🦃Turkey Roasting Calculator

About this tool

Enter the turkey's weight in kilograms or pounds, choose stuffed or unstuffed and whole bird or crown, and set the time you want to eat. The calculator shows the roasting time at 325°F (163°C), how long to thaw it in the fridge or in cold water, how many people it feeds, and a timeline for taking it out of the fridge, putting it in the oven and resting it.

How long to cook a turkey

The roasting times follow the USDA chart for a thawed turkey in an oven at 325°F (163°C, or about 145°C fan). An unstuffed 8–12 lb bird takes 2¾ to 3 hours, 12–14 lb takes 3 to 3¾ hours, 14–18 lb takes 3¾ to 4¼ hours and 20–24 lb takes 4½ to 5 hours. Stuffing adds roughly 15–30 minutes. A 6 kg (13.2 lb) unstuffed turkey needs about 3 to 3¾ hours. Thawing takes much longer than people expect: about 24 hours in the fridge for every 4–5 lb (2 kg), so that 6 kg bird needs 4 days, or about 30 minutes per pound in cold water changed every half hour. Plan on 1 to 1½ lb (450–700 g) of whole turkey per person, which gives 8–13 servings from 6 kg. Rest the bird for at least 30 minutes, loosely covered, before carving. Honest limits: ovens, birds and roasting tins vary, so the clock is only a guide. The turkey is safe when a thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh, the wing joint and the centre of any stuffing. Never thaw at room temperature. The cooking converter converts oven temperatures and the party food calculator plans the rest of the meal.

Frequently asked questions