longer than cooking at 350 degrees.
How long do you cook a 24 pound turkey?
24- to 30-pound turkey cooking time (unstuffed): Cook for 4½ to 5 hours at 325°F. 24- to 30-pound turkey cooking time (stuffed): Cook for 5½ to 6¼ hours at 325°F. Test Kitchen Tip: Toward the end of the cooking time, your recipe might instruct you to cut the string you’ve used to tie the drumsticks together and remove the foil covering the breast.
How do you cook a 30 lb Turkey?
For best results when roasting a 30 lb turkey: Truss the turkey legs together with kitchen string to hold its shape. Tuck the wings under. Place it breast side up on a V-rack in a large roasting pan. Spread any stuffing loosely in the body cavity. Rub the skin all over with butter or oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
Can a 30 pound turkey be cooked in a double oven?
Even when they are cooked to over 165°F inside. A regular oven or standard 30-inch convection oven will be a really tight fit for a 30-pound turkey. You cannot roast a 30-pound turkey in a double oven, it’s too small. Obviously, a bigger oven is ideal for such a big turkey.
How long to cook a stuffed 30 pound turkey?
Cook a stuffed 30-pound turkey for 6 – 61/2 hours till the meat thermometer inserted in deepest meat reaches 165° F. Roasting a fresh turkey saves you so much time in defrosting! you are roasting a fresh turkey, you can skip the 8 days of defrosting needed for frozen turkeys.
How long do you cook an unstuffed Turkey?
Cook time depends on the size of the turkey, and if there is stuffing in it. Unstuffed turkey takes less time to cook fully. Roast an unstuffed bird, 30 pound of turkey, for 5 -6 hours till the meat thermometer inserted in the deepest meat reaches 165°F degrees.
How much can a 30 pound turkey eat?
A 30″ Freestanding Range (and most 2017 and newer Slide-in Ranges) will hold a turkey that is about 24 to 26 pounds. For a 30″ Freestanding Double Oven Range (and most 2017 and newer Slide-in Double Oven Ranges), the lower oven will hold a turkey that is about 20 pounds. How many people will a 30 pound turkey feed? 18 to 20 people = 18- to 30-lb.