Don’t stress out this Christmas; instead, make my Easy Roast Turkey Crown. It has all the great taste of a whole roast turkey with none of the work. There are also lots of helpful tips on how to buy, thaw, and cook a turkey crown, as well as tasty ideas for using up leftover turkey.
Who here finds it stressful to cook the turkey for Christmas? It’s often named as one of the most stressful parts of the holiday, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
So stressful is it that I wrote a whole post with ideas and tips on how to make cooking the Christmas turkey less stressful. You can read it here: 20 simple tips to take the stress out of cooking your Christmas turkey.
One way to make cooking turkey at Christmas less stressful is to not cook a whole bird. Whole turkeys can be difficult to store and can take a long time to cook. As different parts of the turkey cook at different rates, it is easy to cook them too long or too short. Also, cooking a whole turkey can waste a lot of meat because many people like the white breast meat better than the brown leg and thigh meat.
One way to avoid this is not cooking a big turkey at all. For example, you could make my Prosciutto Wrapped Turkey Mini Fillets with Sage and Sausage Stuffing, which is a fancy but quick and cheap way to cook turkey at Christmas without all the work.
But if you really want a beautiful roasted turkey to carve at the table on Christmas Day, a roast turkey crown is a great compromise. It gives you a beautiful centerpiece to wow your family and friends with with a lot less work.
A turkey crown is much easier to get right than a whole turkey. Not only are they easier to store in the fridge or freezer, but they also cook faster and are easier to carve. They are still a great centerpiece for your Christmas table.
When making a turkey crown the centerpiece of your holiday meal, it’s crucial to get the cooking time just right Undercook it, and you risk food poisoning from bacteria Overcook it, and you’ll end up with dry, stringy meat. To get perfect results every time, understanding target cooking times for turkey crowns of varying sizes is key.
In this complete guide, we’ll provide ideal turkey crown cooking times based on weight, plus tips for calculating times, determining doneness, and more.
Turkey Crown Cooking Time Per Pound
The most straightforward way to estimate turkey crown cooking time is by calculating the time per pound. Here are general guidelines:
- Crowns under 4 pounds: Allow 20 minutes per pound, plus 70 additional minutes
- Crowns over 4 pounds: Allow 15-20 minutes per pound, plus 90 additional minutes
So for a 3 pound crown, cook for about 20*3 = 60 minutes, plus 70 minutes, totaling around 2 hours 10 minutes
For a 6 pound crown, allow 15*6 = 90 minutes, plus 90 minutes, totaling 3 hours.
Cooking Times for Common Turkey Crown Sizes
Here are estimated cooking times for some common turkey crown sizes
- 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs): 1 hour 40 minutes at 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5
- 2 kg (4.4 lbs): 1 hour 50 minutes at 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5
- 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs): 2 hours at 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5
- 3 kg (6.6 lbs): 2 hours 10 minutes at 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5
- 4 kg (8.8 lbs): 2 hours 45 minutes at 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4
- 5 kg (11 lbs): 3 hours 15 minutes at 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4
Always verify doneness by temperature, not time. But these cooking times provide a good starting point.
Calculating Cooking Time for Stuffed vs. Unstuffed
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For an unstuffed crown, simply calculate time based on overall weight.
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For a stuffed crown, calculate time based on the total weight of both the turkey and stuffing combined. The stuffing adds extra cooking time.
Stuffing adds moisture and flavor, but does require longer cooking. Opt for an unstuffed crown for a speedier roast.
Key Factors Affecting Cooking Time
Several factors impact total roasting time for a turkey crown. Consider these when planning:
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Crown shape: Compact, rounded crowns cook faster than long, flat crowns.
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Cooking method: Conventional oven vs. convection can vary time. Convection is often faster.
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Temperature: Higher heat (e.g. 190°C vs. 180°C) reduces cooking time.
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Turkey type: Free-range, organic & heritage birds may require longer.
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Stuffing: Stuffed crowns take longer than unstuffed.
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Weight: The heavier the crown, the longer the cooking time.
Determining Doneness
Checking temperature is the most reliable way to determine if your turkey crown is fully cooked. Use an instant-read thermometer to test the thickest part of the breast and thigh, without touching bone.
Target safe finishing temperatures are:
- Breast: 75°C
- Thigh: 82°C
- Stuffing (if cooked inside turkey): 75°C
The breast and thigh should reach these minimums, but aim for 80°C breast and 90°C thigh for ideal juiciness.
If stuffing is cooked inside the turkey, it must reach 75°C. For food safety, it’s best to cook stuffing outside the bird.
Letting the Turkey Crown Rest
After roasting, always allow the turkey crown to rest 20-30 minutes before carving.
This finishing rest:
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Allows juices to redistribute and be reabsorbed back into the meat.
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Enables the internal temperature to rise 5-10°F more as it sits.
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Makes the turkey easier to carve cleanly and neatly.
Tent foil lightly over the crown as it rests to retain heat. The rest time gives you a window to finish side dishes!
Turkey Crown Cooking Time Tips
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Calculate total time from cold start. Place turkey straight from fridge into oven.
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Use a low-sided roasting pan and ovenproof meat thermometer.
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Cook at 180-190°C for best results. Higher heat crisps the skin.
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Baste occasionally with pan juices to prevent drying out.
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If browning too quickly, loosely tent foil over it.
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Double check doneness with a meat thermometer for safety.
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Rest crown before carving for juiciest meat.
Cooking Times for Other Turkey Cuts
Apply similar principles when roasting other turkey pieces:
Turkey Legs:
- 1-2 lbs: 1 1⁄2 – 2 1⁄2 hours at 180°C
Turkey Thighs:
- 2 lbs: 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours at 180°C
Whole Turkey:
- 8-12 lbs: 2 3⁄4 – 3 hours at 180°C
- 12-14 lbs: 3-3 1⁄2 hours at 160°C
- 14-18 lbs: 3 1⁄2-4 1⁄4 hours at 160°C
- 18-20 lbs: 4 1⁄4-4 1⁄2 hours at 160°C
- 20-24 lbs: 4 1⁄2-5 hours at 150°C
Use a meat thermometer for other cuts to confirm safe finish temperature.
Get Your Turkey Crown Cooked Just Right
Follow these tips for cooking times, and your holiday turkey crown will turn out juicy, golden and delicious. Proper roasting times and temperature guidelines take the guesswork out of preparing this impressive centerpiece. Your guests will be gobbling up perfectly cooked turkey in no time!
How to cook a turkey crown
FAQ
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Should you cover a turkey crown in foil when cooking?
How do you cook a turkey crown without it drying out?
How long to cook a 10lb turkey?
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Weight
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Cook Time (Unstuffed)
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Cook Time (Stuffed)
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7-10 lbs.
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2½-3 hrs.
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2¾-3½ hrs.
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10-18 lbs.
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3-3½ hrs.
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3¾-4½ hrs.
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18-22 lbs.
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3½-4 hrs.
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4½-5 hrs.
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22-24 lbs.
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4-4½ hrs.
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5-5½ hrs.
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