How long should a 20 pound turkey cook at 350 degrees?

4 to 4¼ hours
If your turkey weighs 18 to 20 pounds, roast it at:

350°F for 4 to 4¼ hours. 325°F for 4¼ to 4½ hours.

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 20 pound Butterball turkey?

For an unstuffed bird, Butterball recommended the following cooking times:
  1. 6-7 pounds: 2-2½ hours.
  2. 7-10 pounds: 2½-3 hours.
  3. 10-18 pounds: 3-3½ hours.
  4. 18-22 pounds: 3½-4 hours.
  5. 22-24 pounds: 4-4½ hours.
  6. 24-30 pounds: 4½-5 hours.

Do you cook a turkey at 325 or 350 per pound?

If you’re determined to stuff the turkey, you’ll want to leave it in the oven at 325°F for 20-25 minutes per pound, and cover the turkey (especially the wings and drumsticks) with a loose tent of aluminum foil to keep them from drying out or burning.

Should I cover my turkey with foil?

Just make sure you uncover the lid about 30 minutes before the turkey’s done roasting so the skin has a chance to get crispy. … Covering the bird with foil mimics what a roaster lid would do — it traps steam and moistness so the turkey doesn’t dry out — all the while allowing the skin to crisp up.

Do you put butter on turkey before cooking?

Don’t butter your bird

Placing butter under the skin won’t make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before you roast.

Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?

Should You Put Water in the Turkey Roasting Pan? … We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey.”

How long does it take to cook a 22 lb turkey in a bag?

Almost all oven bags I’ve gotten come with a chart with cooking times. The exact amount of time it takes can depend on many different things such as how big the turkey is and whether it is unstuffed or stuffed. An 18-22 pound turkey will take around 3-4 hours to cook.

How long do you cook a stuffed 18 lb turkey?

How Long to Cook a Stuffed Turkey
  1. For 10- to 12-pound turkey, roast 3¼ hours to 3½ hours.
  2. For 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast 3½ to 4 hours.
  3. For 14- to 18-pound turkey, roast 4 to 4¼ hours.
  4. For 18- to 20-pound turkey, roast 4¼ to 4¾ hours.
  5. For 20- to 24-pound turkey, roast 4¾ to 5¼ hours.

Should you wash turkey?

According to a study by the food safety experts at the USDA, washing or rinsing raw turkey can put you at risk of foodborne illness. There’s only one time you should wash a raw turkey, and that is after brining. Otherwise, do not wash a turkey before cooking.

What do you put in the bottom of a turkey pan?

Place chopped onions, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. Pick a few herbs off the stalks and add to the vegetables. Set aside. Pat dry the turkey with paper towels.

Do you put broth in bottom of turkey pan?

Place turkey in the oven, and pour 2 cups turkey stock into the bottom of the roasting pan. Baste all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 to 2 cups at a time. Remove aluminum foil after 2 1/2 hours.

Should you flip a turkey when cooking?

Roasting a large turkey for Thanksgiving is challenging for even the most seasoned home cooks. … Flip the bird over and roast it breast-side down. While this technique won’t give you a picture-perfect turkey, it will protect the white meat from drying out, while cooking the thigh meat faster.

Can I keep a turkey in the fridge for a week?

Fresh turkey should keep in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If you wait any longer, the meat might begin to show signs of spoilage. Store the bird in the coldest section of the fridge, and freeze it if you aren’t going to be able to cook it off within 48 hours.