When the weather starts getting colder, many people spend time in the kitchen working on various holiday recipes. Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holidays in the United States, and this year marks the first Thanksgiving since 2016. Many people start planning their Thanksgiving tables in the fall to ensure that they have a good amount of food ready for the holiday season. The main dish for Thanksgiving is usually a turkey, so you’ll need to cook one of those. In addition to planning the menu, you’ll also need to plan out the times that the oven, stove, and other appliances are being used to cook. If you’re planning to cook a 20 pound turkey in your oven, here’s how long you’ll need to cook it.
Turkey Meatweight
Butterflying can be done 2-6 weeks before cooking.
Brining can be done up to 10 days before cooking.
Dressing can be done 1-3 days before cooking.
Hang at room temperature overnight.
Hinge the bird and tie with kitchen string.
Place the turkey into a pan large enough to fit the bird. Put the feet into the pan. Place the wings flat on a cutting board.
Remove the neck and giblets from the neck cavity. Stuff the neck cavity with chicken or turkey fat and herbs. Sew the neck closed. Add the vegetables, if desired.
Remove the back cavity and fill with stuffing and vegetables. Put the turkey breast side down on the bottom of the pan.
Turn the turkey breast side up.
Place the roasting rack on top of the turkey.
Place the turkey into a preheated 300°F oven. Cook for 4.5-6 hours for 20-24 lbs of bird (this is usually at a temperature of 350°F). Do not add a thermometer.
Remove the turkey from the oven and allow it to rest for 15 minutes. Slice and serve.
Quantity of Ingredients
20 lb Turkey
[Image]:https://d1mta2qke2ppbv.cloudfront.net/20-lb-turkey-recipe-guide-how-to-cook-a-20-pound-turkey-at-350-in-the-oven-a-pilgram-favorite-from-dinner-in-a-jiffy-with-easy-steps-10702299.jpg
Turkey Cooking Time
I bought my turkey for Thanksgiving about two weeks ago. It’s a 20 pound turkey and I’m planning on cooking it at 350 for two hours. The turkey has already been defrosted, so the only thing I need to do is to season it. I’ve read that one pound of a 20 pound turkey is equal to the weight of four pounds of beef, so I need to adjust my recipe accordingly. I also don’t want to overcook it. I’m looking at a Thanksgiving leftovers guide online and most of the recipes call for cooking a turkey for 5 to 6 hours. I’m only cooking for two hours, so I’m not sure if that’s enough time. I’m wondering if anyone can help me?
Vegetables and Seasonings
One of the biggest challenges is understanding how to cook the turkey correctly. How to cook a 20 pound turkey? However, there are several steps to ensure that the turkey cooks correctly. The meat needs to be fully thawed before cooking, but the breast needs to be wrapped first. Fully thaw the turkey by placing it in the fridge at 4 degrees or under for 24 hours before cooking. Then, remove the breast, and place it into a zip lock bag. Place it back into the fridge. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed. Place the turkey on a roasting pan or a wire rack to allow it to drain. You can then begin to prep the turkey.
How to Make Turkey for Thanksgiving
To cook a 20 pound turkey to 350, I start by prepping the turkey. Since this turkey is a pan fryer, it’s important to get a good sear on the turkey. This helps preserve the juices and flavor in the meat. It also allows the breast to cook through before the thighs. After prepping the turkey, I thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the breast to come off the bone more easily. Next, I remove the giblets and drain the turkey of the fat that collects inside. Then I place the giblets back inside the turkey and cook them on the stove. The turkey then goes into the oven on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Since it’s a pan fryer, the meat on the breast must be seared. The legs need to be cooked and the thighs and drumsticks need to be loosened from the breast. I then season the turkey with salt and pepper and roast the turkey at 350 for about an hour. After an hour, I flip the turkey over and cook it for about 30 minutes. After about 15 minutes of roasting the turkey, I remove the turkey from the oven. The goal is to have a fully cooked bird that has a nice pink color and no dried out skin.
I’m Brian Danny Max, a chef and a writer at cookingtom.com. I’m here to talk about food and cooking, and to share some of my favorite recipes with you all! I’ve been interested in food and cooking since I was a child. My parents are both great cooks, and they taught me a lot about the kitchen. I’ve been cooking professionally for about 10 years now, and I’ve loved every minute of it! I specialize in healthy, flavorful recipes that are easy to make at home. I believe that anyone can cook a delicious meal, no matter their skill level. I’m here to help you learn how to cook, and to show you that it’s not as difficult as you might think! I hope you’ll check out my blog and my recipes, and I look forward to hearing from you!