Wondering how long to cook a stuffed turkey?
You may also be asking what’s the right cooking time per pound for your stuffed turkey?
Most of us are more familiar with cooking turkey orchicken breaststhan we are with cooking a whole bird.
Credit: Andy Lyons
Ready, set, roast.
You’re almost there.
But what’s the cooking time for the turkey?
Credit:BHG. / Julie Bang
Take a moment to pat yourself on the back, because you’re almost there.
We’re sharing exactly how long you should cook a stuffed turkey.
“verify your turkey is completely thawed before stuffing.
For the most even cooking, we do recommend cooking the stuffing separately from the turkey.
After stuffing, we recommendtrussing the turkey.
Twist wing tips under the back.
Stuff the turkey just before roasting (not ahead).
Spoon stuffing loosely into turkey (stuffing wont reach a safe temperature if packed tightly).
Using a 325F oven, here’s a rough per pound guide from the pros atfoodsafety.gov.
A probe thermometer lets you keep an eye on the turkey temp without opening and closing the oven.
When taking the temperature of your turkey, do not let the thermometer touch the bone.
Note that after removing the turkey from the oven, the temperature of the meat will rise about 5F.
“For the most foolproof results,brine your turkey.
This ensures the meat has time to rest.
How to Serve a Stuffed Turkey
Cooking turkey for Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be complicated!
Be sure to remove the stuffing before carving and add it to a separate serving dish.
Keep the stuffing warm in the oven if you need.
Freeze leftover turkey for up to three months.
It’s best to freeze the turkey the day it’s made, after the meat has completely cooled.
To store leftover stuffing, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
This allows theturkey to roast evenlyfor the juiciest meat.
There’s no need to cook stuffing before putting into the turkey.
If your stuffing recipe includes meat or sausage, ensure it is cooked before adding it to the recipe.
Our Test Kitchen recommends placing the stuffing in the bird just before roasting.
Its safe either way as long as the stuffing reaches 165F.
We recommend baking stuffing separately, in a baking dish.
Although stuffing roasted in the bird is delicious, turkey and stuffing often dont cook evenly.
