What is the best temperature to cook a turkey to keep it moist?

Begin by roasting your turkey at 425°F for 40 to 45 minutes before lowering the temperature of the oven to 350°F for the rest of the cooking time. Like the other method, it's a good idea to brush the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with butter or olive oil to help the surface brown and keep the meat moist.

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

We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. We've done the math for you — check out the chart below to determine both turkey cook times and estimated servings (with leftovers!).

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

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher . Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

What is the secret to a moist turkey?

Brine your turkey for the best juicy bird . In recent years, brining has become more popular and can be done with either a wet or dry brine. A wet brine involves immersing the turkey in a salt-water solution for 12-24 hours. Dry-brining is where salt is rubbed over the turkey skin for 24-48 hours before cooking.

Is it better to cook a turkey covered or uncovered?

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out ; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

How many hours will it take to roast a 18 pound turkey at 325?

The 18-pound turkey is roasted for about four hours at 325 degrees F. If your turkey is larger or smaller than 18 pounds, you'll have to adjust the cooking time.

Why bake at 325 instead of 350?

Baking at 325 degrees can help prevent the edges of baked goods from becoming too dry or overdone while allowing the center to fully cook . This can result in a more evenly textured and moist final product.

How do you keep cooked turkey moist?

Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan . The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

What dries out a turkey?

If your turkey has dried out in the past, likely you did not brine it (or did not brine it for long enough or did not use enough salt)—or you overcooked the turkey (155 to 160 degrees F is the number; see How Long to Cook Turkey for details).

Do you cook a butterball turkey at 325 or 350?

Preheat oven to 325° F . Drain juices and pat dry with clean paper towels. Place turkey breast-side-up on a flat rack in a shallow roasting pan 2 to 2½ inches deep. Turn the wings back to hold the neck skin in place.

How do you keep a turkey from drying out if it is done early?

Get a tray that fits in your fridge and lay the cut pieces close together while overlapping —this will help prevent your turkey from drying out. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. On turkey day, remove the carved bird from the fridge and let it come to room temperature (it should take about an hour).

How do you keep a fully cooked turkey moist?

To keep the turkey moist, add a little broth or water and cover. Cover your food and rotate it for even heating.

Is it better to cook a turkey at a low temperature or a high temperature?

"A low temperature will cook the meat very nicely inside and keep it juicy without drying it but you want to high temperature at some point whether it's at the beginning of the end to crisp up the skin and the melted butter to get an extra crispy skin," Guillard says.

Here's What Temperature to Cook a Turkey So It Stays Moist (2024)

For a perfect Thanksgiving turkey—golden on the outside and tender on the inside—temperature matters! If your turkey is underdone it can be dangerous to consume and lead to food-borne illnesses for you and your Thanksgiving guests, but if it’s overdone, an otherwise scrumptious bird becomes dry and flavorless. However, since there are many different ways to cook a turkey, the temperature you’re aiming for can vary slightly, which only makes things more complicated. Yet, with the right balance of heat, you can have a perfectly cooked bird that’ll earn raves from your Thanksgiving guests. Here’s what temperature to cook a turkey so it stays juicy and delicious.

Here's What Temperature to Cook a Turkey So It Stays Moist (1)

Oven-Roasted Turkey

For a classic roast turkey, begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit; you want it nice and hot at the beginning. However, if the oven temperature is too high for the entirety of the cooking time, the turkey will dry out. Starting the turkey in a hot oven gets the skin crispy and burnished—just what you want. We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird. By covering the pan with foil when you lower the oven temperature, you’ll prevent the skin from burning while you cook the bird the rest of the way through.

Smoked Turkey

For a smoked turkey, you want to aim a bit lower than 425 degrees. Instead, set your smoker to 325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Within this temperature range, a spatchco*cked turkey will take 10 to 12 minutes a pound to smoke. For most turkeys, that means at least an hour of cooking time, if not much more. You’ll know your turkey is done when the thickest part of its thigh reaches 165 degrees; just make sure your meat thermometer isn’t touching any bone.

Fried Turkey

And if you’re opting to deep-fry your turkey, you’ll want to preheat the oil to 350 degrees and maintain that temperature while the bird cooks. The turkey is done cooking when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 155 degrees. The temperature will rise as the bird rests—you're looking for a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees in the breast and 180 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh.

Dry Brine vs. Wet Brine: Which Should You Choose for Your Thanksgiving Turkey?

Grilled Turkey

For grilled turkey, follow the same general premise of roasting. This means you'll start at a hot temperature for a good sear, such as 425 degrees Fahrenheit, then move to lower (indirect) heat to cook the bird the rest of the way through.

Instant Pot Turkey

If you’re using a gadget like an air fryer or Instant Pot, just cook the turkey at 350 degrees until cooked through. For a golden top, finish it off by broiling the surface in the oven.

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How to Tell When Turkey Is Done

First things first, the USDA advises that you cook a whole turkey to 165 degrees all the way through as measured with a meat thermometer. Every bird is different, so it’s best to keep a thermometer on hand to check the internal temperature for doneness. Make sure to stick the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh when checking the turkey’s temperature.

If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can also check the turkey’s doneness by cutting slits in the meat and seeing if the juices run clear. This method is less reliable than the thermometer approach, but it’s still effective.