How to Cook a Turkey

Before you start, you need to know what type of turkey you are cooking.

You might have a whole turkey, a turkey crown, or a turkey butterfly. They are all turkey, obviously, but they do not cook in exactly the same way.

If you have a whole turkey, with the legs and wings still attached, you are in the right place. Collect £200, pass go, and carry on reading. Not really, sadly.

If you have a boneless turkey breast joint, you need our how to cook a turkey butterfly guide.

If you have a turkey breast joint left on the bone, head over to our how to cook turkey crown guide.

How to Cook a Turkey

A whole turkey is perfect if you are cooking for a big family meal, Christmas dinner, a party, or anyone who likes plenty of leftovers for Boxing Day.

It also looks brilliant in the middle of the table, which does help if you are going for the full festive centrepiece moment.

The basic method is simple: roast the turkey in the oven until cooked through, check the thickest part properly, then rest it before carving.

Whole Turkey Cooking Times

As a general guide, roast a whole turkey at Gas Mark 5, 190°C, 170°C fan, or 375°F.

These timings are a guide. Always check the turkey is fully cooked before serving.

How to Cook a Whole Turkey Step by Step

1. Remove the turkey from the fridge before cooking so it is not fridge-cold when it goes into the oven.
2. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5, 190°C, or 170°C fan.
3. Remove any packaging and check inside the cavity for giblets or extra packaging.
4. Place the turkey in a roasting tray.
5. Add butter under the skin if you want extra richness.
6. Cover the breast with streaky bacon if you want to help keep it moist and add flavour.
7. Cover loosely with foil for the first part of cooking if you want to protect the breast from browning too quickly.
8. Roast using the cooking time guide above.
9. Remove the foil near the end of cooking to allow the skin to brown.
10. Check the turkey is fully cooked before serving.
11. Rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.

How Do You Know When Turkey Is Cooked?

The safest way to check turkey is cooked is to use a meat thermometer.

The thickest part of the turkey should reach at least 75°C. Check the thickest part of the thigh and avoid touching the bone, as this can give a false reading.

If you do not have a thermometer, push a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh. The juices should run clear and there should be no pink meat. If the juices are still pink, return the turkey to the oven for another 15 minutes, then check again.

Should You Cover Turkey with Foil?

You can cover the turkey loosely with foil for the first part of cooking.

This helps stop the breast from browning too quickly before the rest of the bird is cooked through.

Remove the foil towards the end of cooking so the skin can brown properly.

Should You Put Butter Under Turkey Skin?

You can push butter under the skin of the turkey breast before roasting.

This helps add richness and can help keep the breast meat moist while the turkey cooks.

You can keep it simple with plain butter, or mix the butter with herbs, garlic, lemon zest, black pepper or a little salt.

Should You Cover Turkey with Bacon?

Yes, covering turkey with streaky bacon is a good option if you want extra flavour and moisture.

We usually make a lattice of dry cured streaky bacon and place it over the turkey breast before roasting.

The bacon helps protect the breast meat while it cooks and gives you bonus crispy bacon at the end. Which is never a bad thing.

Can You Cook Turkey on Stuffing?

You can cook turkey on a bed of stuffing, but be careful with stuffing inside the cavity.

If stuffing is packed inside the bird, it can slow down cooking and make it harder to ensure everything reaches a safe temperature.

A safer and easier option is to cook stuffing separately, or place it under the turkey in the tray rather than packing it tightly inside the cavity.

Should You Wash Turkey Before Cooking?

No, you should not wash raw turkey before cooking.

Washing raw poultry can splash bacteria around your sink, worktops and kitchen. Cooking the turkey properly is what makes it safe to eat.

How Long Should Turkey Rest Before Carving?

Rest your turkey for at least 15 minutes before carving.

For a larger whole turkey, you can rest it longer, loosely covered with foil.

Resting makes the turkey easier to carve and helps the juices settle back through the meat.

What to Serve with Turkey

Turkey is usually served with proper roast dinner sides.

Good options include roast potatoes, stuffing, pigs in blankets, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, cabbage, peas, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and plenty of gravy.

Leftover turkey is also brilliant in sandwiches, curries, pies, soups, salads, toasties and cold turkey and chips on Boxing Day.

Browse our turkey range, pigs in blankets, or Christmas meat range for more ideas.

Turkey Cooking Tips

• Make sure you know whether you have a whole turkey, crown or butterfly.
• Do not wash raw turkey.
• Check the cavity for giblets or packaging before cooking.
• Use a roasting tray large enough for the bird.
• Cover loosely with foil if the breast is browning too quickly.
• Use a meat thermometer for the safest check.
• Cook until the thickest part reaches at least 75°C.
• Rest before carving.
• Cool and store leftovers properly.

Final Thoughts

Cooking a turkey does not need to be stressful.

Work out what type of turkey you have, use the correct cooking time, check the thickest part properly, and rest it before carving.

A whole turkey is a brilliant centrepiece for Christmas, family meals and big gatherings, and the leftovers are half the fun.

FAQs

How do you cook a turkey?

Roast a whole turkey at Gas Mark 5, 190°C, or 170°C fan, using the weight-based cooking time as a guide. Check it is fully cooked before serving and rest before carving.

How long does turkey take to cook?

For a whole turkey under 4kg, cook for 20 minutes per kg plus 70 minutes. For a turkey 4kg and over, cook for 20 minutes per kg plus 90 minutes.

What temperature should turkey be cooked to?

Turkey should reach at least 75°C in the thickest part before serving.

How do you check if turkey is cooked without a thermometer?

Push a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh. The juices should run clear and there should be no pink meat.

Should you cover turkey with foil?

You can cover turkey loosely with foil for the first part of cooking to stop the breast browning too quickly, then remove it near the end.

Should you put bacon on turkey?

You can cover the turkey breast with streaky bacon to add flavour and help protect the breast meat while cooking.

How long should turkey rest before carving?

Rest turkey for at least 15 minutes