Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
How long to roast a turkey, and how long to thaw it first.
Good to know. The thermometer is the timer that matters. The chart just tells you when to start checking.
How it works
In plain words
Roasting times follow the USDA chart for an oven at 325 °F (about 160 °C, 150 °C fan). Thawing in the fridge takes about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds (2 kg); in cold water, changed every 30 minutes, about 30 minutes a pound.
The formula
roast: by the USDA weight chart, 8 to 24 lb fridge thaw ≈ 1 day per 4–5 lb · cold water ≈ 30 min per lb safe: 165 °F (74 °C) in the thigh
Worked example
A 6 kg turkey is about 13.2 lb, which the USDA chart puts at 3 h 00 min to 3 h 45 min unstuffed at 325 °F. Thaw it in the fridge for about 3 days first.
Sources
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Let’s Talk Turkey: a consumer guide to safely roasting a turkey Roasting times at 325 °F, thawing times and the 165 °F safe temperature.
Sources checked September 30, 2026. 3 automated tests check its answers on every change.
About the turkey cooking time calculator
Roasting a turkey is mostly a matter of time and temperature. This calculator uses the US Department of Agriculture’s roasting chart for a whole turkey in an oven at 325 °F, about 160 °C or 150 °C in a fan oven, and adds the time to thaw a frozen bird safely.
The times are a guide for planning. The turkey is done when a thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, not touching the bone, reads 165 °F (74 °C), and the stuffing in the middle reaches the same. Start checking half an hour before the shorter time. A stuffed bird takes longer, and many cooks now bake the stuffing separately so it cooks evenly and the bird is done sooner.
Let the turkey rest for 20 to 30 minutes after it comes out, loosely covered, before carving. The juices settle, the meat is easier to slice, and the temperature keeps rising a little.
Thaw a frozen turkey in the fridge, allowing a day for every 4 to 5 pounds (about 2 kg): a 16 lb bird needs 4 days. In a hurry, submerge it in its wrapping in cold water, changed every 30 minutes, for about 30 minutes a pound, and cook it straight away. Never thaw it on the counter.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to cook a 16 lb turkey?
About 3¾ to 4¼ hours unstuffed at 325 °F, or 4 to 4¼ hours stuffed. Check it reaches 165 °F in the thigh.
How long does a turkey take to thaw?
About one day in the fridge for every 4 to 5 pounds: 4 days for a 16 lb turkey.
What temperature should a turkey be cooked to?
165 °F (74 °C) in the thickest part of the thigh and the centre of the stuffing.