Before you roast your turkey, glance at the below step-by-step recommendations from our Perdue hotline turkey experts.
- Preheat the oven to 325° F. (Rinsing a Perdue® turkey is not necessary.)
- Remove the turkey's neck and giblets from both cavities.
The liver may be baked alongside the turkey for half an hour, while the heart, gizzard and neck may be
simmered for two and a half hours. Chop this meat and use it in a stuffing or gravy, if desired.
- Place the turkey breast-up in a shallow roasting pan; add 1 cup of water to the pan.
Brush with melted butter or margarine and season inside and out with salt, pepper and herbs if desired.
- For maximum tenderness, Perdue recommends covering the turkey loosely with a foil tent for the
first 2 1/2 hours of roasting time, then uncovering it to allow it to brown.
- Allow proper roasting time for an unstuffed bird – follow the chart below for guidance.
Perdue does not recommend stuffing a large bird as the stuffing may not reach a safe temperature in
adequate time – bake the stuffing separately.
| |
| Turkey Weight | Approx. Cooking Time |
| 8-12 pound unstuffed turkey at 325° F. | 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours |
| 12-18 pound unstuffed turkey at 325° F. | 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours |
| 18-20 pound unstuffed turkey at 325° F. | 4-6 hours |
| 20-24 pound unstuffed turkey at 325° F. | 4 1/2 - 6 hours |
Turkey Breast |
| 4-8 pound unstuffed turkey breast at 325° F. | 1-1/4 hour to 1-3/4 hours |
- Baste the turkey every 20 to 30 minutes – this simply means brushing it,
especially the breast, with its pan juices.
- When a PERDUE® turkey is nearing doneness, its PERFECT ROAST™ Thermometer will pop up.
Juices should run clear, not pink.
- To be safe to eat, the turkey's breast meat must register 170° F., and its thigh meat must
register 180° F. Use a meat thermometer to tell – insert it 2 1/2 inches into the thickest part of the
meat, not touching the bone. When inserting a meat thermometer into the breast, insert it on the side
instead of on top, so it's easier to read and more accurate.
- To assure safe stuffing, make sure it registers at least 165° F.
If you have any other questions on how to properly roast a turkey, call the toll-free PERDUE® consumer
hotline at 1-800-4PERDUE® (1-800-473-7383).
We will extend our normal weekday hours of 9:30 am to 6:00 pm EST on Thanksgiving Eve (9am - 9pm EST) and Thanksgiving Day (7am - 3pm EST).
