Butterball Turkey Cooking Times

How long do you cook a turkey by pound? Turkey cooking times are among the top Butterball Turkey Hotline Questions.

The biggest problem with a turkey (that’s not frozen) is knowing how long to cook, and how not to overcook.

Your turkey should give you a list of cooking times; how long you cook it is based on how big the turkey is. Additionally, it matters whether or not your turkey is stuffed. For instance, here's what Butterball tells us:

Net Weight (in pounds and in hours)

* 10 to 18 lbs.: 3 to 3-1/2 hours, unstuffed; 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 hours, stuffed
* 18 to 22 lbs.: 3-1/2 to 4 4-1/2 hours, unstuffed; to 4-1/2 to 5 hours, stuffed
* 22 to 24 lbs.: 4 to 4-1/2 hours, unstuffed; 5 to 5-1/2 hours, stuffed
* 24 to 30 lbs.: 4-1/2 to 5 hours, unstuffed; 5-1/2 to 6-1/4 hours, stuffed

You should be checking for doneness about 1/2 an hour before your turkey is supposed to be done. But how do you know if it's really done? It's actually quite simple. All you need to do is put a meat thermometer in your turkey before you put it in the oven! If the turkey is stuffed, place the thermometer tip inside the stuffed cavity. If it's not stuffed, put the tip of the meat thermometer in the thigh muscle just above and beyond the lower part of the thigh bone pointing toward the body. Don't let it actually hit the bone.

Your turkey will be done when your meat thermometer reads:

* 180 to 185 degrees F deep in the thigh; also, juices should be clear, not pink when thigh muscle is pierced deeply.
* 170 to 175 degrees F in the thickest part of the breast, just above the rib bones.
* 160 to 165 degrees F in the center of the stuffing, if turkey is stuffed.

As long as your thermometer reads these temperatures, your turkey is done. Don't keep cooking it! You should now have the perfectly-cooked turkey and will keep all your guests happy!